Millstream Speedway featuring races this week

The roar of the engines will once again be heard off of Township Road 95 just north of Findlay when Millstream Speedway renews operation this week.Highlighting the track's reopening will be an Ohio Sprint Speedweek event on Friday, one of nine races on nine consecutive days at nine race tracks across Ohio.According to the track's website, Millstream Speedway, which over the years has also been named Findlay Speedway and Flag City Motorsports Park, was purchased by Matt and Beth Cogley of MS Properties, who have been repairing and preparing the 3/8-mile dirt track for reopening. Matt Cogley has been a regular on the 360 sprint car circuit, finishing second in 2023 in the Great Lakes Sprint Series (GLSS) point standings.Millstream first opened in 1954 as a 5/8-mile track and over the years has featured some hall-of-fame name drivers, including Jeff Gordon, Gordon Johncock, Gary Bettenhausen, Pancho Carter, Steve Kinser, Rick Ferkel and Jack Hewitt.Gordon posted his first racing victory at Millstream, but reportedly had to forfeit the title when officials learned he was just 13-years-old at the time.The track changed hands a number of times over the years and was shortened from 5/8 to 3/8 of a mile in length. Millstream remained a regular sprint car stop on the United State Auto Club (USAC), All-Star Circuit of Champions and World of Outlaws schedules, though, with races usually held on Sunday nights.Millstream did not open in 2000 following another turnover in ownership, but has hosted a number of events off and on, most recently during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.Friday's racing will feature FAST on Dirt 410 Sprints and USAC Midwest Thunder Midgets. Later events will include GLSS Super, Traditional and Lightning Sprints on Aug. 25, and GLSS Super Sprints, Stocks and Trucks, and Late Models on Oct. 6.NOTE: Much of the historical information about Millstream Speedway is thankfully credited to research done by former Courier Sports Editor Larry Alter.