Merritt Speedway has been a staple of dirt-track racing in the state of Michigan for nearly 40 years.
Founded by Gene and Maryann Kregear and opened for the first time in 1968, the track has played host to some of the greatest dirt racers in the country through the years.
A decade ago, the track was acquired by Mike Blackmer, a veteran track owner and promoter who had previously operated another Michigan short track, Berlin Raceway.
“When I was a kid, I used to attend (races) at Merritt Speedway,” Blackmer recalled. “In 1985, I moved to Grand Rapids. I met a friend there, and he introduced me to Berlin Raceway. That would have been about 1987.
“In 2008, I ended up purchasing Berlin Raceway. I promoted Berlin Raceway from 2008-12. I sold it and then moved back to Northern Michigan and ended buying Merritt Speedway in 2015.
“I never thought I would be a dirt track owner, ever.”
In the years since, Blackmer has worked hard to make Merritt a premier dirt racing facility in the state of Michigan, but he felt like something was missing. That‘s why this year the track will be part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.
“I have been thinking about changing to NASCAR‘s sanction for maybe five years now,” Blackmer said. “The time wasn‘t right. It was right around COVID time and all that. It just wasn‘t right.
“Becoming NASCAR sanctioned, I think it‘s great for everyone. It‘s going to be good for my racers, it‘s going to be good for the fans, and it‘ll be good for the track to have something different. I‘m really excited to be part of it.”
Blackmer is the first to admit Merritt Speedway has struggled in recent years, but he‘s not giving up on the three-eighths-mile clay oval.
He considers the addition of the NASCAR as the track‘s sanctioning body a reset of sorts for the track, which will open its gates for the 2025 season on May 17.
“The last couple years have been rough as a promoter. It‘s probably been two of my hardest years in racing,” said Blackmer, who recently sold another track he operated to focus all of his attention on Merritt. “I sold my other race track this past winter, and now I‘m going to concentrate on one race track. If there was a time to make changes, this year was it.
“For a dirt race track, it‘s probably one of the nicest dirt tracks you‘ll attend. It‘s clean, it has some of the best racing. It‘s always had good racing. I call it the premier dirt track in Michigan. It‘s just a great place to come watch dirt track racing.”
Located off East Houghton Lake Road in Lake City, Michigan, Merritt Speedway sits on the edge of a wooded area that is deeply engrained in the history of the facility.
Original Merritt owners Gene and Maryann Kregear also owned a logging truck company, which they eventually sold to their son-in-law Ed VanDuinen and daughter Carmen.
Ed and Carmen VanDuinen eventually took ownership of Merritt. It was during their time as owners of Merritt that the track‘s most historic race, the Wood Tic, was born.
Even after Ed and Carmen VanDuinen sold the track, the Wood Tic has remained a staple of the annual schedule at Merritt. This year, the 37th running of the Wood Tic will be held on Aug. 1-2.
“Around our area is forest products, where they go and cut the trees down and bring it to (mills),” Blackmer explained. “The guy that owned Merritt at the time also owned a forest company too, so they named the race the Wood Tic. We call it the Ed VanDuinen Wood Tic.”
Another major event on the Merritt Speedway schedule this takes place July 3-5. The event, a special 4th of July Weekend race, will include fireworks on July 4 and a $5 ticket night on July 5.
“We probably put on one of the best fireworks shows in Northern Michigan,” Blackmer said.
Late Models will serve as Merritt Speedway‘s NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Division I class. The track will also feature Modifieds, Factory Stocks, Pro Stocks and 4-Cylinders on a weekly basis. Click here to see the full Merritt Speedway schedule for 2025.
Blackmer is looking forward to a new season of racing at Merritt Speedway and is hopeful a fresh start under the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series banner will bring fresh faces to the historic dirt track.
“I‘ve been very honest with NASCAR and everybody,” Blackmer said. “I‘ve been a promoter since 2008, and the last couple of years have been rough. We‘ve got our work cut out for us to be the premier dirt track in Michigan. This is the start by having the NASCAR sanction.
“I‘m looking forward to the future. I think the future is going to be very good for Merritt Speedway.”
Read the full article here