Norton Raceway Park has crossed the finish line.
The future of the former Barberton Speedway has been in question ever since it was sold to Good Luck Properties for about $500,000 in December.
It’s official now. The 27-acre racecourse on the east side of Barberton will not open for the 2026 season.
There are plans to auction off everything from bleachers to hot dog machines to a giant Union 76 gas sign.
Kiko Auctions will host an online auction from March 27 to April 2, billed as a “distribution of the former Barberton track, equipment and items.”
Racing fans watch original cars race at a racing event at Barberton Speedway.
The speedway, which dates back some 80 years, has had several owners and required expensive repairs that were “financially unaffordable” when the most recent track operator took over.
The property’s new owner, Keith Luck, said his intention was always to use the former racetrack to expand the business of his neighboring Mulch Makers of Ohio business.
Luck said he hopes the previous owners can find a way to make the track viable.
“I understand and appreciate the deep affection the local community has for Barberton Raceway, having been born and raised in the city of Barberton and attending many races with my father over the years,” he said in a statement. “Because of this, I have passed up several opportunities to acquire the property over the past 10 years, despite the value it would bring to the Mulch Makers business, in order to defer to other stakeholders interested in continuing the track’s existing operations.”
Many Ohio tracks have closed over the years, including Columbus Motor Speedway, Sandusky Speedway and Painesville Speedway.
Luck said these racetracks – like the one at Norton – simply cannot survive given rising costs such as insurance, taxes and competition for spectators.
“While I understand this is deeply disappointing to Barberton Raceway’s loyal customers, this outcome has been inevitable for many years due to these economic factors,” he said. “A number of groups have tried to keep Barberton Raceway as a viable business but have ultimately failed.”
The plan is to use the property to expand Mulch Makers, which currently has about 40 employees.
“The purchase of this adjacent property will expand its current business operations, create additional jobs and further enhance benefits to the local community,” Luck said.
Here is Lucky’s full statement:
Lauren Young’s Keith N. Luck Written Statement Regarding Barberton Speedway
This article originally appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal: Barberton Raceway closed permanently, equipment auctioned
