By Logan B. Anderson

DOVER — The city of Dover is “optimistic” that the proposed sale of Delaware’s independently owned NASCAR track to Speedway Motorsports, announced earlier this month, will help rev the local economy.

Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen said since he heard about the acquisition, he’s been doing some research.

“Speedway Motorsports seems to be a pretty solid organization,” Mayor Christiansen said.

“From what I’ve read about these folks, they are going to continue to be good stewards of the history and potential that Dover International Speedway has.”

On Nov. 8, Speedway Motorsports, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, announced that it had come to an agreement to acquire Dover Motorsports. The move would end the Delaware track’s more than five decades of independent operations.

“I am from the old school. I remember when the track was built by Dave Buckson, John Rollins and Melvin Joseph,” Mayor Christiansen said. “We’ve been fortunate in the fact that us old timers know the history of that facility and how it’s grown and how it continues to grow.”

SMI struck an agreement for $3.61 per share in cash for an approximate total equity value of $131.5 million.

Dover Motorsports owned both Dover International Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Dover ran its first Cup race in 1969 and was the site of two NASCAR weekends each season starting in 1971. One of the dates was shifted to Nashville before the start of the 2021 season.

SMI already owns Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.

“I think that when they have a national major partner like this, it can only be better for the people that work there, as well as our local economy,” Mayor Christiansen said.

City officials will try and meet with the track’s new owners once the sale becomes final — which is expected to happen by the end of the year.

He added that he hopes the new owners retain the current Dover Motorsports staff. No announcement to staffing changes have been made.

“They know the locality and the fanbase that they currently have and will hopefully work with these folks to increase that fan base.”

NASCAR has already set its scheduled race weekend for the 2022 season for April 29-May 1 capped off by the Drydene 400.

“We are optimistic,” Mayor Christiansen said. “Hopefully this will help reinvigorate NASCAR as we know it in the city of Dover.”