Future of Grandview Speedway uncertain amid pending sale

Aug. 31—Grandview Speedway's 60th anniversary season may very well be its last.

The future of the one-third-mile dirt racetrack located outside Bechtelsville in Washington Township is uncertain beyond this season, as it is currently included in a pending sale with Copart Inc., an automotive auction and resale company.

"I'm going to sell it," said track owner and general manager Theresa Rogers, wife of the late Bruce Rogers, on Tuesday. "It was my decision. I've been in it so long, I'm not interested in it anymore."

The sale between Theresa Rogers and Copart Inc., is pending because Copart must have its proposal approved by Washington Township in order for the transaction to be moved to settlement. If approved, the track and property it sits on will be sold to Copart for an undisclosed amount.

"At my age now and (with) my opportunity, I'm going to do it," Theresa Rogers, 80, said. "(This) was my opportunity, (and) I don't know if I'll ever get another one."

The track was not listed for sale, as Copart approached Theresa Rogers unexpectedly with the offer that she eventually accepted, she said. According to Theresa Rogers, it has been the only offer made since she took full ownership of the track following her husband's death in 2017.

"I didn't put it up for sale," she said. "The price was what Bruce had always said he would ever sell his track for."

Theresa Rogers' children, Tina and Kenny, are heavily involved with the speedway. Both serve as co-event organizers, while Kenny also works on the track crew.

"My mother is 80 years old," Kenny Rogers said. "It's her racetrack. It's not mine, it's not my sister's (track). We do this for the love of our family."

Tina Rogers' son, Brad Missimer, also is heavily involved, serving as competition director and on the track crew. With three generations working together at the speedway, Theresa Rogers said the entire family was supportive of her decision.

"My kids told me, do what I wanted to do," she said. "They don't begrudge me for selling it, they don't put me down for selling it and they're not unhappy that I made that decision. I'm at peace with it."

Grandview has six races left on its 2022 schedule, one of which is the 52nd annual Freedom 76 Modified Classic on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Championship Night for the 358 modifieds and 602 crate sportsman divisions will be held on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

If a settlement between Grandview Speedway and Copart is not reached by an undisclosed date, Theresa Rogers ensured that there will be a full season of racing at the high-banked track next year, as she said the two sides would only settle during a time when Grandview is not in season.

"I will not sell it in the middle of the season," she said. "I will not do that to my drivers or my fans."

The deal between Copart and Grandview Speedway was on the agenda at the Washington Township Board of Supervisors meeting on Aug. 25. However, according to Tina Rogers, it was not discussed at the meeting.

If the purchase goes through, it is uncertain what Copart will do with the property. Founded in 1982, Copart "specializes in the resale and remarketing of used, wholesale and salvage title vehicles for a variety of sellers, including insurance companies, rental car companies, local municipalities, financial institutions and charities," according to its website.

Copart has more than 200 locations in 11 countries. It has 10 locations in Pennsylvania, including one in Pennsburg, Montgomery County, just a short drive from Grandview Speedway.

Grandview, opened in 1963 by founder Forrest Rogers, was turned over to his son, Bruce, four years after its opening. Bruce Rogers served as the operator and owner of the track for five decades until his death in 2017, when full ownership was transferred to Theresa Rogers.

The facility developed into one of the premier dirt tracks in Pennsylvania and the United States, hosting legendary drivers such as Richard Petty and A.J. Foyt. Grandview's biggest race in recent years has been the Thunder on the Hill Racing Series Hodnett Cup, which is part of the Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek series and has attracted NASCAR Cup Series drivers such as Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Tony Stewart, Rico Abreu and Kasey Kahne.

"I gave them 60 years of racing," Theresa Rogers said. "I can't keep going."

With five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Theresa Rogers said she looks forward to having a more flexible schedule and more free time to spend with family.

"There's three grandchildren that maybe I can visit more," Theresa Rogers said. "I can do some traveling and some stuff that I'd like to do that I haven't been able to do."

While the future of Grandview Speedway is uncertain beyond 2022, Tina Rogers credits the fans for making it what it is today.

"The fans were loyal, the fans were dedicated," Tina Rogers said. "We can't be more thankful for them, because they're the ones that helped Grandview grow."