Cleveland Speedway
The up and down status of Cleveland Speedway appears to have taken another turn toward uncertainty as far as east Tennessee racing is concerned.
A recent posting on the real estate transaction website ‘LoopNet.com’ lists the Cleveland Speedway property as being for sale. The facility located in Cleveland, Tenn. had re-opened on September 19, 2014 after a lengthy closure and considerable legal wrangling between various parties within Chattanooga’s Federal Bankruptcy Court.
According to the posting on LoopNet.com, the owners are asking $1.785 million for the third-mile clay oval and the 23.8 acres of property located at 2420 S. Lee Highway in Cleveland(Bradley County). The website listing was last updated on September 16, 2015.
The track was most recently purchased in a bankruptcy auction by Chattanooga area real estate developer Al Chapman in July of 2014. Chad Elliott was instrumental in bringing the dormant track back to life during much of its past year of operation. However, Elliott announced that he was leaving several weeks ago to assist at nearby Boyd’s Speedway.
According to the LoopNet.com listing, “The current owners have invested a large sum toward improvements: parking, new bleacher seats, updated press box and concessions. The Speedway hosts five racing divisions and operates most Saturday nights.”
The listing goes on to say that the property “is also ideal for redevelopment. Currently zoned Commercial Highway and is on the first exit off APD 40 at Cleveland, TN.”
Cleveland Speedway was originally opened in 1954 and was owned and operated by legendary driver and inaugural NASCAR World 600 winner Joe Lee Johnson throughout much of its history.
According to the Cleveland Speedway website, racing will take place on September 26, 2015 with all of the track’s divisions in action. The facility has events scheduled through November 22nd with the annual $5,000-to-win Gobbler for Super Late Models(sanctioned by Ray Cook) set to go on November 21st of this year.
