Matt Weaver
Mottville Speedway, a moderately banked quarter mile in White Pidgeon, Michigan, has been sold and will be redeveloped into grounds for a new church.
Restoration Church in nearby Constantine confirmed over the weekend that it purchased the property and would build a new chapel on the ground. The track has been on the market after its closure and redevelopment was forced by the township.
Before any redevelopment begins, Restoration Church has committed to one final farewell event for the speedway.
“We have a lot of memories there (and have) been talking about having some type of ceremony this year before anything changes on the grounds,” said a representative of Restoration Church. “We’ll make sure to post something on Facebook once we plan that, so stay tuned.”
Mottville Speedway opened on July 4, 1950 as a dirt quarter mile owned by Alvin Lammon of Three Rivers, Michigan with New Paris Speedway founder Joe Hamsher serving as an advisor. It was paved in the 1960s under the stewardship of Buck Jones.
RD Vaughn inherited the track in a trade before selling it to Hamsher in the early 1970’s.
Ralph and Nancy McGlothlen purchased Mottville prior to 1982 and renamed it Southwest Michigan Speedway. It was during the eight years that the McGlothlens operated the facility that the track enjoyed its most prosperity in terms of racers and structural improvements.
Tony Raines, Denny Nyari, Andy Bozell, Doug Hanna, Jim Blount, Randy Sweet and Larry Knowlton were amongst the regular headliners.
The track was purchased by Merle and Judith Holden in 1990 and operated by Merle through his death in 2022. One last abbreviated season was contested in 2023 and its final championship banquet will be held on March 2.
Matt Weaver is a Motorsports Insider for Sportsnaut. Follow him on Twitter.
