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Local racer Todd Jones takes reins at I-77 Speedway

Photo courtesy of TSG Consulting MW Motorsports President Todd Jones, center, speaks during a press conference Wednesday announcing his plans for I-77 Speedway in Fairplain flanked by, from left, Travis Brookover, who races a super late model car; his son, Mack Brookover, who races a mini wedge; Tyler Carpenter, who races the No. 28 Kryptonite super late model car; and state Delegate Steve Westfall, R-Jackson.

FAIRPLAIN — A longtime fan and driver at I-77 Raceway Park is taking the lead in the effort to bring a full slate of racing back to the Jackson County track.

Todd Jones, who lives about two miles from the site, is leasing the dirt track as president of MW Motorsports, the company he formed to promote it. He will operate it under the track’s former name, I-77 Speedway.

Previous promoter KN Motorsports is stepping away after seven-and-a-half years.

On the track’s Facebook page, the company owners said they needed to focus on recovery from the June 23 flood’s impact on their community and business in Elkview.

“Unfortunately, this year, they were only able to run two races there at the track,” Jones said. “We’re going to race a full schedule from March through August on Saturday nights.”

That means 21 evenings of racing, with the possibility for more in September and October, Jones said. But his plans aren’t limited to just filling the race schedule.

“(We’re) trying to bring vendors in and make it more of an experience for fans, rather than just sit down and watch a race,” Jones said.

Jones said Kenney Newhouse, with KN, did a great job building up the track and he hopes to expand on that work and take it to the next level.

Improvements to the bleachers will be made before the new season starts, and there are also plans to improve race-day communications for both fans and drivers, while expanding concession and souvenir offerings.

The I-77 Speedway will play host to dirt track oval racing featuring super late model, open-wheel modified and steel block late model vehicles, mini wedges and possibly more, Jones said.

Having attended races at the track since the mid-’70s, Jones has also raced there along with his son, Tyler. When word spread that KN would no longer be the promoter, racers began talking about who would take over. Jones decided to step up to the challenge.

“We’re going to try this and see how it goes,” he said.

A news release announcing the change says several drivers support the new venture.

“It’s about time that someone stepped up to take over the famous I-77 Speedway and give us racers and fans another great track to go to,” Tyler Carpenter, with Kryptonite Racecars in Parkersburg, said in the release. “I can’t thank Todd Jones enough for keeping the track alive.”

Jones said the efforts can benefit the area beyond just the racing community.

“We hope to bring in 1,000 to 1,500 fans each Saturday during the season,” he said in the release.

“In addition to coming to I-77 Speedway, they likely will spend plenty of money at gas stations, restaurants and other businesses, which will help the local economy.”

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