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* Special thanks to Larry
Alter, Findlay Courier Sports Editor for compiling this information. |
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1954 |
| The
thrills and spills, a trademark of grass roots businessmen
developed Millstream Speedway.
Richard and Jerry August, Bud
Russell, Charles Fields, Harold Livingston, Jas Risner, Bob and
Jack Zigman, Glen Miller and Frank Litzenberg each invested $500
and Charles Litzenberg donated 63 acres of land west of Findlay.
Jerry August served an 11-term as
Millstream's first president. The cost of admission --$1.50. |
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1965
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In 1965,
the corporation sold out to Jay Risner, Bob Zigman and Glen
Miller, and two years later Dot and Paul Szakovits and Paul’s parents, Jim
and Josephine Szakovits of Fremont bought the facility. The Szakovits, who
changed the name from Millstream to Findlay Speedway, also operated
Fremont Speedway and held racing at Fremont on Saturday nights and at the
local track on Sunday nights |
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1970
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Then after the 1970 season, Szakovits sold
out to a nine-member Findlay group of president Ed Rettig, Rex Tong, Will
Leathers, Jr., Jim Smith, Dave Rice, Tom Chatelain, Doyt Woodward, Lou
Hindall and George “Shorty” Lentz. They formed the Millstream Motor
Speedway Inc. as the base for the 3/8-mile high-banked oval. |
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1975
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Five years later, in 1975, famous Eldora
Speedway owner Earl Baltes
purchased an interest in the track and a concrete wall was built around
the facility. Dean Miracle was a former operator at Millstream and Ken
Langhals of Delphos had ownership for two years before selling out to
owner Bill Paxton of Toledo after the 1995 season. |
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1995 |
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Bill Paxton
adopted the name of Flag City Motorsports Park and under his
guidance the oval had undergone a detailed transformation to enhance the
clay-based racing surface. During his ownership, many improvements were
made to the facility including relocating the pit area to the vacant field
on the back straight, stoning the parking lot, erecting a pit bleacher and
painting the walls. In 1996, Paxton brought Jeff Gordon back to the track.
Gordon had won his first ever Sprint Car race at Millstream
Speedway at the age of 14.
During the 1999 season, the
racetrack was rented from Mr. Paxton by William Mead. The track
did not open for racing during the 2000 season. |
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2000
>
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In
November,
2000, the track was purchased by Speedway Properties, Inc., which is owned
by Greg and Mary Beth Roe of Toledo. They continue to work
diligently to reopen Millstream Speedway to the great track it is known
for. Some improvements being made can be seen on the website photo
page. They include building repairs, fixing a fallen front stretch
wall, new pit check-in building, redoing all infield electrical service and basic facility cleanup. |

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