The owners and promoters of the Honda Indy Toronto are now the owners of three races on the IZOD IndyCar Series calendar with the acquisition Wednesday of the fabled Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course near Lexington, Ohio.
It was announced in a release Wednesday night that Green Savoree Racing Promotions had purchased the race track from Dublin, Ohio-based TrueSports, Inc.
Founded in 2009 by motorsports executives Kim Green and Kevin Savoree, Green Savoree Racing Promotions is a motorsports event ownership and management company that also owns and operates the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
“Properties like Mid-Ohio don’t come on the market every day,” said Savoree, in a release. “It was a great opportunity to invest in a property with a great history and tradition that, like us, has deep roots in sports car and Indy car racing. It was also a chance to extend our relationship with Honda, which is a long-time partner of Mid-Ohio and our other properties.”
Said TruSports Inc. President Michelle Trueman Gajoch: “This is a positive and very exciting deal, and one that serves all our interests. Kim (Green) and Kevin have a great track record as team owners and event promoters and will bring a new energy and perspective to the operation.”
The Mid-Ohio track was opened in 1962 for weekend sports car racing. In 1982, the track was purchased by Jim Trueman, founder of Red Roof Inns and father of Michelle Gajoch.
Trueman was one of the founders of CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) with Dan Gurney, Roger Penske and Pat Patrick. His Truesports Indy car team with Bobby Rahal driving won the 1986 Indianapolis 500 several weeks before his death.
Mid-Ohio, which is mid-way between Columbus and Cleveland, will celebrate its 50th season of racing in 2011. The track’s schedule will include the Honda Indy 200 in early August.
As a postscript, I understand that in addition to Toronto, St. Pete’s and now the Mid-Ohio event, Green and Savoree have made inquiries as to the availability of yet another race on the IZOD IndyCar Series calendar.
Stay tuned. These men are on the move.
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