Blog

Oct 30, 2024

Proposed junk yard may replace South Bend Motor Speedway

From a racetrack to a junk yard. It's all part of a new proposal for the South Bend Motor Speedway. The last race ever was held there on Saturday. Now a proposed auto wrecking yard could take its

From a racetrack to a junk yard.

It's all part of a new proposal for the South Bend Motor Speedway.

The last race ever was held there on Saturday.

Now a proposed auto wrecking yard could take its place.

The buyer, Insurance Auto Auction or IAA, has proposed an auto wrecking yard at the former racetrack.

But the plan requires rezoning, which means saying goodbye to a longstanding racetrack, the South Bend Motor Speedway.

"There’s just not a big enough supply and demand," said Tony Eldridge, South Bend Motor Speedway General Manager.

But a new project could soon occupy the land and it’s not a racetrack, it's a auto wrecking yard.

“When someone hears about a wreckage yard it kind of connotates a use where vehicles come in and they worked on there stripped down. There’s a lot of noise oil and toxic substances might be involved. That’s not what this is going to be,” said Dick Nussbaum, Attorney for IAA.

IAA currently owns a lot north of State Road 2 near the racetrack and if the county approves, it could soon have a second.

But an Indiana conservation group released a statement saying the land is home to a rare ecosystem and the rezoning is threatening to destroy it.

The conservation group said, “Indiana Nature, LLC joins other conservation partners in staunchly opposing this project as it will destroy perhaps the county’s last remaining sizeable Black Oak Savannah Habitat. The property is home to numerous high-conservation value native plants and a breeding ground for many species of birds.”

Speedway officials said efforts were made to try to sell the track to keep races going, but no buyers made an offer.

Now the property is up for sale on a land deal.

“We’ve tried to sell it as a racetrack. We had a couple of different people interested in purchasing the racetrack. Unfortunately, no one stepped up to the plate with the cash or check to make that happen,” said Eldridge.

Meanwhile, it's an emotional end of an era for the racing community.

“It is very sad for all of us. We absolutely love the place. We all shed tears this week, but you know those days have come and gone,” said Eldridge.

It’s a bittersweet end to the motor speedway that will be greatly missed.

The requested petition will be presented at a meeting of the Area Plan Commission on Tuesday, September 17th.