HIALEAH, Fla. - A new chapter in the life of Hialeah Speedway will begin on Saturday, April 8 as the famed Miami-area oval will reopen under a new management team headed by Mike Powers.

Powers, a driver in the track's Cyclone division, and his group, formed to help get the outstanding property tax bill paid, have met with the landlord, Pat Bell, and worked out details to allow the speedway to continue to operate through the end of 2002 and possibly beyond.

The speedway was dark Saturday night (3-24) and will also be closed this week (4-1) while everything is put in place for the reopening. It is believed that the existing four divisions - late model sportsman, street stock, mini stock and cyclone will continue as usual with very little change planned on the pit area side of the 46-year-old third-mile oval.

With this management change it apparently spells the end to the Greater Miami Racing Association, the club which built and managed the speedway from it's opening day in 1954. The club was initially involved with the old Opa-Locka Speedway in 1950 as well as Medley Speedway, which closed in 1964.

Ron Kaouk, who managed the speedway from 1996 until recently, will not be involved in any capacity other than a car owner for his son Greg and others.

-Marty Little

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