Rumors became reality when it was reported in the Peoria Journal Star that a developer may select Minonk as the site for a new racetrack.  Randy Hallyer of Dahinda is proposing to build three race tracks in the section immediately north of Minonk.  The tracks would be a quarter-mile drag strip, a 1/2 mile asphalt oval track and a 2 and 1/2 mile road course. 

Hellyer is meeting with the Minonk City Council in executive session Monday night to discuss the sale of property for locating the track.  The 640 acre section of land is currently owned by U. S. Waste Management of Dallas, Texas.  Since the land is adjacent to the Minonk city limits, annexation of the land would be possible. 

Other communities have made offers to lure the race track but it appears that Minonk has been selected.  The city's location on I-39 halfway between I-80 to the north and I-55 and I-74 to the south makes it an attractive site for potential developers who are looking for relatively cheap land and low taxes to locate their business in a central location with easy accessibility. 

According to the developer's figures, the development of the race track would be a $13 million project that could generate an estimated $150,000 in additional real estate taxes each year and create $15.9 million in yearly operation impacts.  It is estimated that the race tracks could draw up to 500,000 spectators a year within 5 years.   Hundreds of seasonal jobs would also be created along with 7 full-time jobs.

Mayor Mark Spencer said he is excited about the potential for the city.  He added that there will public input into the development of the race track before any final decisions are made in regards to the city's involvement in the development.