The Norton Raceway Park has crossed the finish line.

The former Barberton Speedway was sold in December to Good Luck Properties for some $500,000 and its future has been in doubt ever since.

It's now official. The 27-acre racetrack on Barberton's east side will not open for the 2026 season.

An auction of everything from the bleachers to a hot dog maker to a giant Union 76 gas sign is planned.

Kiko Auctions is hosting an online auction from March 27 to April 2 for what is billed as the "Former Barberton Speedway, Equipment and Contents Dispersal."

The speedway that dates back some 80 years has had a number of owners and was in need of costly repairs that "were financially difficult to absorb" when the most recent track operators took over.

The property's new owner, Keith Luck, said his intention was always to use the former racetrack to expand his neighboring business, Mulch Makers of Ohio.

Luck said he had hoped the previous owners could have found a way to make the track viable.

"I understand and appreciate the deep attachment that the local community has to the Barberton Speedway being born and raised in the city of Barberton, and having attended many races throughout the years with my father," he said in a statement. "Because of this, I have passed on several opportunities over the past 10 years to acquire the property, despite the value it would have added to Mulch Makers business, in order to defer to other interested parties that intended to continue the Speedway's existing operations."

A number of racetracks have closed in Ohio over the years, including the Columbus Motor Speedway, the SanduskySpeedway and the Painesville Speedway.

Luck said these racetracks – like the one in Norton – simply cannot survive given rising costs from insurance to taxes and competition for an audience.

"While I understand this is deeply disappointing to the Barberton Speedway's loyal patrons, this outcome has been inevitable for many years now due to these economic factors," he said. "Many parties have tried, and ultimately failed, to continue the Barberton Speedway's existence as a viable business."

The plan is to use the property to expand Mulch Makers which now employs some 40 people.

"Purchasing this adjacent property will allow for the expansion of its current business operations, creating more jobs and further increasing the benefits to the local community," Luck said.

Below is Luck's full statement:

Written Statement Re Barberton Speedway From Keith N. Luck  by  Lauren Young

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Barberton Speedway closes permanently, auction set for equipment