The property sits on Barnes Municipal Airport land; Westfield is willing to purchase the remaining 2 years of the speedway's lease.
Aerial view of Whip City Speedway in Westfield.WESTFIELD – Whip City Speedway, which has hosted summer motor vehicle racing since 1995, has closed, and city officials are preparing a development plan to attract aviation-related business to the site.
The closing of the quarter-mile dirt track was announced Wednesday through its website and by co-owner David H. Pighetti.
“Westfield is interested in buying him (Pighetti) out of the remaining two years on his lease with the city,” said Westfield Advancement Officer Jeffrey R. Daley.
“This is a vital piece of land, and the city wants to create a development plan for that parcel,” Daley said.
The multi-year lease is with the city’s Airport Commission, and Barnes Municipal Airport manager Brian P. Barnes said “it is sad to see the raceway go, but the commission favors not renewing the lease."
“The city is interested in buying the remaining years of the lease and then proceed with additional aviation-related development there,” Barnes explained.
Commission chairman Gary M. Francis agreed.
City officials noted that the raceway sits on airport land adjacent to runway perimeter fencing just off North Road-Route 202.
“We are looking to change our (airport) entry way and redevelop the property to enhance Barnes Municipal Airport,” Barnes said.
Two large aviation firms, General Dynamics Aviation Services and Gulfstream Aerospace, are located near the speedway on Elise Street.
Drivers make the turn around the dirt track in a qualifying heat in the 1200cc Division at the Whip City Speedway.The speedway had been home to racers of Mini-Sprints, Quad-4 Midgets, Modified Lites, go-karts and other racing classes since it opened in 1995.
Pighetti said options aimed at keeping the speedway open, under different ownership among racing enthusiasts, are being considered.
Attendance and competitors have dwindled in recent years, but the track has “always showed a bit of profit,” the owner said.
But Daley said the city plans to initiate negotiations to purchase the lease back from track owners.
Staff reporter Jason Remillard contributed to this report.