Bradenton Motorsports Park And The Freedom Factory Are In Danger From Encroaching Development, And You Can Help

The doom and gloom picture, painted when race tracks close, is a sight no racer or enthusiast wants to see. Florida has endured a few of these in recent times, as Lakeland Drag Strip and Palm Beach International Raceway have both ceased as places where race fans can go for their fix of a hobby hundreds of thousands of people enjoy each year.

Now, Bradenton Motorsports Park and the Freedom Factory could potentially be facing that same fate.

Tom Bailey rockets off the starting line at Bradenton Motorsports Park during Sick Week 2022.

 A 2700 acre parcel of land is going up for a change of use, and if the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners approves the change, up to 4500 homes could be built less than two miles from both tracks. Most enthusiasts know what the next step could be after that, and tracks that have played host to millions of racers and fans alike since they were opened nearly 50 years ago could be lost.

Bradenton Motorsports Park was the host track for Sick Week 2022 and will feature once again at Sick Week 2023.

Not only are the effects to the motorsport industry obvious, but there are also flow-on effects for many local businesses, from hotels to gas stations.

Freedom Factory owner Garrett Mitchell, AKA Cleetus McFarland, has been presenting his case in front of the county at recent meetings, as you can watch below:

Hundreds of enthusiasts swarmed the Freedom Factory the evening prior to kick-off of Sick Week 2022.

How can you make a difference? Both the Freedom Factory and Bradenton Motorsport Park have asked for the following.

If you’re in the area, you can attend a public hearing on December 15 at 9am at the Manatee County Administrative Center. Or, you can e-mail the following commissioners at their e-mails below (please be respectful):  

james.satcher@mymanatee.org, amanda.ballard@mymanatee.org, kevin.vanostenbridge@mymanatee.org, mike.rahn@mymanatee.org, vanessa.baugh@mymanatee.org, jason.bearden@mymanatee.org, george.kruse@mymanatee.org

Include your full name and address in the email, and “I Oppose Application PA-21-09/Ordinance - Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Map and Text Amendment 23-11 PLN2111-0048” in the subject line.

 - Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick The Magazine.