West Virginia Motor Speedway, the 5/8-mile track in Mineral Wells that has been closed for nearly two years, will have new life with Thursday’s announcement of its purchase by Mike and Becky Hurley of Goldvein, Va.

The couple have plans to immediately begun revitalizing the WVMS property highlighted by a project to construct a 3/8-mile oval in the infield of the large track. They hope to complete the new layout in time to host a few events later this season in anticipation of a larger schedule in 2026.

“My heart has always been in dirt track racing,” Mike Hurley said in a press release. “This is more than just a business opportunity. It’s a way to give back to the sport I love and the fans who make it all possible. We’re ready to breathe new life into West Virginia Motor Speedway and make it a premier destination for racing in the country.”

Mike Hurley is a successful entrepreneur and lifelong dirt track racing enthusiast. He’s the founder of the largest privately-owned pest and wildlife control company in the nation — a booming business that he built from the ground up to operate in 14 states — and is involved in dirt-track racing through his ongoing sponsorships of Dirt Late Model racers Kyle Hardy of Stephens City, Va., and Gregory Carrico of Sperryville, Va.

The press release revealing the track’s ownership change details the husband-and-wife team’s goal “to enhance the fan experience, support local and regional drivers, modernize the facility and build a new short track for teams and fans.” They plan a series of upgrades to WVMS beyond the construction of the smaller track, including more fan amenities, improved lighting and a general modernization of the facility designed to attract high-level racing series, “grow attendance and engagement” and create “a next-level experience for both fans and drivers alike well into the future.”

Mike Hurley said he will be active at the speedway while working with the track’s most recent promoter, Cody Watson, to streamline the transition. The track was closed for for most of the 2010s before Watson took over and presented several special events from 2021-23, but Watson’s continued struggles to draw fields to compete on the sprawling, high-speed oval ultimately led him to end his promotional effort following the rainout of the finale of a Lucas Oil Late Model Series doubleheader in June 2023.

More information on the new era at WVMS is available at www.WVMotorSpeedway.com.