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James Trantina (Cody Papke File Photo)
Sasker sells North Central Speedway to Trantina, who will then own three Minnesota dirt tracks
Submitted by FYE Motorsports
BRAINERD, MN - For the first time since 2001, North Central Speedway—located just south of Brainerd, Minnesota—will have new ownership take control at the end of May.
James Trantina, who owns Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, MN and just recently completed the purchase of the I-94 emr Speedway in Fergus Falls, MN, has acquired North Central Speedway to add a third dirt track property to his portfolio. He will officially take over on May 26 of this year.
Trantina also owns Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, a business encompassing 18 towing and automotive companies across Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota. He is a longtime racer as well, and will embark on his rookie season behind the wheel of a Late Model this season with both a WISSOTA and an open competition Late Model at his disposal.
The 2026 season at North Central will remain unchanged, featuring WISSOTA Super Stocks and Mod Fours. In 2027 plans are to run a full slate of WISSOTA Auto Racing divisions, with the possibility of several open-sanctioned classes as well.
“I am very excited to have three tracks and to be able to bring some traveling series in to run all three tracks, along with having mini-series and bonuses in 2027 [among] all three tracks,” Trantina said. “We are excited to give the 65-year-old facility some much-needed TLC and to be able to make it another race destination in Minnesota.”
North Central Speedway, which is widely known for its premier event each year, the Mighty Axe Nationals, is a 1/3-mile dirt oval that opened in 1960 and hosts regular Saturday night racing action from April to September each year.
Businessman Cliff Saskar purchased the track in the fall of 2001 and is turning over the reins to Trantina and his team as the season is just beginning.
Located at 9651 Business Highway 371 in Brainerd, the facility sits just off the highway in central Minnesota.
The facility offers 31 fully enclosed and air-conditioned suites, plus several booths and bleacher seating on both sides of the track for upward of 6,000 people.
For more information on the speedway, please visit www.RaceNCS.net.