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Talladega Short Track is set to get new owners with Adam Stewart of Crate Racin’ USA and a partner purchasing the third-mile Eastaboga, Ala., oval that sits across the highway from one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks.

The deal is nearly complete for co-owners Lynn “Preacher” Phillips and Mike Donahoo to sell the high-profile home of January’s Ice Bowl to Stewart and David Miller of Hoosier Tire South. Employees were told Monday of the impending sale. Terms weren't disclosed

“I’ve got plenty going on but the opportunity came up and it was something I couldn’t not do honestly,” Stewart said. “It’s home for me. It’s where I started and I think the place has exponential potential with some revamping.

“There are not many racetracks with that history that have had essentially one ownership team with Lynn Phillips and Alfred (Gurley) and you know, his family, Mike Donahoo. How many tracks have been owned by the same people for 45 years? Not many. And weekly racing … there’s probably not a stronger weekly racetrack in this part of the country.”

Gurley built the track that opened in 1977 with Phillips coming on as a co-owner the next year. They owned and operated the track until Gurley’s death six years ago with Donahoo, Gurley’s stepson, becoming a co-owner when Gurley’s widow Louise died in 2018.

“I’m getting older, and Lynn Phillips is getting older, and it’s tougher for all of us to keep doing what we did just a few years ago at the same level we were able to do it,” Donahoo told Brian McLeod of Crate Racin’ USA. “It’s a tough business. We’re tired, and we’re getting more tired. We sure ain’t tired of racing though. We still love the sport, and we’ll be around to help them should they need it, and we’re more than willing to do that.”

Donahoo says the track will be in good hands with Stewart, who will make TST one of Crate Racin’ USA’s lynchpin facilities.

“He’s one of the reasons we’re fully on board with the decision to sell this racetrack. He’s been here since he was a kid, and his first dirt track job was right here,” Donahoo said. “He’s had the opportunity to work, travel and now operate Crate Racin’ USA, and he’s been to a lot of tracks and learned a lot about the racing industry. This place will be in good hands. We’d had people in the past wanting to buy it, but they were the first group to come to us and make an official offer, and we believe it’s a good decision for the long-term future of the racetrack.”

Talladega’s facility, which includes a go-kart track, has operated weekly on Saturdays with Super Late Model, Limited Late Models and Crate Late Models (604 and 602 classes) among regular divisions. The Ice Bowl, in its 30th season, is among the most popular offseason events in the country and Talladega has hosted other major events, including the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series this season.