ARAPAHOE COUNTY —Visiting the former dog track now operating as Colorado Motor Sports Park east of Byers is like taking a step back into the 1970s, from the paint down to the molded plastic seats in the enclosed grandstands.
But when the park’s owner/promoter, Don Hulse, walks through its buildings, he sees the future.
Arapahoe County issued Hulse a temporary use permit on March 25, approving more than a dozen events at the 70-acre complex at 2050 S. Peoria Crossing Road.
Wet weather already pushed back the May 1 season debut, but Hulse and company are planning to get things started Friday with stock cars, 4×4 trucks and other vehicles competing under a re-purposed lighting system Hulse installed less than a month ago.
This summer’s slate is just the beginning, Hulse said.
“The bottom line with this facility is we are promoting it as a nationally recognized facility,” said Hulse. “We’re working on landing a lot of national events, but we’re still going to run local events every other Friday night. It’s going to be everything to do with a dirt motor sports park.”
Opening as the Interstate Kennel Club, the track has been almost entirely vacant — despite the efforts of a — since its last dog race in 1991.
Equity Holdings Group Inc., of which Hulse is CEO, purchased the park for an undisclosed sum in 2012 and leases it to Colorado Motor Sports Park.
, who represents the area surrounding the track, said it appears Hulse and his group are putting it to good use.
“I think it’s great for what he’s planning to do out there. There should be no noise or light impacts to anything around there,” Bockenfeld said.
The commissioners approved preliminary development plans and zoning for the park at a hearing last month, but a final development plan has yet to win approval, according to county officials. Hulse has vowed to accomplish that step — which would clear him to host events without special permitting — by the end of the year.
A Strasburg resident with background as land developer, home builder and general contractor, Hulse said his group has about $1.25 million tied up in the project, and the owners expect eventually to spend about $3 million on improvements.
The company booked four events — two motorsports competitions and two concerts — last summer, but wet weather foiled two of them, Hulse said. He since installed a pump and large water storage tank under the track to ease water removal.
Future plans include extending the concrete barrier and catch fencing around the track and revitalizing the 60,000-square-foot, 1,700-seat enclosed grandstands and adjoining building so events can be held there year-round. Hulse said he has already booked an alternative fuels expo in August.
He is planning a 6,000-square-foot tavern for the grandstands building.
“Ever since we bought this and started talking about doing what we want to do with it, people have just been champing at the bit to get out here and not only race, but watch the races, as well,” he said. “The ‘want to’ is there.”
Joe Bellm, president of Blood, Sweat and Tears Promotions, is partnering on race promotions at the park.
“It’s got so much potential it’s not even funny,” said Bellm, who promotes dirt track racing all over the state. “We’ll be able to bring more national-level shows here with the size and proximity to Denver.”
Hulse credited area residents for supporting his project. He said he strives to be a good neighbor, volunteering a midnight curfew for the lights at the park and refusing to host the Riot Fest concert that .
Denise Robinson, owner of Byers’ Country Burger Family Restaurant, said she’ll open race season with open arms.
“What people are going to do is they are going to stop here and eat before they go out there,” Robinson said. “It could bring business to our town, and our town needs that.”
Joe Rubino: 303-954-2953 or jrubino@denverpost.com
Colorado motor sports park
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