Local racing legend embraces new role

Look inside his shop and it hits you: Donnie Moran knows winning.

“People don’t realize how many hours you put into it,” Moran said. “It’s what you put into it, it’s what you get out of it.”

It’s been 15 years since “The Million Dollar Man” earned his nickname for winning the largest cash prize in dirt track history.

Now, Moran is shifting gears to the track where it all began.

“I’m a little bit nervous like ‘Man, what am I going to do?'” Moran said.

Donnie’s father, Ronnie, has owned Muskingum County Speedway since 1980. At 79 years old, Ronnie decided to step down from the track where his son ran his first race at age 16.

“When the race track didn’t know if it was going to open this year, I kind of went out of a limb and talked to dad and said ‘Hey, give me a shot to run it,'” Moran said.

This season–for the first time–Donnie is the man in charge.

“It’s a little intense and a lot of lot of work!” Moran said with a laugh.

Countless reasons to give this speedway the restart it deserves on opening night, and a million reasons for “The Million Dollar Man” to keep racing alive in Muskingum County.