Milan Dragway’s Perry and Pam Merlo Discuss Track’s Renovation and Future

In December 2021, business partners Perry Merlo and Harold Bullock took ownership of Michigan’s historic Milan Dragway. Situated not far from Detroit, the track has been a Motor City area staple since it originally opened in 1964. The Merlos invested time, money, and additional resources into revitalizing the aging facility. Now, they are ready to find the next individual or group who can continue their mission to make Milan a destination track for racers and fans alike. 

After retiring earlier than planned from a successful career as a concrete and excavating contractor, Merlo took over Milan Dragway when it came up for sale. The facility needed a lot of work, but with wife Pam’s support and Bullock’s racing and track knowledge, the group felt confident they could succeed. 

“Milan has a rich history,” says Pam Merlo. “Milan has been around for 60 years. Generations of racers and families have been coming here for decades. People love Milan. The main reason that we thought we should buy the track was that Harold had track and racing knowledge, and Perry had the building and the business acumen. The market, I think, is also what sold us. We are in southeastern Michigan. We have Detroit, the Motor City, and we have Northern Ohio and Toledo. This is car country, so there is a lot of opportunity for Milan.”

The new ownership group immediately started working to renovate the facility. Projects included asphalt and concrete paving, updates to the men’s and women’s restrooms, renovations to the pro shop, club house, performance center, concession buildings, and more. They also added a bar near the starting line called the Water Box Bar. 

“We did a substantial amount of paving, new staging lanes, new top half of the track,” Perry Merlo says. “All the buildings have new roofs, new paint, and air conditioning. Grounds that have not been cared for in years now look amazing and beautiful, and our customers have been sure to let us know they are impressed.”

Signature events in 2024 included the Detroit Dragway Reunion Nostalgia Nationals, the Night of Fire, and a stop on HOT ROD Drag Week, which increased the track’s exposure on an international scale. The season also featured Milan’s signature Heads-Up Racing Series, a six-race program. In 2025, the track will also serve as a stop on Tom Bailey and Sick the Magazine’s new Michigan Miles drag-and-drive event. An outline of additional 2025 events is located on the track’s website, www.MilanDragway.com.

The Merlos have received positive feedback from racers who have competed at the track since the ownership change. That encouraging feedback continued at the track’s recent driver meetings to discuss the 2025 season. Racers are thrilled with the facility improvements and showed great interest in continuing to support Milan Dragway in 2025 and beyond. 

The Merlos and Bullock are actively preparing for the 2025 season, but they’re also currently fielding offers from perspective buyers who are interested in continuing to operate the track. The group is eager to find a buyer, but they have no plans of stopping operations anytime soon. 

“We’ve very proud of what we’ve done here, and we’re going to continue business as usual,” Perry says. “I am 66 and it is time for me to retire. We have done what we came here to do, and it is time for us to find somebody else to carry on what we’ve started. We have built a strong financial foundation, vastly improved the business operational structure, and restored the trust and support with the nearby communities.”

Milan Dragway is known, obviously, for its iconic dragstrip, but as Bullock points out, it is also a multi-purpose facility that can attract much more than drag racing to the area. With such a rich automotive culture in the market, Milan’s owners are quick to call the track an “unearthed gem.”

“The Milan facility is situated in a market that also allows for potential activities outside of drag racing including mud bog, motocross, and more,” Bullock said. 

For information contact Leslie Black at LMBlack@thewoodwardco.com. 

This story was originally published on November 25, 2024.

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