Petty Holdings told their employees today that the Richard Petty Driving Experience and the Exotic Driving Experience at Walt Disney World will close June 28. Bill Scott, executive vice president of attractions operator Petty Holdings LLCLLC, said, “Disney has other uses for the property and they have the right to do that, and we respect that. It’s not without some sadness that we leave Walt Disney World Speedway. We had a great home here.”
Scott said that Petty Holdings would like to open another exotic-car attraction in the area, which would require a road course. He said it would be more difficult to find a location for a regular speedway.
Disney is planning to use the space for “transportation improvements,” but didn’t specify what those projects might be.
There are about 70 employees at the speedway; half are permanent employees and 12 are full time. The rest work when needed at special events. Some employees will transfer employment to the Daytona International Speedway at their Richard Petty Driving Experience. Other employees may be found jobs around the Disney resort.
The Richard Petty Driving Experience opened in 1997 and added the Exotic Driving Experience in 2012.
News source: Orlando Sentinel
