CLAY TWP - Switchback Raceway is now on its third owner in the track's seven-year history.

If Rich Butler has his way, he will be the track's last owner for years to come.

"I'm not planning on going anywhere," he said. "There is incredible potential here."

Butler, 31, of Ford City bought the supercross and motocross dirt track in early January. Todd Shingleton and Larry Hopper were its previous owners.

Shingleton owns the building sitting in front of the supercross track along Route 8 just north of Butler. That will be a hobby shop.

Butler has nothing to do with that. He now owns two dirt tracks - the other being High Voltage MX Park in Ford City - and is busy renovating the Switchback courses.

High Voltage MX Park has been open since 2003 but has hosted only a couple of races. It has mainly been a practice facility.

Butler said Switchback will be more active.

"We've pulled a lot of stones and tires out of here," he said. "The soil isn't as good here, but I'm bringing a lot of dirt and sand in.

"It will take some time, but my plans are to turn this into a racing park for families of all ages."

Included in that plan is a mini-pit bike track for beginners that Butler plans to construct on Switchback's grounds.

"Like everybody else, those people need a place to ride," he said. "We want to meet everybody's needs."

Butler is teaming Switchback with Plumcreek Valley MX Park in Elderton to form the MX Race Series, 10 Saturday night supercross racing events that will award points titles.

The first MX Race Series event at Switchback is June 18.

The motocross hare scramble schedule is under way. The first race was April 17 and monthly races will be held through October.

The first hare scramble attracted 74 riders, bikes and quads. Butler hopes that number reaches 200 before the season is over.

"I've had a passion for this sport for a long time," he said. "I began riding a bike around the track when I was 12 or 13, but couldn't afford to start racing until I was out of college."

A Penn State graduate, Butler works in radiology for UPMC.

Butler described his responsibilities at the track as "constant maintenance. You have to keep the course in shape if you expect riders to come back.

"This sport is booming. Motorcycle sales are through the roof. It's catching NASCAR as the fastest growing sport in America and these people need a place to ride," he added.

Switchback attracts riders from Ohio, West Virginia and New York, as well those from Western Pennsylvania

Butler hopes to have the track open for practice in mid-May. Quads and minis will have practice time available from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays while all bikes will have that same time frame Wednesdays.

Following MX Series events on Saturday nights, the supercross track will be available for practice from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

"A lot of riders will be coming in from out of town for those races," Butler said. "They can stay overnight and practice here before they head home.

"There are few supercross and motocross tracks out there to begin with. Even fewer allot practice time. A lot of tracks are open just for race events."

Butler described supercross racing as more technical with a series of jumps on a designed course. Motocross uses natural terrain and goes through the woods.

Besides bringing in sand and dirt, Butler is installing an underground irrigation system with sprinklers at the track. He will have a pro shop open at some point this season.

"We'll have parts, accessories, racing gear - if a rider breaks down and needs something, we'll have it," Butler said. "It will probably take a year or so before it's fully stocked."

The concession stand will be in operation this season and Butler plans to renovate the grandstand area eventually.

"Our riders range in age here from 3 to people in their 60s," Butler said. "I've seen kids come in here with training wheels on their motor bikes. Dads are starting their kids out before they've learned to ride a bicycle.

"We want to accommodate everyone. That's the goal. Our last race here is the Gobbler's Grand Prix in November. This place will look radically different by then."