MERCER — Racing has been a lifetime sport for longtime Butler resident Bill Altman.

Now he's upped the ante.

Altman, 65, who operated a trucking company based in Butler County for 35 years before selling that business, recently bought Mercer Raceway Park.

The track, located at 555 Fairground Road, had been owned by Vicki Emig since 1999 and was on the block for three years. Emig will stay on to handle promotional and marketing duties.

"Some people are ready to put their feet up and relax at age 65 — I'm not one of them," Altman said.

Mercer will celebrate its 60th anniversary next season. The three-eighths-mile track runs Sprints, Modifieds, Late Models, Stock Car and Mini-Stocks.

"I'm a fan of all the divisions, but I particularly love Sprint cars," Altman said. "It's always amazed me how fast they are and what they can do.

"I do want to make this the premier Sprint track in the region. The first thing I did was add $1,000 to the purse. We want to attract drivers up here."

Despite the economy, Altman said his goal is to attract more than 100 cars each Saturday night.

Altman has followed racing since the days of Butler Speedway. He was a car owner during those years, but he never raced himself. Altman has been a fan in the stands on Friday nights at Lernerville Speedway for years.

Emig said she couldn't have sold the track to a more promising replacement.

"Bill has all of the tools to successfully run this racetrack," Emig said. "He's already been a successful businessman and he's got the passion and knowledge of racing to care about its future.

"He's got some big ideas and I'm here to help him carry them out."

Emig said she will stay on "as long as he wants me to. I have a deep love for this facility."

Altman said he plans to make no further personnel changes. Terry Bowser of Sarver will run the pit area and Frank Benic will be the general manager.

Mike Leone will continue his public relations duties.

"Terry will be a big asset in the pits," Altman said. "He's raced a Sprint car himself and his son, Carl, is one of the bright, young Sprint drivers out there."

Bowser said Altman will be a track owner who understands the importance of satisfied drivers.

"Those drivers needed paid more and Bill responded," Bowser said. "Without the drivers, there is no racetrack. You have to take care of those guys."

Emig improved the aesthetics of Mercer Raceway when she bought the track. She described the facility's condition as "absolutely horrible" at the time she bought it.

"I put in new fencing, new telephone poles that were properly aligned, a guard rail, new scoreboard, VIP areas — basically gave the place a makeover," she said. "Now the grounds are immaculate and it's an attractive place to come race and watch racing."

Altman sold his trucking business in June 2007. He stayed on as an adviser, but that contract runs out in June.

"The transition is working out really well," Altman said. "My only goal is to make the racetrack better. You do that by keeping the right people in the right jobs and letting them do their thing."