Kirk Hobson, owner of K & M Motorsports, is taking over management of Jackson County’s dragstrip, Champion Raceway for the next season.

Hobson will be the third manager in the last three years for the Raceway succeeding Bob Lidell, who also owns the Redding Dragstrip and decided not to renew his contract with Jackson County this season.

Hobson has agreed to pay $2,000 to the county for rent and will be required to make at least $8,000 worth of improvements to the facility each year. This is different than Lidell’s arrangement, which called for the track operator to share a percentage of the profits.

Hobson wants to bring back Friday night racing, improve the bathrooms and return road, add new fencing and repair the grand stands.