May 18–SPEEDWAY — In the midst of high winds and a power outage that caused much of the town to lose power, Speedway officials and representatives from MHG Hotels gathered at 6315 Crawfordsville Road to break ground for a new Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

The Crawfordsville Road corridor is one of four areas here where expansions and new developments are flourishing. The Courtyard by Marriott represents a $12 million investment in the town's growing Crawfordsville Road corridor. Upon completion, the 69,000 square-foot hotel will function as a cornerstone for Speedway Marketplace, a 20-acre mixed-use development that is already home to a new Chipotle restaurant and a Starbucks.

"We are delighted to welcome this Courtyard by Marriott to Speedway," Town Manager Jacob Blasdel said. "We have been thoughtful and strategic in how we attract and engage businesses in our community in the last 10 years. The redesign of the I-465 and Crawfordsville Road interchange has created a significant opportunity for this area to become a hub of hospitality and entertainment throughout this busy corridor."

The hotel will be designed around a racing theme and is expected to welcome racing fans as well as businesses and individuals who work with one of many corporations located in the town. Locally based MHG will own and manage the property. The hotel is slated for completion by the fall of 2018.

"As MHG continues to expand our footprint in Indiana and throughout the United States, the Town of Speedway is the type of community where we want to do business," Neal Patel, vice president of MHG, said. "With its close proximity to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, national and international corporations, and a strong workforce, Speedway is where we want to do business."

Last year, Speedway's Main Street District was recognized with the Indy Chamber's top honor — the Monumental Award — for its more than $100 million in economic and revitalization efforts in the heart of Speedway. Main Street is home to the headquarters of several racing teams, Speedway Indoor Karting, Dallara's IndyCar factory, Wilcox Environmental Engineering and a growing craft beer scene.

The development going on along Crawfordsville Road that also includes a soon-to-open state-of-the-art animal hospital, is but one more piece in the puzzle that will ultimately bring all corners of Speedway together.

For more information on Speedway's continued expansion and redevelopment efforts, visit the website at speedwayin.gov.

Follow Hendricks County Flyer Reporter Stephanie Dolan on Twitter @StephanieDolan.