By Linda Collins
Fairborn Daily Herald
ENON — The iconic, world famous Budweiser Clydesdales will be making a grand appearance on Saturday morning in the Village of Enon as the newly renovated Speedway gasoline station and convenience store celebrates its official grand opening.
According to Stephanie Griffith, Communications Manager of the Marathon Petroleum Corporation, the eight-horse hitch will make a grand appearance at 10:50 a.m., courtesy of Anheuser-Busch. Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to the United States in the mid-1800s, and the horses have been a popular symbol of the brand since 1933.
The team will start its journey from the Speedway corporate headquarters, located on Speedway Drive, and travel south on Enon Road to the new station and convenience store at 90 N. Xenia Drive. In addition, the Clydesdales’ mascot, a Dalmatian, will take his key spot sitting next to the driver. Duke, Captain, Mark, Bud and the other Clydesdales will remain on site until 11:40 a.m.
The Clydesdales’ appearance will mark an important event for the Village of Enon, and the team of horses is expected to draw a large crowd. Speedway officials are encouraging the community to find a spot along the parade route early.
The fanfare will then continue at the new Speedway location, as the community awaits the arrival of former Ohio State University linebacker Anthony Schlegel at noon. Schlegel was a two-year letterman with the Buckeyes (2004-2005). He went on to earned all-Big Ten honors for the Fiesta Bowl and Big Ten champions and played in the East-West Shrine all-star game. Schlegel recorded 166 tackles in his two seasons with the Buckeyes, ranking third on the team with 84 as a junior and second with 82 as a senior. Schlegel will be available to sign autographs from noon until 2 p.m., compliments of Miller-Coors.
Those who visit Enon Speedway on Saturday will also have the opportunity to register to win a $25, $50 or $100 gift card and take advantage of several grand-opening specials, including any size coffee, fountain drink, Speedy Freeze, or tea for .69 cents. Handcrafted beverages will cost only 99 cents, and foot-long subs will be priced at $4. Speedy Spuds will also start at .99 cents. Griffith noted that these specials are for the Enon Speedway location only during the store’s grand opening celebration.
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is the exclusive charitable organization for the Convenient Stores of Speedway. All monies raised at this Speedway location directly benefit Dayton Children’s Medical Center.
Speedway began construction on June 6 and reopened for business on Sept. 15. The new 4,600- square-foot location features 18 consumer fueling lanes with nine auto dispensers, a beer cave, a complete convenience store, and a Speedy Café that features paninis, subs, specialty dogs, customizable pizzas, lattes, mochas, smoothies, frappes, breakfast sandwiches, and sides.
