Richard Jordan hopes to hold a race at Wiscasset Raceway the second or third week in October. But he can't solidify those plans until the property is officially his.

The sale could be finalized as soon as Aug. 10, Jordan said. Otherwise, it could take another week, he said in an interview Aug. 3. The lawyers representing him and the seller, the Bank of Maine, were working on it. Jordan, a Kingfield businessman, was the high bidder at the bank's foreclosure auction on the track July 12.

“Now it's just hurry up and wait,” he said of the process of closing on the deal. “I said, 'When you guys get it straight, I'll be there.'”

After the deal is done, Jordan hopes to call on the many people who have offered to help get the raceway ready. He'll schedule a work day, have a free cookout, and prepare a list of projects, he said.

On July 18, about 30 volunteers, including relatives and friends of Jordan's, bush-hogged the grounds and did some other preliminary work.

The week of Aug. 6, Jordan planned to meet state environmental officials at the West Alna Road property, to review what is needed for cleanup. He hoped to then have a better idea how to go about it, and how much it will cost.

After a May 2012 site visit, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection estimated the property contained about 3,100 tires, as well as construction and demolition debris. A “distinctive iron stain” appeared to be draining toward a nearby stream, a DEP letter states. The property's owner has to submit an “action plan” that addresses the dumping areas, according to the letter.

Prior to the auction, the bank had MAI Environmental of South Portland do an environmental assessment of the property. Cleanup could cost $200,000 to $300,000, according to the company.

Three weeks after his winning $130,000 bid, Jordan hasn't heard “one negative thing” from anyone about his plans to reopen the raceway. “I think that track has a place in a lot of people's hearts, and they want to see it open,” he said.

Dale Chadbourne does. The Woolwich man helped organize a 2011 race at Wiscasset Raceway. Jordan has spoken with him and other people involved in last year's event about possibly helping with this fall's race.

“We're all excited,” Chadbourne said of the prospect of racing returning to the track. “Can't wait.”