The Scoop
TOM WAGNER OPINES ON THE FUTURE OF RACING IN DOOR COUNTY
Posted on: Sunday October 22, 2023
Tom Wagner (right) poses with former Sturgeon Bay track announcers Ed Anschutz (left) and the late Fritz Van (middle). (danlewisphoto.net)
WANTED – a promoter to continue the regular stock car racing program at The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay located at John Miles Park.
Back in September the promoting group PKS3 which has promoted the stock car racing program in Sturgeon Bay for the past seven years announced that 2023 would be their final season operating the third-mile, clay oval.
The track has faced many challenges over the years – the main one being its location. With water surrounding them the Sturgeon Bay oval has always relied upon its core of Door County racers but also racers and fan in nearby Kewaunee and Brown County to help fill both the grandstand and pit area.
However according to long time track historian, track announcer and Hall of Famer Tom Wagner, there are many good things that any potential new promoter can build upon.
“If someone does come in, a big positive is that there is a consistent core of local competitive teams participating each race night,” said Wagner, a lifelong resident of Sturgeon Bay. “The local count has had some upward growth the past several years, a good trend.”
Four time stock car champion Brett Wenzel of Two Rivers. (@KaylaLyn photo)
Wagner is also quick to point out that at the Sturgeon Bay oval, there remained enough teams from neighboring counties outside of Door County who showed up to do battle regularly at the oval affectionately called by many “The Circle of Death. “Four-time stock car champion Brett Wenzel (Two Rivers in Manitowoc County) is a classic example of that,” Wagner pointed out. “Its not much different when the teams from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula came with their modifieds around the Bay each week back in the 1970’s. Sometimes we get fixated on car count. While it’s nice to have a huge back gate, you can still put on a quality show without one.”
What could be viewed as either a curse or a blessing – The Hill’s schedule in recent years was not your traditional, race every week, grind-it-out for 18 nights or so. In 2023 the track hosted a nine-race schedule, which included seven Saturday nights, one Sunday evening and even a Door County Fair race on a Thursday night. That abbreviated schedule seems to have been well received by drivers and fans alike. “Much like the Northwoods tracks, someone coming in needs to understand that you’re never going to match a track like 141 in terms of car counts, but honestly that’s o.k.,” Wagner suggested. “I’d continue to stick with that type of schedule recipe. Not everyone is a fan of that limited schedule but in my opinion that is the right fit for Door County. Folks must remember that there are A LOT of things going on up here all summer long.”
The track has run without the IMCA sanctioning but instead focused on four main divisions weekly: sportmods, stock cars, Unified dirt street stocks and four-cylinder cars. Modifieds were run on occasion. “The one issue I can see is what do you do with the four-cylinder class,” Wagner said. “For whatever reason there are zero Door County teams in that division. Some nightly counts were in the VERY low single digits. I would maybe consider three weekly divisions with a potential rotating fourth with modifieds being one of them. Maybe even a return of the Spectator Eliminators!”
In 2023 the total number of drivers who competed at The Hill was 162. The breakdown of participants who raced in the nine shows includes 47 stock cars, 40 sportmods, 38 street stocks, 20 four cylinders and 17 modifieds.
In a news release sent out to the media last week, the Door County Facilities & Parks Department announced that as of October the committee had not received any bids from any potential promoters who wished to take over the racing program. In the release supervisor Dan Austad, who represents District 9, was quoted as saying “I would like to see racing continue, but if no promoter wants to run the track than racing might die in Door County.”
“I think if a group with some experience comes in, it can survive, but it will for sure be a labor of love,” Wagner admitted. “But this current group can most certainly exit with their heads held high.”
A tip of the cap goes out to Martin Kelsey, John Sternard, Brandon Peterson, Melanie and Mike Sargent for keeping the lights on the show rolling in these past seasons. It’s not an easy task whatsoever promoting a race track these days, for multiple reasons. Keyboard warriors, relentless bashing of racetracks, a sense of entitlement among the drivers (across the Midwest) and difficulties finding and keeping staff has left many track promoters and operators (yes there is a difference between the two) wondering if the long hours and financial risk are even worth it anymore.
If there are any parties interested in taking on the role of promoting stock car racing in Door County, you can reach out to Door County Facilities and Parks Director Wayne Spritka at (920) 746 9959.