The Vault
APRIL 17, 2009 – ECONOMY NOT CURBING TRACKS
Posted on: Monday October 26, 2026
APRIL 17, 2009
ECONOMY NOT CURBING TRACKS by Joe Verdegan
(reprinted from the Green Bay Press Gazette)
Despite a less-than-ideal economic forecast, local race track promoters remain upbeat that their respective racing programs will thrive in 2009.
“I think folks will opt to spend their entertainment dollars close to home, rather than take a long vacation where they may be forking out bigger bucks,” Luxemburg Speedway track manager Rick Goral said. “The one plus we’e got going right now is prices at the pump are down compared to last year. That’s a good thing.”
In spite of numerous layoffs in Green Bay and surrounding communities, the number of drivers who are preparing their machines to race hasn’t changed much.
“At Luxemburg, we’ve sold just as many pit stalls for race teams as we have in years past,” Goral said. “Our car counts have always been solid, and I don’t see that changing much. What I do foresee happening is how much money is still left on the table for some teams to get through the season. That, and the number of nights guys might run weekly. They may take a second look at that.”
Early season events at Marshaltown (IA) and Brownstown (Ind.) speedways both drew standing-room only crowds, with huge car counts.
Thirty area drivers made the haul to Iowa two weeks ago, compared to 26 in 2008 when gas prices were nearly double what they are now.
“When you hear stories like that, I guess you can’t be anything but optimistic,” Goral said. “I think local entertainment is the way to go. Green Bay Gamblers hockey, for example, has drawn solid crowds all winter. Local entertainment may be the way folks are thinking nowadays.”
Shawano Speedway race director Dale Hodkiewicz echoes Goral’s sentiments. The storied half-mile clay oval is slated to open its doors for another season of racing at 6 p.m. Saturday.
“We’re excited and optimistic about this season,” Hodkiewicz said. “Our track is in great shape. As far as the fans go, I still think weekly short track racing provides the best bang for your entertainment bucks.”
Shawano typically is the first track in the area to open. If the weather’s right, the grandstands swell with fans and the pit area bulges with racing haulers.
“I’m confident we’ll be racing (Saturday),” Hodkiewicz said. “We started watering the track last Saturday. The track will be able to take some water. I really do think if a track is managed right and you give the fans a good show at a fair price, we can manage our way through this recession.”
AREA NEWS AND NOTES
MORE SHAWANO – Defending track champions at Shawano Speedway are Shawano’s Troy Springborn and New London’s Justin Ritchie (WISSOTA late model), Craig Bartz of Shawano (Fastrak late model), Jared Siefert of Green Bay (IMCA modified), De Pere’s Tim Jorgenson (IMCA northern sportmod), and Rod Snellenberger of Pulaski (IMCA stock car). The Fastrak title will be wide open because Bartz had moved up to WISSOTA late models this year.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT – Shawano and Luxemburg speedways will host free, open practice sessions at 6 p.m. today. Cars from any and all divisions are invited to participate.
141 SPEEDWAY UPDATE – For the first time since 1987, IMCA-sanctioned cars will compete at the quarter-mile, paved oval in Francis Creek. IMCA northern sportmods will compete in 10 events while IMCA hobby sstocks will race weekly with the track’s existing hobby stock class. At a practice session last Saturday, 66-year-old retired paper mill worker Chuck Grall of Pulaski turned in the fastest practice lap in the fender-less division at the track. “I’ve waited 22 years to race modifieds again on the pavement,” joked Grall, who beat NASCAR Sprint Cup veteran Mark Martin in an IMCA modified race at the track in 1986. “I think this class will take off, if you give it time. There are plenty of these cars around. De Pere’s Mike Panure has been named the speedway’s race director.
CALMES, BUTZ TEAM UP – Freedom’s Kyle Calmes will team with Mike Butz Racing for their Thursday night program at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna in 2009. Calmes will pilot a No. 9 with 16-year-old Matt Butz serving as the crew chief for the super late model. Matt, a student at Bayport High School, is the son of Mike Butz. Calmes’ “Thrive To Drive” team still will compete in the ASA Midwest Tour, where Calmes has been dubbed a “Touring Star” status. While the team has lost it’s Arby’s sponsorship, it has picked up Atcam.Inc of Little Chute. In addition to Calmes, Escanaba, Michigan’s Jamie Iverson has also retained “Touring Star” status. The first ASA MT event is April 25 at Dells Raceway Park.
HAESE, MUSIAL MERGE – Two Rivers’ Gregg Haese has partnered with David Musial of Diamond Motorsports to compete in the full ASA MT in 2009. Last year Haese drove for Tom Hockers and Mark Patton of De Pere. The pair sold their half of the operation to Musial.
SNELLENBERGER WINS – Snellenberger won the IMCA stock car feature in Vinton, Iowa last Sunday night.
Green Bay’s John Heinz was second, Snellenberger’s son Devin, a student at Pulaski High School, finished 13th.