The Scoop
MOTHER NATURE WREAKS HAVOC ON WISCONSIN RACING SCENE
Posted on: Monday August 19, 2024
This picture of a soaked Plymouth Dirt Track has been all too familiar at race tracks all across northeastern Wisconsin this summer. (seeking photo credit)
Truth is there isn’t one track in the region that hasn’t been affected by rainouts this year.
Some ovals have been hit harder than others. No matter how you slice it – it’s been a brutal run for most track promoters in 2024 without question.
Shawano Speedway and Outagamie Speedway in Seymour have been smacked the hardest, with each track burdened with six rainouts so far in ’24. It’s tough for many reasons as being essentially ‘seasonable businesses’ a track only has so many weeks to race and attempt to make any money.
The Hill Raceway in Sturgeon Bay has had five shows washed out due to Mother Nature. “Worst thing was two of those were shows for the Door County Fair,” said The Hill’s John Sternard. “Fortunately for us we’ve got a good core of support from sponsors, fans and drivers so we’ve been able to keep our heads above water so to speak.”
At the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg the theme has been similar. Five shows were washed out including another race that was called part way through the program. 141 Speedway in Francis Creek has suffered four rainouts including an additional night where equal points and money were doled out after the main events were washed out.
At Plymouth Dirt Track at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds, 47 percent of the track’s scheduled race nights have been impacted in some way, shape or form due to rain. Meanwhile on the pavement at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna has suffered three rainouts for the Fox River Racing Club’s (FRRC) Thursday Night Thunder programs. “Worst part of that was they were some of our biggest nights,” said FRRC president Tom Hockers. “We lost our 4th of July White Race and also our Blue race and a big sponsor night.” The Blue race has been rescheduled and will be run on Thursday, August 22.
Rainouts often spur the keyboard warriors to chime in on social media, mainly Facebook. Track promotes are often faced with the difficult task of making a call whether to race or not to race. It’s a tough call no matter what decision is made.
When tracks call a race due to weather, for example, they cannot recoup some of the expenses that may have already occurred earlier in the week. With dirt tracks that might even include track prep. Even if you have a volunteer employee watering or grading the track, that fuel that propels the grader or water truck isn’t free.
Same goes for advertising costs. I know most tracks only use Facebook to get their word out (that’s plain laziness and could make for a good topic for another column) but some tracks still run ad schedules on local radio stations. Some too still advertise with local newspapers, including their digital versions online. (Remember not everyone is on Facebook!)
And the other thing with the weather is these storms often brew at the worst possible time – early to mid-afternoon, which amplifies the decisions for promoters whether to race or not to race. How many burgers and brats do you start frying on the grill? How much popcorn should you pop? How many track promoters are stuck eating leftover track food all week long after a rainout?
Race teams. They thrash on their cars all week long. They may spend anywhere from $50 to $150 or $200 or more just transporting their race cars to the track, only to have Mother Nature earn the track’s only checkered flag that night. They too, don’t get reimbursed with those fuel expenses.
Eagle River Speedway has experienced ‘five and one-half’ rainouts this year. The Northwoods oval has a much shorter season than the tracks to the south as the typical ERS season doesn’t start until Memorial Day weekend and wraps up with a big two day, Labor Day weekend special. But with the significant rainouts Eagle River Speedway has incurred this year, they have added two dates to their schedule: Tuesday night, August 27 and now another Saturday night special September 7.
On a personal note Eagle River Speedway is the last track I work weekly at handling the track’s announcing duties and writing the racing recaps. Every single Tuesday I drove the one hour and 25 minute drive to the track from my humble abode in Dunbar I’ve experienced some sort of pop up shower on the way to the track. Many times these showers aren’t even in the forecast earlier that day.
DIRT TRAVELERS – Casco’s Benji LaCrosse finished 2nd in the IMCA modified feature at Maquoketa (Iowa) Speedway Saturday. Beaver Dam’s Brandon Schmitt took third while another Beaver Dam racer, Dan Roedl, placed 7th.
Race winner Gabe Sommers is flanked by Dalton Zehr (left) and Kendrick Kreyer (right) following his Midwest Tour win at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa August 17. (Doug Hornickel photo)
SOMMERS SHINES – Plover’s Gabe Sommers picked up the Hawkeye 100 super late model feature win in the ASA Midwest Tour’s event at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa over the weekend. Madison’s John Beale and Kendrick Kreyer placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The next event for the Tour will be Friday, August 23 for the Howie Lettow Memorial 100 at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin. Check out midwesttour.racing for additional information.
DELLS SPORT TRUCK LEFTOVERS – Freedom’s Brady Vander Loop picked up the Wisconsin sport truck series win at Dells Raceway Park Saturday.
There were no changes at all with the regional dirt track feature totals since none of the tracks I cover in that were able to host races. Drivers – if you’re looking for a top notch, letter perfect, full-color sponsorship deck for your sponsorship search this Fall/Winter NOW is the time to start thinking about putting yours together.
We do those. Have been for decades. Shoot me an email @ jverdegan2@gmail.com to learn more. We start working on those after Labor Day weekend.
Have a great week everyone!