One of our memories of I-80 goes back to when they raced Sunday nights, starting at the memorable time of 5:55. A guarantee was in place that everyone could get in free the next show if the final race of the night started after 9 p.m.
This particular night, a traveling late model series was on hand and listed as the last main of the show. As 9 p.m. approached the series, dragging their feet getting into staging, were completely at cause for the main starting about five minutes past 9.
In a decision for a situation that was not their own cause, the track still announced that everyone could get in free the following week.
Now a Friday track, the time guarantee or else offer is not needed. Several changes had been made since our last visit, but one thing that did not change was the efficient program they run, as well as plenty of multiple-groove racing.
I-80 Speedway no longer needs the early finish guarantee, but could replace that with a five wide offer. This track races so wide that guaranteeing five wide offers no risk, and their efficiency added makes it a Nebraska must see.
The following night we were a few miles south at Eagle Raceway, also an IMCA track, but one that features sprint cars as their top division. Eagle was saved from potentially being closed after the 2005 season when it was put up for sale.
Roger Hadan leased the track for a year and bought it at the end of that initial season. If Hadan had not stepped up in late 2005 that track may only be a memory today. Instead it is one of the top-tier dirt tracks in the country.
On Sunday, following another great Eagle show, we went to Fort Dodge, Iowa for a weekly race at Sports Park. This half mile track, located in a former gypsum quarry, has closed twice since its 2005 creation.
Jason Vansickle is the fifth promoter and, with the help of IMCA sanctioning, is having success for the track owners.
In his third year, Vansickle is pleased with the increase in front and back gate, as well as repairs and updates that have been done. Future projects include parking lot lighting, new access road, and new bleachers.
A hill overlooking turn one is set to become a camping area and Vansickle is looking at scheduling some special events. Sports Park was initially an off road facility. It starts early and gets done early, a necessary plan being a Sunday track.
Mike Van Genderen has done it all, he races as well as acting as a track manager and race director. When Stuart, Iowa’s quarter mile was heading for closing, MVG did something he is used to doing.
He took a risk and bought the track.
Instead of being perhaps another track gone, it is thriving in the Van Genderen era. For years a Sunday track, it was moved to Friday and did no better, if not worse. MVG chose Wednesday as his race night, and the results have been startling.
In a half season, nearly 300 drivers have raced Stuart who had never done so before. He notes the car count increase is partly due to reshaping the track and eliminating the ledge on the top of turns three and four.
That dirt was moved to reshape the turn entries and fill holes, resulting in a surface that is no longer a tire eater and offers three- and four-wide racing. He estimates it takes 120 man hours a week to prep the oval.
MVG’s purchase of Stuart Speedway has resulted in a car count record for the track’s modern era. He claims he got lucky moving dirt to the right places and watering parts of the track differently, but being a part-time professional gambler, Van Genderen seems to have drawn four aces for his Stuart investment.
These six tracks have all flourished due to someone taking on the huge task of making it happen. Fans and racers should be thankful that these people were willing to make a difference.