DODGE CITY, Kan. – An era has come to an end at Dodge City Raceway Park, as Tommie Estes Jr. has elected to step down from his position as track manager and promoter at the three-eighths-mile clay oval in southwest Kansas.
After a revolving door of promoters at the state-of-the-art facility in its first decade as a dirt track, Estes Jr., assumed the role in 2011 soon after leaving his previous position as series coordinator with the American Sprint Car Series.
Estes Jr. has guided the DCRP facility for the past decade, establishing several notable events, including the DCRP Sprint Car Nationals, and creating the seventh-mile Little DCRP clay oval to provide a training ground for younger racers to develop their skills.
After the racing facility completed its final weekend of a condensed 2020 season on Sept. 19-20, Estes, Jr., announced the decision to resign from the position.
“The city of Dodge City offered to extend my contract for another three years, but I declined,” Estes Jr. explained. “I have enjoyed my 10 years at Dodge City Raceway Park and appreciate all the support from the fans, racers, staff and sponsors over the past ten years. I just felt that it was time for a change and time to explore some other opportunities.”
Estes Jr. finished out his tenure at Dodge City Raceway Park with this past weekend’s eighth annual Jerry Soderberg Memorial Championship event atop the three-eighths-mile clay oval, including the track’s championship races in five divisions.
Titlists were crowned in the Hambelton Racing DCRP Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Hobby Stocks. Estes also oversaw Sunday’s Little DCRP season finale for Micro Sprints and Karts.
No immediate plans have been announced for the successor to Estes, Jr., at the Dodge City Raceway Park clay oval.