Here is some Monday Racing Thoughts from Foxman:
Sunday Night saw an end to the rein of Promoter Mick Trier at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton. After 20 years of promoting races unter JJAM Racing, it was time for Mick to call it quits. If you loved him or hated him, Mick did an amazing job with promoting several races including the Iowa State Fair Speedway, Warren County Speedway, Stuart Speedway and Benton County Speedway during that time. I have had the honor and pleasure of helping him out over the years from helping check drivers in, draw, line up duties, score, announce and work a corner. You honestly can't find another guy like him to work for so before you say all he did was take drivers money and run.....then you don't know Mick. I learned so much from Mick and I appreciated all the support he has given to me over the years. Enjoy the Retirement Mick! Don Burkey did a great job over the years on the track prep, enjoy the retirement with the refrigerator full of beer.
Benton County Speedway will have a new promoter.....Specialty Racing Promotions (Corey and Rick Dripps). Their first race will be on Saturday September 28th with the Dirt Knights Tour IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, Compacts and Micro Mods. Hot Laps at 6pm, Racing to Follow.
Meanwhile 4 Wide Promotions is leaving the Hancock County Speedway after three years of promoting as they turned in their notice to the Hancock County District Fair board. It was difficult decision for them but with ever so changes in life, it became very difficult to continue on despite having a great team behind them. I had honor of being one of the first people they offered a job too back in the summer of 2016 when they officially signed the contract to take over because of my experience and when ISF Speedway closed after the 2016 season, it meant I could accept and begin working for them. Most of the time, I was behind the microphone announcing races with Chad Meyer but i filled in on Raceceiver, worked a Corner, Help in the pit shack, help With Driver Check In...among many different things I did. If they asked they knew I was not afraid to help do anything. Thanks Brian King, Josh Omans, Kyle Roose and Doug "Doc" Sande for bring me on to be a part of the team, wish all you guys the best. John Pletcher thanks for all your hard work getting the track in shape, Darlene Weber helping with getting trophies every night, Alissa Graven for keeping the whole team together every night.
I have rumors that there is a few more tracks in Iowa that maybe opening up at the end of the 2019 racing season but we will see what happens. Time will tell what opens up and what 2020 plans will be for race tracks.
Now for all you internet warriors that think every track picks favorites well you are wrong. If you think its so easy to be a track official then get off your tailbone and put down the keyboard.......contact a race track promoter, ask them if they have position available. After working at a race track the last ten years, I have a little more respect for the people that have to make calls on a split second decision at other race tracks.
Also if you want to talk trash about track officials or a promoter than go say it to their face instead of hiding behind your screen or behind their backs....grow a pair of balls until then all you are doing is killing racing.
I will always continue to say positive things about Racing and hope to continue to coverage this sport for many more years to come... See you at the races, Foxman!
