National notebook
Notes: Potomac promoter learning the business
Potomac Speedway in Budds Creek, Md. (facebook.com/PotomacSpdwy)
David Williams has plenty of experience with auto racing in being behind the wheel. But the seven-time Potomac Speedway champion knows that in becoming the promoter of the Budds Creek, Md., track in 2025 he'll need to learn a new side of the business.
Williams, who in December signed a two-year deal to operate the 3/8-mile oval, headed to Daytona Beach, Fla., with wife Myssi to attend the Racing Promotions Monthly Promoters Workshop.
“We’re here in Florida to learn how to become promoters,” the 52-year-old Williams said earlier this week. “We’re trying to gain as much information and knowledge as we can so we can take these ideas back home and implement them at Potomac.”
The track has announced a tentative 16-race schedule with Limited Late Models and Crate Late Models among regular divisions. Super Late Models are scheduled to make four appearances including May 25's Memorial Day 35 ($3,500-to-win, July 3's Freedom 40 ($4,000) and Aug. 31's Labor Day 35 ($3,500). The $10,000-to-win Darryl Hills Memorial marks the richest purse in an event that's part of the first-year Fall Clash Super Late Model Series promoted by Jim Bernheisel.
The 16-race total at the Ezra Beasley-owned track exceeds the expected number of events expected with the season opener scheduled for April 11.
“In a couple weeks we have an excavation company coming in to start work on the track.” William said. “This is one of the things we wanted to focus on entering the new season to make the racing good for the racers and fans alike.”
Williams has already acquired an all-new two-way radio system, a new scoreboard and other equipment in preparation for the season.
“We’ve been learning every day and we have some great help to get us going and we are looking forward to an exciting season," he said.
The 51-year-old track has a Car Show scheduled for March 23 at Leonardtown Ford with practice scheduled for March 30 and April 5. The track is still looking for a title sponsor for the Limited Late Model division. — Doug Watson
NEW PROMOTERS IN MICHIGAN: Klint and Kalvin Lewis have been announced as promoters of the Mike Blackmer-owned Tri-City Motor Speedway in Auburn, Mich., for 2025 with plans the maintain the track's traditional divisions, including Super Late Models. The brothers plan to announce more details soon, according to a report on Horsepower Happenings. Blackmer called the Lewises "the perfect fit to take over the speedway, as they have been involved since its transformation into a dirt track. Their passion, dedication, and vision for the future make them the ideal candidates to lead Tri-City Motor Speedway forward." Blackmer, who announced in the fall a failure to cover checks for drivers at Tri-City and his Merritt Speedway in Lake City, said he has relinquished all involvement at TCMS and will focus on Merritt in 2025. Blackmer has pledged to pay cash at Merritt in 2025 and said he's continuing to pay drivers what he owes. The Merritt and TCMS banquet celebrating the 2024 season is scheduled for March 8.
OFFSEASON WORK CONTINUES AT QUINCY: Quincy (Ill.) Raceway is working on a concrete wall encircling the with block sponsors providing more than $2,000 for the the project. The wall with be two blocks high with those sponsoring the blocks able to paint their business or family name on the block. See the Quincy Raceway Facebook page for details. The track purchased last fall by Jeff and Renee Delonjay is also completely remodeling the kitchen and installing all-new cooking equipment. The track also announced it was boosting the purse for DIRTcar-sanctioned Crate Late Model events to $800-to-win for 2025. Dennis G. Woodworth Attorney at Law is the division's presenting sponsor. Additionally, the track is mourning the passing of Bob Scott, a member of the track's founding family who died Feb. 10 at the age of 78.
CO-PROMOTER ADDED AT CAROLINA: Local resident Aaron Wright has joined the staff as co-promoter of Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, N.C., the track recently announced. Wright, a former championship team owner who has more than three decades of racing experience, will partner with Bruce Arrants and handle track operations, including overseeing renovations to the facility. “I’m here to help Bruce revive the excitement of dirt track racing at Carolina for the drivers, the fans, and the sponsors," Wright said in a track release. "I’d like to add to the legacy of this facility and make it a premier place to watch racing.” The track cancelled a Feb. 22 open house because of a track resurfacing but the season is scheduled to open March 6-7 for the Steve Heintz Memorial, highlighted by a $3,000-to-win event for the Cagle Automotive Blue Ridge Outlaw Late Model Series.
VIRGINIA TRACK REOPENING: The newly renamed Ararat (Va.) BullRing, which last operated in 2021 as Ararat Thunder Raceway, is scheduled to reopen under new promoter Langley Austin with a Crate Late Model division highlighting a five-division Saturday night program. Langley's promoting experience has primarily been on asphalt at Franklin County Speedway in Callaway, Va., but he's eager for the new venture. "I think we can put together a solid base and a solid program and give the racers somewhere to race. I think that's all they really want," Langley said recently on the Pit Chatter Podcast. "They want a place to race and people to be fair to them, and I think we can give them those things. We'll go from there and see what happens and try to grow the place." The Crate division will be a mix of 604 and 602 engine cars with the season opener scheduled for April 26. Find more information at facebook.com/AraratBullRing.
ODDS AND ENDS: Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn., has announced three independent Super Late Model special events for 2025 starting with the $6,025-to-win Winterfest on March 1-2 (postponed two weeks by weather). A $6,025-to-win Labor Day special is set for Aug. 31 and the $7,500-to-win Gobbler is planned for Nov. 29. ... I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich., has scheduled two specials for DIRTcar-sanctioned Super Late Models with a $7,500-to-win event May 21 and $5,000-to-win event on Aug. 22. ... Arizona Sport Shirts is sponsoring the Rookie of the Year award for the Northern Allstars Late Model Series with $2,000 going to the tour's top first-year driver. ... Tom Fogelman Jr. of Watsontown, Pa., who sponsored and owned Late Models driven by Ed Shafer among others, died Feb. 4 at age 76. ... Velocita-USA is sponsoring the Rookie of the Year award on the Topless Outlaw Dirt Racing Series with the winner receiving a firesuit valued at $1,700. ... Rice Lake (Wis.) Speedway has scheduled three nights of USRA-sanctioned Limited Late Models for 2025 on May 3, June 28, July 26 Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. ... The Attica-Oakshade Shootout miniseries events for Super Late Models held between Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park and Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio, won't continue in 2025, Attica announced. .... Former Late Model driver Scott Irvin of Reader, W.Va., a longtime competitor at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va., died Jan. 18 at the age of 55. ... Red Cloud (Neb.) Speed Bowl is tentatively scheduled to reopen with a limited schedule in 2025, but Late Models aren't expected to be among regular divisions. ... An opening for tech inspector has been posted by 201 Speedway in Sitka, Ky., which is reopening in 2025. Applications will be accepted through February. See the track's Facebook page for details. .... Kapella Machine Electronics is sponsoring the Late Model division in 2025 at Ogilvie (Minn.) Raceway with $5,000 going to the points fund champion. … Late Model drivers receive free pit passes for the April 11 opener at Selinsgrove (Pa.) Speedway thanks to sponsorship from High Caliber Cranes. .... TNT Speedway in Three Lakes, Wis., has reopened and plans Jun 14 and July 26 USRA-sanctioned Limited Late Model events. ... The Michigan-based Dan Salay Memorial, originated at I-96 Speedway and held for six seasons at Merritt Speedway, moves to Crystal Motor Speedway for June 19-21. The purse hasn't been announced.
