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July 4, 2009

VCS is going strong

Car counts are up this season

BY MARVIN HOLMAN

OAKWOOD — When the season started at Vermilion County Speedway, no one knew what would happen without the sanctioning of the United Midwest Promoters, one of the top organizations in dirt track racing.

But the speedway so far has actually done better as an independent, with the track outdrawing many operating UMP tracks in car count almost every week.

On Sunday, the UMP will make only its second appearance at the track with the annual UMP Summernational stop for late models, completing a weekend of racing.

VCS promoter Joe Spiker said that when UMP officials came to the track for the David Richardson Memorial in May, they were surprised with what they saw.

“The officials came in and they said there were more cars than most tracks around,” Spiker said. “A lot of people have their reasons but I think we were pretty lucky.”

“I think we have been getting more cars because they are seeing that it s a clean, friendly place,” VCS executive director Roger Hughes said. “We also have some of the best payouts around and we have had a good time all year.”

Spiker hopes the luck will continue this weekend.

Today, along with racing, there will be a car show starting at noon with an Guitar Hero competition at 1 p.m.

Awards for both events will be given out at 5 p.m. and a people’s choice award given out at 6:45 p.m.

“We are trying to get the younger generation out here and they can stay for the day and can see the races at night,” Hughes said. “It is a chance for them to get involved and maybe they can stay and be fans.”

Along with the show, there will be racing for the sprint cars, modifieds, Crate late models, street stocks and pure stocks classes. It will be a regular show as the scheduled Spiker 100 has been postponed.

Hughes said the opportunity to add these promotions have been very important to the track.

“I went to a special promoters conference in Florida in February and I learned that you must do a lot more than just put racing at the track,” Hughes said. “That is why were are having the events on Saturday and Dukes of Hazzard night a few weeks ago.”

The race on Sunday will be the first appearance of the UMP late models at the track and will be another stop in the 21st year of the Summernationals series.

The defending champion is Carpentersville’s Dennis Erb, who is second so far in this year’s chase with 1,076 points, only 14 points behind Highland’s Randy Korte going into Friday’s race at Quincy.

Also, top racers like Jason Feger (1,008) and Richardson Memorial winner Kevin Weaver (999) are still on the outside track to steal a few spots as the series grinds down to its final week.

The cost for Sunday’s show is $20 for adults and free for kids 10-and-under. There will also be a fireworks show after the race. In addition the late models, the modifieds and the street stocks will also be on the track.

The cost for Saturday’s show is $10 for adults and free for kids 10-and-under. Both race nights will start at 7 p.m.

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