Orrville, OH --- When management of Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH held an exploratory meeting with Sprint Car drivers and team owners on October 24 they entered the meeting with some trepidation regarding what kind of response they would receive. It was for naught as the meeting surpassed all expectations and was a positive and enlightening evening that subsequently found management making the decision to bring back Sprint Cars to the popular 3/8 mile banked oval on a weekly basis in 2007. What management also didn’t really expect was the overwhelming positive response that decision would bring from not only teams and race fans in the region but from also across the country.
“I still having a hard time believing the response from everyone, it's been so positive and everyone is so excited about it,” stated Tina Heil, General Manager of WCS. “I'm getting email every day, from business men, car owners, drivers and fans showing their appreciation of what we're doing and that's exciting.”
“Was this the right decision? Absolutely without a doubt in my mind!”With Sprint Car racing struggling in some areas of the country, WCS owner & promoter Ernie Coffman made a three-year commitment to the division in hopes of building it long term at his track and the response from within the industry was immediate and positive as well.
”Sprint car racing is one of the most exciting forms of motorsports out there and for Wayne County Speedway to bring Sprint Cars back into its weekly program is a bonus for all the fans who attend the weekly events,” commented Chris Dolack, Vice-President of Public Relations for DIRT Motorsports and the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars. “With so many of the legends in the sport having raced there in the past and living nearby, like Brad Doty and Jac Haudenschild, it's a great chance for the next wave of superstars to get their starts at a place that helped to launch the careers of so many others.”
“Whether the sprint cars at Wayne County run under in a sanctioned event or during a weekly race, merely having them back and racing weekly is a big step forward.”
Dolack wasn’t alone in his excitement that WCS was backing the Sprint Car division.
“It is very exciting news, especially at a time when we are all-too-frequently losing weekly winged 410-cubic-inch sprint car tracks,” offered Tom Schmeh, the Executive Director of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum in Knoxville, Iowa.
“I believe this means that Wayne County Speedway will be the 21st weekly winged '410' track in the nation. Incredibly, five of those tracks are in the Buckeye State alone. And twelve are in the Pennsylvania/Ohio region, with 15 of the total 21 located east of the Mississippi River!”
Regional response has also been extremely favorable. “I am glad to see the Sprints come back,” said Jim Figley, Team Manager for Eric ‘Spud’ Myers Racing, a dirt Late Model team. Figley formerly spent many years working for such Sprint Car stars as Dean Jacobs, Rocky Hodges and others. “Wayne County Speedway is trying things that they feel will work best for everybody!”
“I think this is very smart,” commented Colleen Latsch, a former WCS staff member and wife of retired Sprint Car driver Mike Latsch, the 1987 WCS Sprint Car champion. “There are many Sprint Cars in this area or those having the parts to build one up to run locally again. With a no engine limit, there should be a good selection of cars who need a place to run locally.”
“I know people who no longer attend the local tracks as they do not run Sprints. Wayne County always had a good solid core of weekly sprint cars who put on an exciting show for the fans. I have heard several including myself say I do not mind the admission price as long as I can see both Sprints and Late Models on the evenings program.”
“I’m happy to see that they are coming back,” added long time race fan Gary Baker.
Even WCS staff members are looking forward to the 2007 with the addition of Sprint Cars as co-headliners with the Super Late Models. “It’s great to hear the Sprints are coming back in 2007,” said Al Hutchsion, Jr., a photographer. “I grew up at WayneCounty watching Sprints and Late Models and I sure have missed them these pastthree years. They put on a heck of a show when they returned one night thisyear. Great news to hear they are coming back. I’m really ready to takesome photos now!”
Wayne County Speedway is located nine miles east of Wooster, OH on US Route 30 or 15 miles west of Massillon, OH on US Route 30 then one mile north on Carr Road. For more information contact: 330.682.7435 (track), 419.522.8761 (office) or GM Tina Heil can be contacted at her office at: 330.642.0269 or via email at: tinaheil@zoominternet.net For more information on WCS visit: www.waynecountyspeedway.com -Prepared by Lehman Motorsports Services
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