Stewart has company in role of track owner
Tony Stewart certainly isn't the only NASCAR driver who is involved in the promoting and/or owning of short tracks. Here's a look at other Cup drivers who are involved as track owners.
Schrader has been at it the longest, first becoming the co-owner of I-55 Speedway in Pevely, Missouri, 11 years ago. Next came the Paducah (Kentucky) International Raceway, which was purchased by Schrader and Bob Sargent, with Stewart becoming a partner more recently. A dirt track in Macon, Illinois, was the latest purchase to date, with Sargent and Stewart again being partners with Schrader.
So, what's the motivation for the considerable Schrader involvement?
"All of those tracks were in financial trouble, and there was just no way that I wanted them to go away," he says. "Overseeing these tracks is like running any business. In racing, it's putting on a good show at a reasonable price."
Schrader downplayed the influence of his celebrity status on the tracks' success. "Oh, I guess that it certainly doesn't hurt, but I don't think it's really a big deal," he says.
Schrader says that he's had all kinds of phone calls from other tracks in trouble. "But I would only be interested in short tracks in the close proximity of my home state, Missouri."
Knowing Schrader's dirt racing roots, it's not surprising to learn that the trio of tracks are all dirt.
For Blaney, it is an entirely different situation, as he is a co-owner of Sharon Speedway in Ohio. He was one of a number of family members purchasing this eastern Ohio dirt track, one of the oldest continuously operated tracks in the nation.
"I try to get over to shows when I can, and I'm involved with helping make the race schedule," says Blaney. "When we bought the track, we didn't have plans for doing much to it, but that all changed when we realized there was a lot to be done. So we re-did a lot, including shortening the length of the track for better racing."
Blaney says he had zero experience for this undertaking.
"Heck, all I've ever done is race, and I looked at racing from that view. But now, you also have to look at decisions from the fans' point of view. Sometimes it's hard to please both. But one thing for sure, we try to run exciting shows and get done early."
Since 2001, Benson has been a limited partner of the 7/16-mile asphalt Berlin Speedway in Michigan. The president of the track, Scott Lane, says he believes the reason Benson got into the ownership game was his love of the track and a desire to see it remain active.
"Johnny ran at the track during his stock car learning days and was a Late Model champion here in the 1990s," says Lane. "He still runs here two or three times a year and has his own car when he does."
Benson is still on the Berlin Speedway Rules Committee and offers his opinions, but never pushes them on anybody.
"Johnny's got a real fondness for Berlin," adds Lane. "And even today, after running in NASCAR tracks for a number of years, still says it's his favorite track."
Earnhardt is a co-owner of the aforementioned Paducah International Speedway. But his involvement with a new Alabama motorsports facility has gotten more publicity in terms of track ownership.
The ambitious project will include an asphalt speedway, a road course, a dragstrip, and a dirt track. And in an interesting way to recognize Earnhardt's involvement, the official name of the track will be "Alabama Motorsports Park, a Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway."
There are a number of investors in the project, and they are joined by Earnhardt siblings Kelly Earnhardt Elledge and Kerry Earnhardt, marking their first professional collaboration.
"Our family business has always been racing, for generations," says Earnhardt Jr. "And we hope this new facility will encourage the next generation of Earnhardts to want to be involved in the sport." -B.H.