Tale of Two Speedways

It’s been said that change is the only thing that’s constant. Nowhere more than the world of short track stock car racing is that true. Tracks change the rules of their classes. They change the classes themselves, sometimes phasing out the old for new. They change the nights they race or, in some cases, the very surface they race over. When tracks change something they’ve done for a great number of years, there have to be big reasons. We explored two tracks (with no relation between them) that made big changes to their schedule and found many factors that go into such a decision.

Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina, is one; Berlin Speedway in Marne, Michigan, is the other. Both tracks are icons in their respective geographic areas. Both are paved, family-run operations that have generated thousands of die-hard fans on a weekly basis. As it turns out, both are enjoying their respective 50th-year anniversaries. From there, they have their own slight differences. Hickory, North Carolina, is obviously in the heart of stock car country. The wide, .363-mile track offers racers a slight bank and fans plenty of room to watch the action. Berlin is a half-miler in the center of Michigan’s hard-core late model country with a similar banking and width with plenty of seats. Both tracks usually fill those seats when the racing is hot. With such similar physical characteristics, the big differences they made started last year. That’s when both tracks broke with their respective traditions and brought their fans something new for this year.

Berlin has presented ASA (American Speed Association) shows pretty much since there was an ASA. Hickory has been a NASCAR track for quite some time as well. But after much thought and probably a little agony, they each broke ties with the old and brought in another sanctioning body. Berlin brought in the Bondo Mar-Hyde Super Cars of ARCA and Hickory brought in the Indiana-based ASA Delco Series to introduce to Southern race fans. Both were bold moves to say the least. And in the end, both of their decisions were greatly received by their respective fans.

Changing what was most likely one of their biggest shows didn’t come easy for either track. The reasons behind most big changes are because the old just isn’t working as expected, time for something new and often new personnel bring about these changes. The goal of any change is to bring more people into the track. Keeping in mind these big shows have a more-than-Saturday-night budget, there should be a return on their investment—just what any businessman or woman is looking for. So while some changes may be the result of business relationships breaking down, the bottom line is the bottom line. Then comes the line of second guessing. Will the fans like this show? Will they show up and support the event? How will it affect the regular racers?

In the case of Berlin and Hickory, there were no new people, just new ideas. John Huffman owns Hickory and the Mysliwiec family owns Berlin so it was not an issue of changing people. Both tracks wanted something new and went for it.

Rita Hall, of Hickory Speedway, says, “It was something different. We like to offer different kinds of classes to our fans. This was the first year for ASA.” The track plans to run ASA in 2001 and as such, will again be the only ASA show in North Carolina. Part of that decision came from the reaction of the fans. “Our fans really liked it,” Rita continues. “It was some good racing. It wasn’t follow the leader; it was side by side. You didn’t get bored watching it.”

The track ran the race on a Saturday afternoon, not unlike their regular race day of Saturday with the daytime concession going for the usual ASA, TNN TV coverage. The track is a staple in the South running Hooters Pro Cup, Southern All Stars and NASCAR Goodys Dash cars as well. Running April through October, the track’s weekly sanction is with the American Racing Association.

Up at Berlin, where the familiar names of Senneker and Eddy still race and are cheered on by the standing-room–only crowd, Race Director Bob Marz explained their switch. “The only reason that we’re not doing it any longer, is because ASA has broadened their horizons on larger tracks, we just couldn’t come to an agreement on terms for running them. So that’s why they’re not running here right now.

“ARCA is our choice because, I think, for a couple, three reasons. They have the big tracks, and they also specialize in the short tracks. They’re the next thing, as far as I’m concerned, to NASCAR car-wise. NASCAR is quite popular today and has a good following and I think that for that reason that we’re giving the people (ARCA). Of course, you can’t get NASCAR here, but that’s one of the reasons I think it’s the next best thing.”

Berlin’s hard-core fans had a positive reaction to the ARCA shows. “Last year was the first year that we ran ARCA in many years at our facility,” says Marz. It’s possibly pretty close as far as crowd following and attendance. I think that’s only because ARCA hasn’t been here for a while and there wasn’t a lot of recognizable names at that time last year. Now we have, you know, the Shawna Robinsons and the Tim Steeles and, of course, the (Frank) Kimmels, that won last year. Now we’ve got something established that people can relate to.”

“The fans that came last year were ecstatic over it. They said it was the best racing they had seen in years. Two and three abreast, you usually don’t get that. These are a little heavier car and the speeds are down a little bit, but it brings a lot more competition and a lot more side by side racing. It’s more exciting to watch.” For the record, ARCA Champ, Frank Kimmel won the race the hard way. He backed into the wall, made four pit stops and still won.

This year it was an emotional one with Tim Steele on a mission. Steele lives about one interstate exit from the track in Coopersville, and all but promised to win and dedicate the race to fellow Michigan driver, Scott Baker, who died a few weeks prior in an ARCA race. Steele set a new track record, led the most laps and won for the Baker family. “I feel great!” says Steele after the win, his first short track win after ‘coming back’ to ARCA.

So the minds behind Hickory and Berlin Speedways breathed a little easier after putting their necks on the line in the name of change and improvement. The fans liked the new changes, got to see different cars and drivers and most of all; got to see some hard, competitive racing. And isn’t that what it’s all about anyway?