National notebook
Notes: Veterans partner to promoter Indee
Independence Motor Speedway. (facebook.com/indeespeedway)
Two guys who had promised themselves they’d never promote a racetrack with a partner will do just that this season at Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway.
Mike Van Genderen and Dana Benning make up the Greater Iowa Promotions team that takes charge at Indee, which adds a sixth IMCA division and four Monday Night Madness programs to its Speedway Motors Weekly Race slate in 2023.
Van Genderen also owns and promotes IMCA venue Stuart (Iowa) Speedway while Benning returns for a third turn at the Independence helm, following 2000-2002 and 2015-2017 stints.
“This partnership just makes sense. Dana is good at things and I am good at other things,” said Van Genderen, who met Benning 20-plus years ago when buying out his father Merlin’s modified program. “We’ve known each other for years and became good friends when we were both working at Benton County Speedway. Independence has a great racing history; we want to continue that.”
Van Genderen’s jobs in particular will be track prep and race night director. Benning will do “everything else,” from sponsorship and bookkeeping chores to face-to-face time in the pit area and grandstand.
“I’m going to get to interact more with people than I did when I was at Independence before. I’ll make sure fans’ experiences are good ones and listen to drivers,” he said. “I’ll be the guy who gets the ass chewing in the pits.”
“When my dad raced, Independence was the place to be. Everyone paid attention to what happened at Independence,” Benning added. “We want Independence to be known for great car counts and great competition, and Mike and I have the combination of individual strengths to do that.”
The first of 10 Saturday shows six IMCA-sanctioned divisions including Late Models is scheduled for April 15. The Denny Osborn Memorial, a Late Model special, is set for July 5 while Monday Night Madness shows, also to be broadcast by imca.tv, are May 8, July 19, July 3 and Aug. 7.
“Mike and I had been talking once or twice a week and couldn’t believe Independence didn’t have a promoter. I met with the fair board in December and we came out with a contract agreement,” Benning said. “Who would have thought all those years ago that we would be partners? It was Mike’s idea to run a couple Saturdays a month plus a Monday or a special. The Monday Night Madness shows will be successful for streaming and really allow us to showcase our drivers. We’ll probably be the only track racing in the United States those nights.”
The track will be hosting IMCA-sanctioned Late Models for the 35th season.
“Independence has a long history with IMCA and has always been supported by many loyal racers,” said IMCA President Brett Root. “Mike and Dana are proven promoters, have excellent reputations and this partnership makes a lot of sense for Independence and for IMCA. We look forward to doing everything we can to help them make the race program at one of our longest sanctioned tracks even bigger and better.” — Bill Martin
MORE PROMOTER NEWS: Several other Late Model-hosting dirt tracks will have new promoters for 2023, including Mudlick Valley Raceway in Wallingford, Ky., and two tracks that reopen after closures, Hohenwald’s Tennessee National Raceway and Thunder Mountain Speedway in Knox Dale, Pa., according to reports from OutsideGroove.com. Jamie and Judith Jent will promote the Mudlick Valley oval with plans to host weekly Super Late Model events paying $1,500-to-win while making improvements with new guardrails and wider racing surface. Cody “Cooter” Harris, a former flagger and announcer at Tennessee Nationals, has a one-year lease to operate the track and plans to run unsanctioned Limited Late Models and Crate Racin’ USA divisions. Zach Kephart, a logger and former racer, plans to improve the Thunder Mountain surface with Super Late Models topping programs he hopes wrap up by 11 p.m. each Friday.
CORNELL JOINS MLRA ROOKIE CHASE: Kaeden Cornell of Willard, Mo., a graduate of weekly Limited Late Model action at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., plans to chase Rookie of the Year honors with the Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association in 2023. The 22-year-old Cornell is in his sixth season for car owner Rick Hoover and plans to field a Black Diamond Chassis powered by a Scott Bailey Racing Engine. “I can’t thank Rick enough, he just keeps believing in me and getting me all of the equipment we need to go fast. He has given me opportunities that I can promise you I would’ve never had if we were just on our own budget,” said Cornell, a two-time winner on the Southern Outlaw Late Model Series. “We are probably one of the smallest and lowest funded teams in the pits, but I think this year we are going to have just as good of shot as anybody.” MLRA’s 35th season is scheduled to begin with a March 31-April 1 doubleheader in Wheatland.
KENTUCKY TRACK'S MENTOR PROGRAM: Thunder Mountain Speedway in Corbin, Ky., is accepting applications for a mentor program where five youngsters from ages 13-17 can be paired with veteran racers at the track to learn more about the sport at the Dennis and Lori Barton-owned track. “When I pick these kids, I hope it gives them something new to focus on,” Lori Barton told the Times Tribune last week. “I also hope it instills passion for racing in their heart while offering them a fresh experience.” One driver in each of the track’s division will mentor the chosen youngsters who can “bond with their driver and crew” to learn about auto racing,” Barton said. The youngsters will get free admission and food voucher for each event. Applications are being accepted through the track’s Facebook page and youngsters should explain why they want to be involved in the program.
ATTICA BOOSTS PURSES: In a season with Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park paying out more than $720,000 in feature purses in 2023, the track’s DIRTcar-sanctioned Super Late Models sponsored by Propane.Com and the Dirt Nerds Podcast will get a bump to $6,870 per weekly event with $1,500 going to the winner. “Thanks to (promoter) John (Bores) and all the sponsors we are able to increase purses in 2023,” said Andrew Morfier, who has taken the track’s director of operations role. “Just like our operational costs have gone up, we know race teams have seen a big increase in the cost of racing and hopefully this will help.” While sprint cars highlight the track’s biggest races, the Late Models will have a $3,000-to-win event on May 5 along with four Attica-Oakshade Shootout races. The track’s season opener is March 17.
TEXAS CRATE TOUR SETS SCHEDULE: The Texas-based American Crate Late Model Series plans for more than 20 races in 2023, including a yet-to-be-announced season-ending weekend in October. Among the highlights of the schedule is the $2,500-to-win Jerry Shipp Tribute on May 27 at Rocket Raceway in Petty, Texas, and the $2,800-to-win Doug Ingalls Classic on Sept. 30 at ArkLaTex Speedway in Vivian, La. The track’s season-opening weekend March 31 and April 1 at Waco’s Heart of Texas Speedway and Paige’s Cotton Bowl Speedway includes a $500 bonus if one driver can sweep.
ALL-STARS USING DYNO FOR ENGINE CHECKS: Trying to avoid engine teardowns for postrace inspections on the Crate Late Model tour, the American All-Star Series presented by PPM in 2023 plans to use tests on a dyno to determine legality of the Chevrolet Performance 604 powerplants, according to a series report at OutsideGroove.com. Pro Built Motorsports of Sevierville, Tenn., will perform the tests. “We’ve done it for years with asphalt Late Models,” said Shane Bales, of Pro Built Motorsports. “Racers would get aggravated about the time and money of tearing down their motors. If it’s within the parameters, it can go right back into the race car” and avoid the time-consuming difficulty of a complete engine teardown. If officials deem an engine to perform beyond the “set series numbers” on the dyno, the owner of that engine can request a full engine teardown to prove its legality for a $1,000 fee. If the inspection finds that the engine is legal, then the series will refund that $1,000. A driver with an illegal engine faces a $3,000 fine and one-year ban from the circuit.
ODDS AND ENDS: Lexington (Tenn.) 104 Speedway, the Dave Marsali-promoted track that plans its first full season of racing in many years, has landed Stanley & Co. as the sponsor of its 602 Crate Late Model division. The track also has three Southern All Star Series events scheduled. … With Dyer Motorsports selling out its racing equipment, Loudon, Tenn., racer Matt Henderson announced he’s searching for a ride for 2023. Henderson was a 19-race winner in 2021. … Former Dixie Speedway Late Model regular Granger Howell of Kingston, Ga., died on Jan. 15. A Go Fund Me account was set up to help with the family’s burial expenses. … Trevor Moon has taken over publicity duties for the Southern All Stars. … The Brownstown (Ill.) Bullring, formerly Fayette County Speedway, plans to hire various track positions at the speedway from noon-2 p.m. on Feb. 26. … Freedom Motorsports Park in Delevan, N.Y., will return to RUSH sanctioning of its Crate Late Model division in 2023 for the first time in six seasons. … Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway is seeking an announcer. To apply call (301) 582-0640 or email info@hagerstownspeedway.com with the subject “announcer.” ... Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn., on Thursday announced its Feb. 18-19 Winterfest includes a $5,000-to-win Super Late Model event; the Topless Outlaws previously announced a $4,000-to-win non-points race on Feb. 18 as part of the event.
Editor's note: Updates Duck River's Winterfest schedule in Odds and Ends section.
