State Fair Speedway
Bodenhamer gets new perspective at Sedalia
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt.com chief writer
Jason Bodenhamer addresses drivers at Sedalia. (Mike Musslin)
Jason Bodenhamer has always loved State Fair Speedway in Sedalia, Mo., a majestic half-mile oval where he's won more than any other track. But now he's seeing things from a different perspective.
"It's kind of where I grew up learning to race a Late Model was at Sedalia," said the 35-year-old Centerview, Mo., racer. "I never thought I'd be promoting it."
But sure enough, along with partner and fellow racer Reid Millard, Bodenhamer is promoting weekly races at State Fair Speedway. Initial discussions with fairgrounds officials about hosting a few special events turned into full-fledged plans to host Friday night races from April to August at the track for the first time since '03.
"One little idea," Bodenhamer said with a laugh, "just turned into a big ol' mess."
In recent years Bodenhamer has organized a racer's auction, trade shows and even promoted a few races honoring his late father. But like many racers-turned-promoters, he's learning first-hand the stress of trying to pull together details to host weekly races.
The week before Sedalia's April 16 opener, Bodenhamer said he barely had an appetite. He barely slept. He's jokingly concerned about losing his hair. And don't even ask about his plans to quit smoking.
"It's fun," Bodenhamer mustered while reviewing the opening race. "It took me like all weekend to recoup. ... I was like 'Oh, what am I thinking about?' "
Bodenhamer and Millard didn't aim low. They decided to run a three-division program of Late Models, 360 sprint cars and modifieds, focusing on the most popular classes instead of relying on lower divisions. The hefty weekly purse of $21,000 includes $1,200 for the sprint winner, $1,000 for the Late Model winner (and at least $150 to each starter) and $750 to the modified winner.
"We definitely jumped in there and went after it," Bodenhamer said.
The track drew 21 Late Models, 15 sprint cars and 34 modifieds in the opener on a cool evening that cleared up after threatening weather in the afternoon. Bodenhamer was grateful that many of his Late Model traveling buddies, including champion drivers Terry Phillips and Al Purkey, were among those on hand. But he hopes Sedalia draws more sprinters along with more Late Model drivers from southwestern Missouri.
Sedalia is racing head-to-head Fridays against LA Raceway just 20 minutes down the road in LaMonte, but Bodenhamer hopes his track's premier divisions — LA doesn't run Late Models and hosts a limited sprint division — draw spectators.
"I'm really hoping that'll catch on and the crowd will appreciate it and we can really get rolling," Bodenhamer said.
The modest opening-night crowd filled a fraction of the 8,000-seat grandstands, but Bodenhamer hopes crowds build as the weather improves and the track develops its $60 VIP package, a program where motor coaches carry groups of 50 people for trips to and from the track. VIPs receive admission, a meal, beverages, souvenirs and special treatment at a 2,400-square-foot Budweiser tent outside turn four. Bodenhamer said five motor coaches were used for the opener and they hope for 8-10 a night.
To draw racers, Bodenhamer is doing giveaways at the drivers' meeting and added a hot pit area so flat tires don't end races for drivers.
While Bodenhamer is focused on promoting, he still plans to drive his Chris Hitchcock-owned car in Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association events in 2010, including the three MLRA events at Sedalia — "if I can physically and moneywise handle it," he said.
