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Thursday -
February 21, 2008
The Daytona 500 is Over!!! That
seems to drive home the realization that our racing season here in Southeast
Iowa is right around the corner. I am really excited about this year and I
picked up some good ideas while attending the Promoter's Workshops in Lake
Mary, Florida a week ago. The weather was good, the short track racing at
the area dirt tracks was great and the workshops were well worth the price
of registration for three days of round table discussions & meetings with
some of the best promoters in the country. It was good for Jenni and I to
get a way and get focused on the racing season that is soon to be here. We
drove to Florida for the workshops, so the 20 hours on the road (one way)
gave us lots of time to talk about our goals for next year and kick around
some ideas on how to achieve those goals. We are working hard to complete
our schedule but seem to be up against the wall on some dates and shows we
would like to bring to Donnellson. As the clock continues to tic away, we
will soon be forced to ink the dates we have and try for the rest next
year. Hope we can get it all squeezed in to '08.
While in the Sunshine state it was
nice to visit with some of the cup guys that have been to our track. Ken
Shrader and Kenny Wallace both ran modifieds at Volosia Speedway Park a
couple of nights. It was nice that they both took time to stop and say
"hey" and ask how everyone back here was doing and ask how our year went.
Clint Boyer now owns a dirt late model team with Shannon Babb at the wheel
of one of the cars while Clint pilots the other. That team borrowed Johnny
Johnson's rig to tote the cars to Florida as the brand new rig that the team
has on order will not be delivered until March sometime. Nice of Johnny and
the crew at the J&J Steel Race Shop to set these guys up with a first class
operation to head south with. Anyway, it was fun to talk with Clint &
Shannon at Volosia as well. Good luck to those guys as they go through
2008. We had intentions to meet up with JJ Yeley and his guys to shake
hands and talk face to face about his visit to Lee County Speedway on Wed.
June 18th but with engine troubles and an unplanned trip away from Daytona
for JJ and his family, time ran out. We agreed to try another time, or in
June if that came first. Glad to see JJ make the 500 and we wish him well
each week in the series.
Lots going on and much more to do.
Hope you keep our website on your favorites list and our race track in your
plans. As always, thanks for taking a look at Promoter's Corner.
See you at the Races!
Terry Hoenig - Promoter
(973)
Thursday - January 31, 2008
Well, the "off season" is flying by and this year
there doesn't seem to be anything "off" about it. Jenni and I seem
busier than ever. I am not sure if it is because our kids are getting
older and the growing list of activities that they have become involved
with, our decal business, Jenni's ebay sales, or all the odds and ends to do
with year end race track "stuff", but the time if flying by. Opening
night at the speedway is just 11 weeks away and there is lots to do.
Sponsor hunting, scheduling special events and attractions, and lining up
help for '08 will take up much of my time the next 6 weeks or so.
I would like to thank everyone who attended the
annual awards banquet. Every year I say "That was the best one yet..."
and every year it just keeps getting better. I really enjoyed putting
this banquet on for our drivers and their crews. Some years it seems
like a job but this year it was a pleasure. I think everyone had fun.
I know Jenni and I did. Special thanks goes out to all my help,
sponsors, and family for all their efforts making my job much easier.
(They do all the work and it makes me look good. Ha Ha)
I am so pleased to announce that J.J. Yeley will
come to the Lee County Speedway this summer. He is so much fun to talk
to and it is neat to hear how excited he is about coming here. He will
be racing a 360 Sprint in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Winged Outlaw Warriors
Special on Wed. June 18, 2008. Along with racing we will have a VIP
Dinner with tickets available in advance for our fans. This is sure to
be a night you won't want to miss.
There is so much fun stuff going on right now in
the racing industry. After 10 years of promoting weekly races, I sit
back sometimes and wonder how did I get into this career. I feel lucky
to wake up everyday and love what I do. Many people say, "I wouldn't want
your job." but I guess I wouldn't have it any other way. Sure there
are bad days here and there, like after a tough call or crash on the
speedway when I know the driver is going to want to "talk" to me and I want
to run and hide but for the most part I am grateful for where I am and what
I do. My wife and I are really looking forward to next year as our car
counts are growing and our crowds are following. We continue to work
hard to bring them a great night's entertainment in a family atmosphere at
an affordable price.
Thanks again for taking a look at the Promoter's
Corner and I hope to see you at the Races!
Terry
Sunday - October 21, 2007
Shiverfest 2007 was an awesome way to end the year.
With a record car count and a record crowd for this event I feel like that
put the exclamation point on what I would call a GREAT season. Thank
you to all the drivers and fans that took part in the event along with all
the sponsors that made our fund raising efforts a success. I am really
looking forward to 2008 and I can't wait to open up again in the spring.
The next task for us at the speedway is to get the
track worked up and do our version of "farming" on the track to put it to
bed for the winter. This will include wood chips, sawdust, left over
"nutrients" from the cattle barns at the fair, and plant our annual wheat
crop. Should make for another great surface come spring time.
Thanks again as always for looking at Promoter's
Corner - Terry
Tuesday - September 25, 2007
Can't believe the season is ending soon. It seems
like just yesterday that we were scrambling to get ready for opening night
this spring. It has been a great year in Donnellson as car counts have
been up over 10 cars per night on our weekly racing classes and the crowd
has followed that trend as well. Seems like I have been able to pay
attention to many things that go on at the track a little better than I have
in the past, (at least I feel like I have) and that has paid off with the
quality of shows we have put on for the fans this season. It could not
be done, however, without the support of so many great race car drivers and
teams. We really have the best people in the sport racing in
Donnellson, Iowa on Friday nights. Thanks to all who have chosen Lee
County Speedway as their place to race.
The Sprint Invaders Championship night went great.
What a crowd in the stands and what a great car count in all the classes as
well. Thanks to all the drivers who participated and brought their
fans to the event. The way the Sprint Invaders gave away the 2 bikes
was really cool and we will have to do that again sometime. Thanks to
Storm Steel for adding a little color to the show too with the $1,000 to win
8 lap dash.
Just two races to go in Donnellson for 2007, hope
you are making plans to attend. Sorry I have fallen behind on keeping
my column updated but as always, thanks for taking a look at Promoter's Corner.
See you at the track,
Terry Hoenig - Promoter
terry@leecountyspeedway.com
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