CALVERT CITY – Racing fans can feel the excitement as Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway gets ready to open the gates for their second racing season despite weather delays that forced March races off the books.
To date, track owners Ronnie Jones and Jim Hale have invested millions into the entertainment project and are still working to make the track better than ever. Stead-fast in their efforts, they have shown the willingness to invest their time, resources and much needed funding to fully restore the location once known as the “Cadillac of dirt tracks,” among the racing circuit.
Speedway Communications Manager David Green says of last season, “Fairly early in the year, we basically jumped the regular program and started featuring one or two divisions every Saturday night and running a big money race to attract a bigger car count and more fans.”
It was a move that paid off as PR Manager DJ Irvine added that most nights, special division races would draw about 1,000 people per-week to the track between fans and race teams. Of their first year open, Green reports that the biggest obstacles included getting a handle on track maintenance after the venue had gone unused for the bigger portion of the last five years.
Notably, track owners did not receive any tax benefits or financial incentives when the purchase was made and after investing in the operation and paying what is being referred to as a “five figure tax bill,” track representatives say they feel they have proven they are invested in Marshall County. The track employs approximately 50 people during the racing season and several in the off-season, as well.
“I feel like we have been a good neighbor,” Green said. “They gave us a deadline and we met those deadlines,” he said of time constraints set by the county Fiscal Court. “We knew we were a start-up organization and we were very deadline conscious and we also knew that there had been issues with previous track owners not meeting those deadlines.”
While deadlines have been met and things have been moving forward, instituting strict time constraints does not come without setbacks. “Starting earlier in the day prevents the track from retaining moisture and creates a lot of dust which our fans have complained about,” Irvine said. “Some track programs are just starting at 8 or 9 p.m. and in our area, our program is almost over.”
Taking in stride the good with the bad, Green and Irvine say they are excited to start off another successful season of racing opening night, set for April 11th. “We have lost the World Outlaws late model race to the weather, but we are working to create our own Bluegrass Nationals event like we did last year which was very successful,” Green said.
The first racing night of the season is set to be a full night featuring UMP Super Late Models, UMP Open Wheel Modifieds, UMP Pro Crate Late Models, UMP Stock Cars and Pure Stock Cars giving fans something to cheer about.
“We are over-anxious to get going I guess you could say, with the past two years’ weather not permitting March racing. Back in the 60’s and 70’s when I first got involved in racing, I don’t remember starting in March either, but I guess we were hoping to get up and going for the fans – albeit a possibly unrealistic goal,” Green said.
As for the future, Irvine says track management are considering several other entertainment options that have been brought to the table including demolition derbies, monster truck races, truck pulls and even motocross.
Additionally, both say track owners are hoping for continued success as they ponder development options for the additional 317 hundred acres that came packaged with the race track purchase.
Of the track’s impact on Marshall County, Tourism Director Randy Newcomb said, “The biggest initial benefit I have seen is the additional attraction and entertainment option the Speedway gives our visitors. It attracts racing enthusiasts from several states to Marshall County, many of whom may not have ever been before. Their weekly races and special events bring added dollars into Marshall County, increasing the economic impact for our community.”
Last year, the track saw racing teams from 17 different states and from as far away as Canada.
For up to date information, check out the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway Facebook page at Kentuckylakemotorsports or www.kylakespeedway.com