Maybe open-wheel racing has seen better days and maybe there are many who are struggling to make ends meet, but it's gotta be a good sign when the radio announcer for the IRL is fronting a group that is looking to purchase a race track.
TERRE HAUTE — The Vigo County Fair Board is still considering its options for the next in line to promote racing at the Terre Haute Action Track, said Pete Plant, who has led the search for a new promoter.No, it's not like these guys are buying California Speedway, but it's still noteworthy anytime someone from the IndyCar community looks to financially embrace the dirt-track roots of the sport. In case you didn't know they used to slide through the turns at Indy way back when. And yeah, I know this is several days old but news from Terre Haute travels slowly these days.
A group that includes Mike King, chief announcer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network; Brian Dorsett, local businessman and former Major League Baseball player; and Davey Hamilton, IndyCar driver and announcer; is making its case to become the next in charge of the famed half-mile dirt oval.
(MORE from the Terre Haute Tribune Star)
I hope they get that track going again. It's great to see Davey Hamilton involved--he's a class act.
I miss races at the Terre Haute Action Track. If you sat in the right spot in the grandstand (and that spot varied with track conditions), you got dirt thrown at you... it's incredible. Some of the best dirt racing I've seen has been there (and at the Hoosier 100).
The IRL is a big supporter of dirt tracks and sprint cars. Look at all the IRL drivers who come from dirt track backgrounds. Oh, wait ...
Well, I did see an IRL patch on the suit of Damion Gardner during the Chili Bowl:P
Before he was the Voice of the IRL, Mike King used to be the track announcer at both Terre Haute & Putnamville, which leads me to believe he's got a soft spot for the track.