<\/p>\n
While racetracks around the country remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fairgrounds Speedway in Cortez emerged one of the most popular racing venues in the Southwest as drivers hit the road to compete in the sport they love.<\/p>\n
A full range of racing, highlighted by sanctioned International Motor Contest Association events, have taken place, and on Friday and Saturday, drivers put on a show for packed stands.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Race promoter) Gene Williams has brought our racetrack back to the Four Corners community,\u201d local driver and engine builder Tony Hill said. \u201cHe has stepped up and worked his butt off. Our track is in good condition, we have a great crowd out there, and we have more cars in the pits than we\u2019ve had in years.\u201d<\/p>\n
While two full evenings of nonstop racing stole the show, drivers from throughout the U.S. Southwest seemed as excited to talk about trading paint and battling for checkered flags as they were to talk about the importance of maintaining normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
According to several racers, Fairgrounds Speedway is the only track within a 500-mile radius to host dirt track events this summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has definitely been challenging throughout the state with all of the regulations,\u201d Grand Junction driver Billy Haack said. \u201cGene (Williams) has done a hell of a job out here letting us race and have a place to play. It gets everybody outside, and it puts some money in the economy too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think our county commissioners have set an example of what our country can do right now,\u201d said Hill. \u201cThey\u2019re stepped up and done something different than anyone else has done, and it shows here at our racetrack. We\u2019ve got huge car counts, and nobody is sick. I don\u2019t know of one person in our racing community who has come down with the virus. I don\u2019t know what that\u2019s all about, but I know that our county is doing right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although masks were not common during the two-night event, which featured numerous \u201cTrump 2020\u201d hats and shirts, audience members who chose to remain distanced from one another were afforded that opportunity by what appeared to be a respectful and diverse crowd.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty cool,\u201d said Dove Creek driver Brody Spangler. \u201cBeing in the Western United States, we don\u2019t got many racetracks out here running. It\u2019s pretty neat to be able to support these guys (at Fairgrounds Speedway).\u201d<\/p>\n
Fast vehicles and behind-the-wheel talent have been especially evident this season as drivers made an exodus to Cortez.<\/p>\n
Among those were a large group of drivers from Arizona and smaller contingencies from Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are some real good guys from Phoenix who are always up in the national points,\u201d Hill said. \u201cThere is no other place to run, so we\u2019re getting some huge competition. It\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the top local finishers during the weekend races were Dove Creek\u2019s Race Fisher, who won the stock car race Saturday, and Dove Creek\u2019s Randy Broderick, who won the dwarf division Saturday.<\/p>\n
Other top local finishers included Cortez\u2019s Timothy Ihnen, who finished second in the southern sportmod classification Friday and Saturday; Cortez driver Tony Hill, who finished third in the stock car race Friday; and Dove Creek\u2019s Brody Spangler, who finished third in the modifieds race Friday.<\/p>\n
Asked to explain the satisfaction that came from competing in front of the large crowd, Spangler said there was no greater feeling for a racer than giving fans a good show.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hate to say it, but that\u2019s the show up (in the stands),\u201d the Dove Creek driver said. \u201cWe\u2019re just here to do our best for them, and as long as they\u2019re happy, we\u2019re happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next races at Fairgrounds Speedway will take place Aug. 21 and Aug. 22 and will feature a range of IMCA events, along with sprint car races.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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