NO SANCTIONING, NO PROBLEM FOR 141 SPEEDWAY

by Matt Panure
Last season 141 Speedway made a huge leap. When Bruce and Rene Conard bought the facility three seasons ago as part of a group of investors, they inherited a quarter-mile asphalt track. Flash forward to today, and you’ll happen upon a third-mile dirt facility.

When the Conards started their stint as owners, much of the talk was about reconfiguring to a new third-mile asphalt, perhaps the looks of Elko Speedway. A change in plans saw the resurfacing and the host of changes that comes with moving from asphalt to dirt.

One constant was the IMCA sanctioning. In its final year as an asphalt track, 141 Speedway hosted IMCA sanctioning for Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks. The transition was smooth for some, but did not happen for others.

However, 141 Speedway was forced to take their show to Wednesday nights last season. Changing a facility must be hard enough, but to change nights as well – forget about it.

So when the offseason of 2010 rolled around, the management at 141 Speedway made a decision to move back to the traditional Saturday nights. One large hurdle stared them in the face. IMCA grants sanctioning to both Shawano and Sturgeon Bay, and typically will not sanction tracks within close proximity on the same nights.

With that, the management at 141 decided to go unsanctioned this season and test the water to see if the loyalty of the drivers lay within IMCA or within 141 Speedway.

On April 23, despite an early-week snowstorm, wet pits and an infield that resembled quicksand, 141 Speedway opened the gates. Track management and crew did a fantastic job of getting the track into race day shape. Despite a bump or two, the track was tacky, had two lanes of racing and provided an exciting venue.

The program saw a total of 105 cars in six classes and was put on in front of a crowd of approximately 1,000.

In the pit area prior to the start of the race, the question lingered. Who was there simply because 141 was the only track open, and who was there because 141 will be their home for 2011?

Several drivers who have chased IMCA points in the past were on hand, and had nothing but positive remarks for 141. Many of them stated they will be racing at the venue full time in 2011.

But the lack of IMCA sanctioning, was it still a deterrent?

Not so much said multiple-time champion on the dirt Eddie Muenster of Green Bay, Wis.

“I’m still pro-IMCA, I still like IMCA,” Muenster said. “It took me a lot to decide. When IMCA said they wouldn’t sanction (141), I decided not to. Then I thought about it and thought that it wasn’t really the track’s fault because they tried.”

Part of his decision had to do with his father’s plans to race this season, Muenster said. The ageless wonder Jerry Muenster plans to race Oshkosh on Friday nights with Eddie – at another non-sanctioned facility.

Former IMCA National Champion Jared Siefert, also of Green Bay, echoed Muenster’s sentiment on the movement away from IMCA sanctioning.

“I was kind of bummed,” Siefert said. “I’ve always been an advocate for IMCA, but at the same time I really like what they have going on here at 141 Speedway. They definitely put forth the effort that a lot of other tracks don’t.”

Siefert also added that his days of chasing points from track-to-track have passed, and he’s happy to find a home base. “I did the whole national thing once and that was enough. I don’t need all of the extra pressure of trying to repeat that again. My days of killing myself to go racing are pretty much done.”

Sean Jerovetz, of Little Suamico, Wis., said he’s no longer into racing for points either, and the best deciding factor for him was his experiences at 141 last season.

“They worked really hard and they showed signs of improvements at the end of the year,” Jerovetz said. “They have a lot at stake, you can see that and you know they’re going to try. I guess if they’re going to try, I might as well try to help them out. If I’m going to race, I’m going to race at their establishment because I know they’re trying.”

Siefert agreed. “Just getting treated right and knowing that you’re appreciated for the show you’re putting on makes a big difference.

“I think they’ve done an excellent job. They’ve devoted a lot of time and money, and you can see it. They go out of there way to put on a good show. I applaud them.”

Though those drivers were settled on 141, one was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and support. Rob Charapata typically tows to IMCA sanctioned tracks, and has seen the success of the sanction keep the sport strong.

“I thought they were shooting themselves in the foot when I first heard it,” Charapata said. “I thought the IMCA guys wouldn’t go away from the IMCA tracks in order to race another track.”

So is being treated right the only factor in keeping the top guns at 141? While it may be part of the deciding factor, a few extra dead presidents might be the tipping point for some.

When the track decided to move one without sanctioning, they found a way to sweeten the deal a bit for those who didn’t mind the absence of IMCA points.

“We’re taking the weekly sanctioning fees and throwing that into the drivers purse,” said Joe Verdegan, 141 Speedway Public Relations Director and Announcer.

“We originally wanted the sanctioning from the standpoint of consistency with the rules,” he said. “What we’re doing is keeping the rules essentially the same so a driver in an IMCA-sanctioned car can roll into our pit area and have the car be legal.”

Verdegan has witnessed most of 141’s changes first hand, and it optimistic that they have the right formula to tread on.

“There are three or four factors of where drivers choose to run – proximity, track conditions, how well the show is run and pay,” Verdegan said. “We’re not throwing it all on top, so the bulk of the purse increases has gone to the positions through the field.”

Ever an optimist, Verdegan does fear that IMCA may take away from the three similar classes that are unsanctioned at 141 – modifieds, sport mods and stock cars. Verdegan said that some classes may have to drop out of the rotation if they are unable to sustain a count, but it hopeful that they all can survive.

“It’s going to be a crapshoot with Shawano and Sturgeon Bay,” Verdegan said. “A lot of guys claim they don’t chase the state or national points with IMCA. I guess the proof will be in the pudding. It’s really tough to say.”

In the sanctioned classes, 141 saw 23 modifieds and 27 sport mods – hardly a cause for concern at the time. However, the traditionally strong stock car division saw only 10, but put on an incredible feature with the likes of Junior Karcz and John Heinz scuffling on the last lap.

Only time and several competing tracks opening will tell how strong 141 Speedway will remain through a host of changes in the past two seasons.

Jared Siefert left one last point to ponder. “Pretty much everyone that likes it here is coming back, and guys that haven’t experienced the place don’t know what they’re missing.”