SUCCESSFUL MEETING SETS UP 2002 SEASON AT MANITOWOC EXPO! By Bill Schlei

January 12, 2002; Manitowoc, WI - A crowd of nearly 100 drivers and team owners from as far away as Milwaukee attended the inaugural meeting for the new Manitowoc Expo Raceway last Thursday night.

"We are very excited about the level of attendance and the interest that was shown by these teams." said David Gauger who chairs the race track committee at the Expo. "Almost everyone who was there said they are committed to running at Manitowoc on a weekly basis."

The Manitowoc facility had been closed since the end of the 1996 season except for a few specials run last season.

"We used the Sprint Car and Eastern WI. stock car specials last year as a test to see if the we had assembled a staff that was capable of putting together a first-class show." said Gauger. "And I believe our test was a success."

Among the improvements at the track are new Grandstand and pit area lighting, a re-configured pit lane for easier on/off, a pit concession stand and, of most concern to those in attendance, new grading and track conditioning equipment to ensure a top quality racing surface.

Most of the questions raised were in regard to the street stock category and whether or not cars from places like Chilton or Sturgeon Bay would be able to make the transition smoothly. "I don't see this as being a problem," Gauger said. "provided the car passes safety inspection and adheres to our general safety rules.

Manitowoc will have four classes of racing with IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, Street Stocks and a new "Econo" Hobby Stock division.

These Hobby stocks will be showroom stock aside from standard safety equipment and will allow first-time" racers to build a car for under $1,000 and still be competitive. These cars are comparable to the Chilton "Challengers" and Sturgeon Bay "Bombers" and many of these teams have expressed an interest in running on the larger 1/3 mile at Manitowoc.

The Street Stock class is a step up simular to the streeters at Seymour, Shawano, Sturgeon Bay and Chilton.

Anyone interested in rules or other information can simply e-mail to expo@lakefield.net to the attention of David Gauger.