Unfortunately, this year hasn t started much better either as the April 7 opening night was postponed a week due to unseasonably cold and freezing weather in the Tennessee region, and rain washed out this one. “Weather has been our worst enemy, ” Varnadore said, only half-joking.
Regardless, he is optimistic that the change from their traditional Friday program to a Saturday night schedule will pay off.
“Saturday night is a much better night because we can do so much more with the schedule, ” Varnadore explained. “For example, we can start earlier in the evening. It looks like we will begin our programs around 5:30 p. m. instead of 7 p. m. when cold weather is a factor. When temperatures are normal, the events will begin at 7:00pm. Now we can be racing before it gets cold at night when necessary and end earlier which is much better for fans with children. We just couldn t do those types of things with our old Friday night program. ”
Crossville Raceway, a one-third mile clay oval, will run a weekly schedule of Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and Four-Cylinder Front Wheel Drive cars. They also have a variety of special events planned, including several touring series and a special Tuesday night program featuring NASCAR drivers Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace.
One thing that should help expedite the programs in 2007 is the addition of a second opening in Turn 1 to help get race cars off the track. Previously, there was only one entrance so it took time to get the cars off and the next wave onto the racing facility.
“We are trying to become more fan-friendly and this new exit will help speed up our racing program considerably from past years, ” Varnadore explained. “We want to try and get the fans and competitors out of the track at a decent hour. ”
Like its sister track, East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., Crossville Raceway is a new partner in the ASA Member Track program. They have a Level II status which joins them with a network of racetracks across the country dedicated to working together to improve the state of weekly racing for both fans and competitors.
“I really like the ASA plan and what Dennis (Huth, president of the ASA Member Track, Regional and National Racing programs) is doing with it. I like that we are able to work with all the other tracks and promoters to help make short track racing stronger in the industry and to help fend off the threat we face from other entertainment options that are available today. ”
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