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FW: 2010 MMSHoF inductees announced-----Original Message----- From: Allan Brown <speedways@comcast.net> Sent: Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:44:34 Pacific Daylight T... READMORE |
Paul McMahan takes WoO win at Eldora Paul McMahan had racked up six Top-Five finishes in his last eight starts heading into the finale of Outlaw Thunder by Goodye... READMORE |
New Paris braves cold, Thirteen Feature No doubt about it, the weather was cold with temperatures in the low 40's and a stiff wind swirling through the 1/4 mile spee... READMORE |
Galesburg Speedway Red Flagged The Galesburg Speedway did not open last weekend as scheduled and it’s unlikely the race track will open this Saturday becau... READMORE |
Ron Flinn Hospitalized Reports out of Crystal Motor Speedway this morning are that Ron Flinn has been hospitalized due to a coronary issue. Accordi... READMORE |
Action to begin at Spartan SpeedwayIf the grandstands along the front stretch of Spartan Speedway look a bit higher than normal, well, they are. The speedway p... READMORE |
Auto City postpones due to Cold Although the weather was picture-perfect for testing on Thursday afternoon, Mother Nature brought us cold and windy condition... READMORE |
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All eyes turn to the Irish Hills of Michigan this weekend as the best drivers in the sport converge on Michigan International Speedway (MIS) for the Lifelock 400. 
I've been watching the weather via my internet connection for the past two weeks trying to guage the likelihood that fan spirits would be diluted by rain. As of this writing, it's looking like a high-octane weekend!
Unlike year's past, however, a few things are markedly different this year. For instance, just one week prior to the featured event at MIS, fans can log on to the track's web site and purchase tickets for Sunday's Cup race. That in itself is not necessarily out of the ordinary. What is unusual is the fact those tickets aren't located in "whocaresville" at the entrance to turn three, but rather 38 rows up in the center grandstand. For that matter, there are prime seats still available throughout the Brooklyn, Michigan facility.
No doubt, the availability of tickets to this June's MIS event is a result of our state's current enconomic condition.
On the local level, it's more than just seats available on race day. Mid-Michigan Speedway cancelled last week due to a lack of cars. While no one in the racing community wishes such a situation on a race track, dollars (or lack there of) are dictating when and where drivers unload their machines.
Further, dollars (or lack there of) are dictating when and where fans pass through the turnstyles.
Before our national economy took the red flag, a good race weekend at MIS would generate more than $400 million for the "Greater Brooklyn" (better defined as Jackson/Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan) economy. That figure, as presented by NASCAR itself, was based on approximately $67 million being spent within a 25-mile radius of the track during the four-day race weekend. Considering those dollars are estimated by economists to pass over six times, that $67 million escalates to $402 million.
Our friends at the Old Town Bar and Grille in Brooklyn used to tell us the three race weekends (including the good old days when the Indy Racing League used to grace the 2-miles at MIS), paid the bar's expenses for the year. Today, I'm sure they're just hoping, like the rest of us, to turn a profit.
Like everything in life, we hit our highs and lows. We are no doubt in one of the lows. As a racing community, we've also learned patience behind the wheel helps us survive the lows and thrive when the opportunity presents itself.
My hope for one and all; MIS; Mid-Michigan Speedway; and, even the Old Town Bar and Grille is the green flag will wave for us all soon, and we'll get back to the days when the track was a sell out and the pre-race party at the Old Town was elbow to elbow.
