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Twenty-two years ago the Mt. Pleasant Speedway was sitting idly by with no ownership and no foreseeable hope of the three-eighths mile dirt track opening up. Then in stepped former racecar driver Dick Crook and his wife Betty, and the rest as they say is history. In 1987 after five years of the Mt. Pleasant Speedway being closed, the Crooks purchased the track from former owner Tony Heintz. After a full year of track preparation, the speedway officially re-opened its doors in May 1988 with Friday night racing. “It was Dick’s dream to own a racetrack,” Betty said; “He tried to buy it in the five years it was closed, but because of the issue of the present lease not being paid and because the issue was in the court system, the track could not be sold. As soon as that got taken care of in court, Tony (Heintz) called and said the track was for sale. We took what little money we had and a full year of 24 hours and seven days a week of constant work and we opened in 1988.”

Following Dick’s death in 2004, Betty continued running the speedway with the help of their son Mario Crook. “I guess with 17 years under our belt when Dick passed away, Mario and I felt we could promote and continue Dick’s dream for him,” Betty Crook said. “I knew I was going to have to find a job, so why not do what I was already doing.”

With another racing season right around the corner, Betty and Mario have many new plans for drivers and fans of the Mt. Pleasant Speedway.

The biggest news for 2009 at the speedway would be the change from Michigan Modified Association to the UMP sanctioning body for both the Modified and Late Model divisions. “I felt that UMP was the direction to take and it should bring some new racers to the track, if only for our specials,” Betty said. “Another good thing is that the rules are set.”
Aside from switching to UMP points for the Late Model and Modified divisions, the Mt. Pleasant Speedway has also set the Street Stock rules closer so those drivers can compete at other tracks, while also giving other tracks Street Stock cars a chance to race at Mt. Pleasant and track management has rules to make sure the Stock 4-Cylinder cars will remain stock, according to Bill Long, Mt. Pleasant Speedway Promotional Director.

“Changing is not always easy, but 2009 is only the start to something great at the Mt. Pleasant Speedway,” Long said.

Other highlights for the 2009 season include a May 22 Sunoco Late Model show, a June 26 SOD Sprints special, the “Woof Classic” Late Model special on Aug. 14 as a memorial to Mt. Pleasant Speedway Promotional Director Bill Long’s father William, who passed away earlier this year, the Aug. 21 “Pre-Xtreme 100” Modified special with the winner automatically qualifying for the special Sunday, Aug. 23 second annual Xtreme 100 modified show and Street Stock Invitational, and the Sept. 4 return of the Outlaw Late Models.

“The 2009 season is going to bring fast side-by-side racing at the Mt. Pleasant Speedway,” Long said.

With a slumping economy, many people are worried about how well racetracks will do this year, however Long said the Mt. Pleasant Speedway staff is optimistic for a successful season.

“Going to the Mt. Pleasant Speedway will offer some great racing at a low price with the family discount (two adults and two kids for $25) and college rates (four college students with identification for $20) on regular nights, and with the low price at the concession stands the fans will enjoy a great Friday night of racing,” Long said.  “Please support our track and team sponsors who help keep the Mt. Pleasant Speedway going, because without them there will be even less cars racing in 2009.”

Looking back on 2008, his first season working as the promotional director at the Mt. Pleasant Speedway, Long said the two moments that stick out to him are the September Outlaw Late Model show and the first annual Xtreme 100, which Long put together and managed to bring together over 40 of the best open wheel Modified drivers in the country to Mt. Pleasant.

“A special thanks to Betty and Mario (Crook), the staff of the Mt. Pleasant Speedway and to all the teams for letting me have this much fun as the promotional director,” said Long, who outside of promoting for Mt. Pleasant, spends his time fishing and announcing for the I-500 snowmobile race.

Long, whose son William Long III is also in racing, said he always looked to his father, who raced go-karts, as his inspiration.

“He always said to give 100 percent,” Long said of his father.

As for racing favorites, Long said “any Outlaw Late Model driver because they are crazy fast.”

The 2009 season opening night at the Mt. Pleasant Speedway, otherwise known as “The Cleanest Show on Dirt,” is Friday, May 1.

“Dirt is for racing and asphalt is for getting there,” Long said. “We want to welcome all race fans to the Mt. Pleasant Speedway in 2009 to enjoy a Friday night of excitement.”
General grandstand admission for the 2009 season are $11 for adults, $8 for senior citizens age 65 and older, and $5 for kids to 10 years-old with gate raised for specials. Pit passes are $25 per person.

For more information on the Mt. Pleasant Speedway visit www.mtpleasantspeedway.com or call the track office at 989-773-2387.

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