The track that started life as Michigan Ideal Speedway (or Lil MIS as some may recall) and which raced under the names of Calhoun Speedway and Springport Motor Speedway has taken on new life for 2009 as Mid-Michigan Speedway.
Over the course of the 2008 season, a businessman Jerry Rabbers along with long-time racers Marcus Anthonsen and Dennis Garlanger acquired the lease on the facility and this off-season put in motion the most aggressive short track campaign in recent history.
Speaking with Marcus Anthonsen General Manager, he stated “We are going to take this great racing facility and make it the premier racing location in the state. This isn't a budget facility and it shouldn't feature budget racing. We want the best of the best to race Mid-Michigan Speedway. That's why our payouts are what they are. We reward the best racers with the best payouts. Our weekly payout will top most tracks biggest special event. If you are a Late Model, Sportsman or Modified driver and you aren't planning on racing Saturday Nights at Springport, then you are not going to be participating against the best.
Dennis Garlanger Competition Director added "The amount of drivers that have registered so far,we are thrilled to say are exceeding our expectations." The classes being run this year will be late models, modified, sportsman, street stock, and mini stock. One of the biggest changes happening this year is in the mini stock class. " We have set up a package allowing front wheel drive mini stocks to be competitive with the rear wheel drives. In result we will have more entries, and a very competitive field bringing more action to the race fans."
The speedway has a unique configuration. It is 70 feet wide, 3/8 mile around the bottom and 150 feet short of 1/2 mile along the top. The front stretch has twelve degrees of banking, 18 degrees in the corners, and 14 degrees along the back stretch. A new 14 foot high flag stand has been installed to replace the old seven foot high one giving the drivers a better view of the flag person with three feet extending over the track. This also gives the flag person a better view of the whole track increasing safety for the drivers.
This years schedule is packed full of weekly Saturday night races with the appearance of several traveling series. This allows for several full weekend events this year.
Dennis continued, "We at Mid-Michigan Speedway believe the fans are number one. Some of the things we want to try this year include making racing an interactive experience for the fan. Whether it is drawing a fans suggestion for the field inversion, or being a guest starter and waving the green flag for a feature race. Racing is a family event, and that is why kids twelve and under are free. Some of the extras we want to have this year are autograph night, big wheel races, and a few others that we want to keep secret until the fans get to the track."
President Jerry Rabbers stated “We realize the economy is tight. It is tight for fans, it is tight for drivers. That is why we are setting the payouts like we did. We want to reward drivers for putting on a show. We want them to know how much they are appreciated. We want to make it worth their while to drive from Ohio, Indiana, any where in Michigan to come to Springport and Mid-Michigan Speedway and put on a GREAT show. And get paid GREAT for doing it.”
Building on the point, Dennis said “The hope is to give back to the community as much as possible. Now that depends on fan turnout. More competitive action-packed racing brings more fans, more fans bring more drivers, more drivers bring more action-packed racing, and so on, and so on. If we are able to get you to come to the track, see some great racing, mixed with wholesome family entertainment, the more likely that fan will be to tell a friend, and we grow an upstanding reputation."
Mid-Michigan Speedway looked at rule packages from several of Michigan's race tracks and tried to set theirs similar so that drivers will have some cost savings by not needing different tires, shocks, etc. for each different track. That way a driver can run a Friday night race at their hometown and then come to Mid-Michigan to compete on Saturday night. " This season will be a learning process, and we may need to make some rule clarifications as we go. They are growing pains, and we are more than willing to work with the drivers as long as they are willing to work with us."
Dennis wants drivers and fans alike to know " If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to shoot me an e-mail. Go to www.midmichiganspeedway.com click on my name and ask away. I am a very approachable individual, and will do whatever I can to respond as quickly as possible." The web site is still under construction, but promises to be an amazing on line interactive experience. The whole team cannot wait until April eighteenth for opening night of the 2009 season. On April eleventh there will be open practice. Gates open at 1:00 p.m., practice starts at 3:00 p.m., and runs till dusk. If you wish to come out and watch, grandstands are free and pit passes will be $15.00. So get those tires on, fuel cell filled, and engine tuned, let's go racing.
