TERRE HAUTE — With a rich 55-year history of playing host to some of the finest in dirt track racing, the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds has generated more than its share of memorable and interesting season openers.
The latest chapter in that storied past will unfold Saturday night with the scheduled running of the 37th annual Tony Hulman sprint car classic.
And like many of its earlier predecessors, the latest opener is expected to deliver its own special story lines.
Following an off-season mired in speculation regarding the future of racing at the track, fans gave a collective sigh of relief a few weeks back when promoter Dave Allison said there would indeed be racing at the Fairgrounds. Allison named Clay City native Tim Wolfe to oversee the day-to-day racing operations for the Action Track.
No sooner had the track released an attractive schedule, word came down that one of the premier events on that slate — the SUMAR Classic — and an October sprint car card had been canceled. Plus, a scheduling conflict had left the fan favorite Hut Hundred without a date.
As if newly named director of competition Tim Wolfe didn’t have enough on his plate as far as damage control.
A long-time supporter of racing in the Wabash Valley, Wolfe is keenly aware of the challenges that lie ahead if he hopes to return any degree of stability both on and off the track to the southside racing facility.
It’s a task he has tackled head on since taking on his new role back in February.
“I look upon it as an opportunity to help promote the track. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years,” Wolfe said.
He sees his job as two-fold: Getting the fans back into the seats, and restoring a damaged rapport that exists between management, the fans and many within the racing community.
“We’ve all been out there [at the track] looked up at the stands and saw way too many empty seats ... saw way too many things done wrong,” Wolfe said.
“I’m not saying I won’t make mistakes. I’m sure I will. We honestly approach it as trying to do the job the best we can ... for the track, for the community and for the fans. If we can do that we’ll be in good shape,” he said.
Despite the loss of the champ and sprint car race and uncertain future of the Hut Hundred, Wolfe said he has an attractive schedule — one he thinks the fans will enjoy.
“It’s [scheduling] going to be tough this year because we got a late start. I will say we have good USAC events set. We hope to enhance that by a couple of races, maybe by three. I would like to build to a 10-race schedule if possible.”
For that to happen, Wolfe said management will have to see better attendance figures and increased sponsorship dollars.
“Dave will be open to look at things. Look to where you have the honest numbers. How much we can get for our investment. The more business people we can get involved — keep involved — the easier it will be for everybody,” Wolfe added.
Track demographics reveal the need for stronger local fan support. Former Action Track promoters have long contended they drew better numbers from outside the Terre Haute area than within.
“It’s all about getting the fans back to supporting the track. We do that by getting the track supporting the fans. You have to get the Terre Haute Action Track actively involved with the community. We need to go out and be part of the community,” Wolfe continued.
Wolfe concedes one of his toughest challenges could be restoring the track’s public image — one that has slipped in recent years due in large part to the instability in leadership at the track.
“Mending fences I didn’t break but that’s part of it. I look forward to the challenge. There’s a way to go to get it back to where it ought to be,” Wolfe said.
“I’m sure there will still be some setbacks. I can’t just can’t go in there and wave a magic wand. I’m not the greatest thing since pockets. I work for a living. I can’t spend every waking hour over there. I wish I could but I can’t,” said Wolfe, a heavy equipment operator by trade.
“Our goal is to get the track headed back in the right direction. It might take a while but I’m confident it can be done,” he said.
Joe Buckles can be reached by email at jbuckles@mycidco.com.
Trackside
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