TERRE HAUTE — As the racing season rapidly draws to a close, any chance that fans will get one final opportunity to see racing at the Terre Haute Action Track this summer appears to be slipping away with each passing day.
Even one of the few voices that has any say in the track’s future, director of competition Tim Wolfe, is not optimistic we’ll see racing at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds for the remainder of the season.
He paints a disappointing, bleak picture for the future of racing at the track. He shares the view of many that the longer the track sits idle, the closer it comes to being a victim of commercial development.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that the lack of [racing] activity down there plays into the hands of those who want to make [commercializing] happen,” said the concerned Wolfe.
“Without the proper funding, it doesn’t matter who has the track. It’s just another failure. I don’t want to see that happen.”
Current track promoter Dave Allison has apparently washed his hands of running any more races at the Fairgrounds this year and has put his contract up for sale.
“He [Allison] did offer me the chance to take the place over. I talked to several people in Terre Haute about getting some financial support, but I’ve not got back any response,” confided Wolfe.
”With the way things have gone this season, I’m not sure if one could find any sponsorship support for any type of show. They need to get an event the caliber of a World of Outlaws show, where you can make money for the track and for the city.”
Wolfe addressed speculation that a big-name NASCAR driver might step in and bail out the Action Track, much like Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have done at other premier dirt tracks.
He doesn’t see that playing out here.
“You have to remember those NASCAR drivers don’t lease tracks; they buy them. That can’t and won’t happen here,” he said.
Wolfe says his boss isn’t against subleasing the half-mile dirt oval. Fairgrounds officials are adamant that any such move would have to be cleared through them first.
“I don’t want to speculate. Right now he [Allison] has made up his mind to hold off on things. He still has the contract. He’s done worrying about things.”
That’s something Wolfe hasn’t done and won’t do any time soon. He’s committed to getting the track back up and running.
“Getting the chance to be part of racing at the track has always been a dream of mine. I’m not about to give up on it. Terre Haute should be the centerpiece of USAC racing. It should be the showcase of dirt-track racing anywhere. I won’t stop trying to get it back where it belongs.”
I I I
n Hut Hundred future — While the prospects for the Action Track appear bleak, there appears to be a glimmer of hope that one of its most prestigious events — the Hut Hundred — might still happen in 2007.
Word could come as early as the end of this week that the USAC midget event might find a new home and date for ‘07.
An area track operator who wishes to remain nameless until the final contract is signed has expressed interest and has been in negotiations with USAC to host the event the first weekend in October.
If it happens, look for a Saturday afternoon show with Sunday being reserved as a rain date. Longtime supporters of the event can only wait and hope plans for the Hut materialize.
Joe Buckles can be reached by e-mail at jbuckles@verizon.net.
Trackside
Trackside: Sun is setting on Terre Haute Action Track’s season
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