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ABC Raceway Announces New Leaders, Banquet Details
by Nick Gima
Ashland, WI -- Members of the Ashland-Bayfield County Racing Association met
on Tuesday, December 19, to discuss a variety of topics, choose its Board of
Directors, and prepare for the awards banquet celebrating the ABC Raceway’s
2006 stock car racing season.
Raceway officials unanimously re-elected to their positions include president
Kurt Beeksma, vice-president Weaver Wherritt, secretary Lori Schmidt,
treasurer Cheryl Klobucher and assistant treasurer Mary Bowers. Beeksma, whose
term on the Board was complete with the end of the 2006 season, was also
re-elected to the Board, along with Eric Erickson and Tony Hicks, while Kevin
MacArthur was voted to the Board for the first time. Long-time Board member
Ron Hmielewski announced his resignation from a leadership position within the
organization, and those in attendance showed their heartfelt appreciation for
his many years of service.
Beeksma presented his President’s Address to the membership gathered,
pointing out statistics from the 2006 season. In his comments he stated that
while attendance was down dramatically overall throughout the region’s other
racing facilities, at ABC grandstand attendance was only down by an average of
ten persons per regular-season race night compared with 2005. The Kids’
Night program in June was once again the best-attended, with over 1,200 in the
stands. Meanwhile, pit-area attendance at Ashland was up dramatically, and a
season-high of nearly 500 were in the pit area to watch the season’s
penultimate program on August 19.
The 2006 season’s average car count was up one over the season before, with
the WISSOTA modified division showing a impressive bump in nightly attendance,
while the track’s own six-cylinder class was down significantly.
Other regular-season events that were especially successful during this past
summer included the Como Oil Modified Series’ first visit July 3, the third
annual Pure Stock Special, which paid an event-record purse, and the FastLane
Motorsports Steet Stock Special in late July. Beeksma expressed appreciation
to all of the Raceway’s season-long sponsors for their generous support of
events at the track.
Beeksma noted that weather and the scheduling of other race tracks’ events
put a minor damper on the fan and car attendance at this season’s Red Clay
Classic, but the event was still a strong success from both a financial and
racing standpoint.
The next event on the ABC Raceway’s schedule will be the annual awards
banquet, to be held Saturday, January 20, at the Bad River Casino in Odanah,
just east of Ashland. Drivers, crews, sponsors and fans are welcome to attend.
The top ten finishers in the final 2006 points standings in all five divisions
will receive trophies, and the top 15 in all divisions will receive their
share of the final points fund, which will total over $10,000. Other awards to
be presented include Rookie of the Year honors in each division, along with
the Sportsman of the Year, Most Improved Driver and Chuck Anderson Memorial
Award, and there will be plenty of door prizes.
Tickets for the buffet-style meal are available for $16 each for adults and
$12 each for children under age 12, provided tickets are ordered before
January 11. After January 11, the cost will be $19 for adults and $15 for
children under age 12. No dinner tickets will be sold at the door. Admission
for the awards ceremony and dance only are $5 each. Social hour will begin at
5 pm, dinner will be served at 6, and the awards ceremony will begin at 7:30
pm, with live music to follow.
Please call (715) 682-2672 to purchase tickets or request special seating
arrangements, or send ticket requests to ABC Raceway, c/o Mary Bowers, 1701
8th St West, Ashland, WI 54806.
Individual rooms and blocks of rooms are available at the Bad River Lodge at a
discounted rate for those interested in staying there. Please contact the
Lodge at (715) 682-7121 for more information or to reserve rooms in advance.
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