Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

:22:Dear USAC RACING President of Competition - Jason Smith,
USAC fans need status of the 3 events listed on your Competition Schedules at what seems to be a defunct facility(GCI69) so that plans can be made.
You should be aware(20yrs exp.) that your fan base mostly travels & some need to make accommodations in order to attend your events. Whether camping or hotel the vacancies fill up pretty fast now with vacation planners that don't have to consider if an event will take place. So I guess what I'm saying is show some common decency & respond on here to get the word out.
Thank you for your time.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

Agree with everything you say. Usac isn’t bright enough to know that IMW and ISW wouldn’t survive with out the traveling fans. They actually don’t care. Remember promotion is not what they are about. They have said they sanction events and that is it. One would hope that there is a lucky rabbit in the hat and the GC races will occur. Time will tell, but please don’t rely on Usac to help with any info.

Do you think it is remotely possible that they don't actually have all the details worked out yet and as soon as they do will publish that information?

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

Mega dittos to this post! I have NO idea on any of this, but this was the FIRST thing I was wondering...

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

I think it’s remotely possible they don’t have any clue what’s going on. I also know that many people plan vacations around the schedule. So as many on this board who defend Usac and say they have a communication presence where are they when people have genuine concerns. You can’t have it both ways.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

Instead of being reactive, why not be proactive?

Call the USAC office at (317)247-5151, explain that your are trying to make hotel reservations, and ask about the status of the Gas city races. The worst they can do is tell you they won’t tell you the status.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

Or,,,, Since it’s now out there in the open on this board which is monitored by Usac, don’t they be proactive and make a statement. Heck they could preface it with “due to on going concerns by our fans” blah blah blah. The track isn’t running and Usac has said track on their schedule. Not a good look for the sanction body.

I’m a big USAC defender, but my friend 76 is right. It’s not too difficult to let folks know what’s going on.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

I imagine they've been working to either have someone run the show at Gas City or another track.

Announcements from the NEWS page of USACracing.com show up here as Admin.

That being said, It's about time for that Announcement.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

(Warning, this is a JOKE...just to kind break up the post a little...and I have full respect for the tradition - and their place in modern times - of USAC and I realize the fans who support the series are the most important part of racing, but); I thought most USAC fans were retired and didn't have to worry about taking vacations...:47:

Lots of USAC hate here from people who apparently like their product. USAC is the sanctioning body not the property owner or promoter (as of now). Lots of moving parts in this situation but it seems that many just cannot stop using USAC as their favorite scapegoat.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

Or they could wait until they know for sure what is going on. Something may be in the works that none of us know about. Would save from making contradicting announcements.

If the track was open you could use their employees, but the tracks not open so where are they going to get the people to run everything? Concession stand, Cooks, ticket booth people on and on?

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

They will either go back to 7 nights, add Paragon, or have 2 nights at a track. My guess anyway.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

Not sure some people on here complaining would even go to a usac show if presented with a lesser show closer. One date in the middle of few different tracks running in a particular week. View it as a rain out at this point. There are people at work on this and one way or another we will know soon. We are looking at 3 dates in a long season. Patience.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

Your statement is correct, but it is not an unsurmountable obstacle. There are plenty of tracks that are special event only tracks and they can figure out a way to make it happen.

Obviously, the easiest solution would be to simply work with an existing track and use their crew for the night. I have also seen tracks close down their concession stand and only use food trucks.

In my mind, the bigger question is how was the track left? Did the owner's winterize the facility? If so, are they going to turn on any services this year or leave it winterized? Figuring out who is going to sell tickets is something that can be figured out. Not having water/sewer or electricity is a lot bigger issue.

Didn’t USAC run Bloomington for a couple of years for special shows only? If so this wouldn’t be first foray into running track for their races.

Or how about, we understand everyone’s concern about racing at Gas City in relation to 3 important events there, IMW, ISW, and the James Dean. As of now we’re uncertain of the availability of the venue due to ongoing issues with the current management. We are still working with their team to try to hold these events that so many of you enjoy attending. We hope to have a resolution soon so everyone involved, the fans and participants can plan accordingly.
Now was that so hard?
And again, you’ll find no bigger USAC homer than me.

And you would know absolutely nothing more than you already do.

PJ , you’re correct. But at least it would provide the illusion that they care about our plans.

That's just the thing 55, I think they do care. I don't believe they like the uncertainty any more than we do. Maybe I'm naive and wrong, that's certainly familiar territory for me, but I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

This same thing happened years ago when the ISW schedule was released with a "TBA" listed as the first round. Then a month before ISW they finally announced the round would be at Plymouth. But like I posted then, it makes quite the inconvenience for people traveling in from out of state or even out of country.

No one wants to believe more than me in USAC. I do believe that they do care. Just a head scratcher that they don’t throw us a bone as far as some sort of update. Obviously many folks are concerned.

What could USAC say that we already don't know at this point? They can't speak for the ownership. It is just like the BC39 until IMS greenlights the time and date nothing is official. I"m guessing USAC has a drop dead date...but it isn't going to be April 23

Popcorn Emoji plz.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

I would think that having it on the schedule says something? If it gets removed, everyone will understand.

I consulted an expert (Magic 8 Ball). "Will Gas City run this year?" Not likely. My guess they will fill the holes with Double shows at Lps and or Kokomo.

Why doesn't someone call see what the "Peeps" in the know have to say?

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

:44:

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

I think you have summed up the situation here. IT'S UP TO THE OWNER. I think USAC has left it on the schedule hoping that someone would be picking up the promotion at Gas City. There was a couple of interested parties who negotiated with the owner in earnest but were not provided with the agreed to contract. There was talk of someone just promoting the USAC races but the last word on that was he not interested in that and he wanted to sell it. the latest price tag I've heard is 2 million. A lot of money to invest for a race track but maybe not for a business where there is a lot of development going on around it.

Well, Lawrenceburg replaced gas city for midget week, writings on the wall for the others

See, I told you they cared. We start stirring the pot and we get the answers we’re looking for. We can now plan accordingly.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

I hate to hear this and i hope it eventually will re-open but I am having my doubts. I live about 15-20 minutes east of it and I hear that Walmart would like to have it since they have a distribution center down the road. I have heard that a truck center has interest, who knows. What I do know is no new tracks are being built and the ones that close fade into memories. What a bummer. I work in Montpelier and unfortunately from the locals that doesn’t sound good either.

James Dean Classic has also been removed from the schedule from Gas City and now stands as a TBA for September 19. Also Sprint Week has been removed from Gas City on the schedule and now stands as a TBA as well. That pretty much sums it up for GC.

Wasn’t all that long ago multiple (Gas City Bloomington Paragon Montpellier THAT) Indiana tracks had very questionable futures. Somehow we got thru that pretty well.
I hope some can step back and realize having a track racing that is not perfect every event is still way better than not having that track exist at all.

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

Success! Success! Success!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xweWu9AvbRg

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

And here's your sprint week info.Lost a race

The 37th edition of USAC NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week’s schedule has been rearranged for 2024.
The Gas City I-69 Speedway date will not be held.
Lincoln Park Speedway's date has moved to Friday night, July 26, & will now serve as the #ISW24 opener.

Hopefully the James Dean event goes to Kokomo

Re: Gas City I-69 Speedway Status?
 

Stick a fork in it, the track is done for at least this year.