Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Kevin and Tammy Gundaker and Kenny Brown and Jim Siner for the development and execution of one the most successful midget promotions in the recent history of midget racing in the United States. THIS WAS A SUPERB PROMOTION!!!! :checkered: These people stepped out of the box and took a chance on this great event and won big time. No ********, no nonsense... just a terrific week of in your face midget racing and the fans loved it. Congratulations to all of you.

1. The track preparation was great. No rocks, stones and junk. Very little dust. 2, 3, and 4 wide racing all three nights.

2. The Gundakers made everyone feel at home and welcomed.

4. The racing program moved along quickly and was over by a reasonable hour.

5. They stepped up to the plate and paid a purse that made the two guys in Oklahoma look silly.

6. The biggest crowd that I have seen for midget racing in recent memory.

7. And the weather was outstanding!

THESE PEOPLE HAVE SET THE STANDARD OF HOW MIDGET RACING SHOULD BE PROMOTED. We need more people like the Gundakers, POWRi and Tony Barhorst to bring midget racing back to where it should be.

Don Moore

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

And they couldn't have done it without the cars and stars of the United States Auto Club of which you made yourself look silly by purposefully failing to mention.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by E.P.:
And they couldn't have done it without the cars and stars of the United States Auto Club of which you made yourself look silly by purposefully failing to mention.

Agreed! The Gundakers, POWRi, and USAC all deserve a giant pat on the back for making it happen! I really just couldn't find much of anything wrong with this event....to group in that other promoter Don mentioned with the Gundakers is really a disservice to them, as they gave us a first-class event at a great facility, and I think they were rewarded by having an enthusiastic fan base that filled the stands and appreciated the show. And I'm pretty sure that most of them, and plenty who missed out this year, will be filing in next year to see the show....

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

This was my first trip to Granite City and I have to say I cant wait to get back. All I have to say is the racing and facility was freaking awesome this weekend.

Kyle

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by E.P.:
And they couldn't have done it without the cars and stars of the United States Auto Club of which you made yourself look silly by purposefully failing to mention.

1. The stars and cars had already planned on being there long before the organization you mentioned became a part of the promotion. Again, a big thank you to the Gundakers and POWRi for putting this promotion together.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

I, for one, am glad that, by having USAC on this race as a co-sanction, we got to see Brad Sweet, Brady Bacon, Cole Whitt, Chad Boat, Levi Jones, and Tracy Hines and a few more, all in their regular rides, all at the top of their games. I'm glad the powers that be figured out how to make it happen, because I think those guys added a little something to the show this weekend....

BTW, don't forget to throw up the congratulations to Jerry Coons, Jr. That was a great win to see for him and the Wilkes - people who are midget racing people and have done a lot for the sport, just like this race...

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

10-4! I was only able to attend Thursday nights show, but once again, came away impressed by the entire evening. The program ran efficiently, the track conditions were great, & a full pit area of midgets! :thumb

Congratulations to Jerry Coons Jr on the win. I got a chance to talk with Jerry for about 15 minutes after Thursday's show, & he has got to be one of the nicest guys around...great win!

Hats off to the Gundaker's as well for putting this entire thing together. They also own my local track, Lake Ozark Speedway, & they had some great open wheel, special shows there as well this year. Hopefully '09 will bring more of the same! :applaud:

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

I went Saturday night along with my Dad. Will definitely go back next year.

I have seen Michael Pickens race in person twice. Once at Jacksonville when he made a high sider to pass Brad Kuhn on the last lap & again last night.

He was flying last night before he flipped it. He is a ton of fun to watch!

This race should get bigger every year in terms of fan & car count.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by E.P.:
And they couldn't have done it without the cars and stars of the United States Auto Club of which you made yourself look silly by purposefully failing to mention.

E.P....That was exactly my thought (Whats Missing Here)"USAC", reading the inictial post,b4 reading yours!! Like a STAB in the Back,with no Knife !!.....Brucer'

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

When this race was initially announced it was only a POWRi event, no mention of USAC. Infact USAC dropped cosanctioning with POWRi during the season because USAC wasn't going to be the officiating crew.

It's just like USAC to do this. I never saw any mention of POWRi on the Speed Report or Speedtv.com in relation to this race, only USAC. USAC was only interested in this race when tey figured they would get on TV and the event was going to be big. Remember the Pepsi Knoxville Nationals? USAC only came along when the event started to get attention.

USAC is a parasite. This was POWRi's chance to get some national press and USAC stole the thunder from them.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Posters like DM10 and dwb are perfect examples of a message board malignancy which haunts this and other boards. To attempt to blame all that is wrong with the world on USAC is merely a manifestation of the ugly sore that provides the outward signs of that malignancy.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by dirtywhiteboy:
It's just like USAC to do this. I never saw any mention of POWRi on the Speed Report or Speedtv.com in relation to this race, only USAC. USAC was only interested in this race when tey figured they would get on TV and the event was going to be big.

USAC is a parasite. This was POWRi's chance to get some national press and USAC stole the thunder from them.

I don't think Kenny Brown and the Siners put this show together just so they could get a few seconds of air time on Speed Report. Besides, anyone who was there saw enough officials in neon yellow POWRi shirts to know who ran this deal.

And face it, no matter how some might feel about USAC, after 53 years, they are a brand name. When the casual fan hears "USAC", they think A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti. When the causual fan hears "POWRi", they think of a short yardage, goal line offensive formation in football. If having USAC on board helps get even more companies sign on to sponsor this race in the future, then I'm all for having them "piggy-back" on this race.

Plus we got the distinct treat of listening to two of the best announcers in racing, Jim Childers and Rob Klepper, team up on the announcing. That alone was worth having USAC co-sanction this race.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by Pat O'Connor Fan:
Posters like DM10 and dwb are perfect examples of a message board malignancy which haunts this and other boards.

Although I would say he maintains an obsession with the Chilli Bowl purse, Don Moore is actually one of my favorite IOW posters, if only because his mere appearance on any thread guarantees that his detractors will proceed to pop a vein. They make for some entertaining reading.:O:

Plus, I tend to agree whole-heartedly with 90-95% of what he says.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi ...and USAC, okay?
 

Great show! Saturday night it was officially pronounced the first annual race, so it
is on for next year and years to come. I live 1/2 hour away and only attended
Saturday night. :headbang*STUPID, STUPID, STUPID! I missed some of the best and fiercest
racing. No time trials. Drivers are awarded passing points. Fast guys fighting up
through two nights of qualifying races to get enough points for a decent start in
Saturday's C main, two B mains Dash and A main. Next year we're joining the motor
home bunch and not missing a minute of action.

Photos: http://www.stlracingphotos.com/Tri-City%20Speedway

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Don was right. Powri put this show on. I'm not saying USAC wasn't involved, but their presence seemed more of a diplomatic one than an official one. I believe with the money on the line, the cars and stars of USAC would have been there anyway.

To me it's the small things that matter and one example of how well the show was run was when they where pushing the cars off for the feature. The cars where lined up on the front straight facing the crowd. When the drivers crossed the stage they were escorted to their cars by some lovely young ladies.

When the cars pushed , Jim Siner walked down the line and made sure each car could be pushed off without causing a problem. To the casual observer that seems like no big deal, but for the cars at the wrong angle, it would have been hard for them to push off without getting run over by the truck or tearing the driveline up.

In my opinion,Powri runs a better program than USAC. I have seen some good USAC shows this year, but of the 5 Powri shows I went to, there was not a bad one on the bunch and the show ran like clock work each night.

Granted Powri has one series and not the mess of different series' and levels that USAC seems to have going, but that means they are focused on the task at hand and they are damn good at it.

I know USAC is a series and group in a state of change right now and I respect that, but there is nothing wrong with giving credit when credit is due. Powri is a great series to be a part of right now and I would hate to think where midget racing would be without them. Many people get upset when USAC is critisized and not everything going on is directly their fault(Although I am investigating the world wide economy crisis just to make sure they don't have their hand in it somehow) but Powri is a better run series right now and I only hope that makes USAC strive to be better than them and that will make racing even better.

I think for the majority, most teams that show up and run with Powri feel respected by the club and they leave the night after a show feeling that their presence was appreciated. For many people, that's all they want from a club is to be treated with respect.

To me;that was an A++++ experience across the board.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

After blotching the Hut Hundred who would want USUC to run the show? Oh maybe one of PatOconnerfans drivers couldn't start because he didn't get a "USUC provisional" or didn't win and he's sore about a perfect run show?

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

I would recommend that those that have posted on here about USAC not being mentioned in my original post take a course in how to understand the English language and make correct deductions after reading a paragraph. Secondly, please do your research before posting your slams and negative comments. My post was 100% correct. Thirdly, research the dates of the press releases made by the Gundakers and POWRi and USAC.

FACT: Tammy and Kevin Gundaker AND Kenny Brown founded this event and executed it's development, not the United States Auto Club.

FACT: The stars and cars (as someone called them) had already made plans to participate in this event last spring. I know for a fact that TSR, the Kahne team and Wilke-PAK declared that they would be there.

FACT: The August USAC press release only states that the Gold Crown Nationals had joined the USAC calendar.

Here is the original press release:

Pontoon Beach, IL (January 25, 2008) Tri-City Speedway will Host one of the biggest paying events in the history of the facility When they host the "Gold Crown Midget Nationals" on Oct 9th, 10th & 11th. A hugh field of Midget cars are expected to converge on the 3/8 mile facility with Saturdays A-Main paying an impressive $15,000 to win and $1,000 just to start.

The O'Reilly POWRi Racing Series presented by Lucas Oil will Sanction the event. The format will feature an open practice on Wednesday, Oct 8th for any Midget team wanting to get a headstart on their setup. Then, the action kicks off on Thursday, October 9th with full lineup of heat races, lower mains and $1500 to win feature. Friday, October 10th will see the same format. The top two finishers from Thursday and Fridays night's A-Main will be locked into Saturday night's A-Main. Also, the next top four in points earned from Thursday and Friday night's action will also be locked in to Saturday's A-Main . The remaining cars will be lined up according to points earned Thursday & Friday in lower main events on Saturday and race their way in to Saturday A-Main. The 8 drivers locked in will run in the DuPont Dash to determine their starting spot in the $15,000 to win A-Main.

Tri-City Speedway is located in Pontoon Beach, IL by Granite City. The Track is located across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, MO. Take exit 4 off of I-270 and then go a 1/2 mile south on SR 203. For Tickets or more information, you can call the track office 800-617-9077 or 618-931-7836 or visit their website at www.tricityspeedway.net

Promoted by: Kevin & Tammy Gundaker 636-448-9111



POWRi to Sanction the Richest Midget Show in 2008. "As one of the biggest dirt Midget races of the season and one of the last, we expect to see the best drivers come out not only from the Midwest, but from around the country." Continuing Brown stated, "Tri-City is the perfect venue for an event like this, "Brown continued. " The track has been a supporter of POWRi since our first season and we believe all of our competitors will enjoy the chance to compete at this historic track. (www.powri.com).

USAC joined this event somewhere around August 22. Here is the press release:

Press Releases: RICHEST MIDGET RACE OF 2008 JOINS USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CALENDAR
Posted on Friday, August 22, 2008 @ 16:07:26 EDT



From Dick Jordan: The richest Midget race of 2008 - the October 9-11 DuPont "Gold Crown Midget Nationals" at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach (Granite City), Ill., has joined the USAC Mopar National Midget calendar. Saturday night's (Oct. 11) feature event offers $15,000 to win and $1,000 to start, completing three nights of racing at the 3/8-mile dirt oval located just east of the Mississippi River, northeast of St. Louis, Mo.

Co-sanctioned by USAC and POWRi, the event will showcase the finest Midget racing on the planet at a track with USAC history dating back to 1961.

Preliminary events are scheduled Oct. 9-10, with features each night, building to Saturday's climactic "shootout" for $15,000.

Josh Wise won USAC's last Midget race at Tri-City, in 2005, on his way to the USAC National Midget title. Defending two-time USAC National Midget Champion Jerry Coons Jr. finished ninth in that 30-lap race.

Tracy Hines is the current USAC Mopar National Midget Series point leader and he and Coons are trying to join USAC's elusive list of "Triple Crown" champions this season. Hines needs to win the Midget title, while Coons needs both the K & N Silver Crown and Sprint Car titles. Coons leads the Silver Crown standings and is second in the Sprints.

The race has associate sponsorship from Wente's O & W Restaurant and the Bob Wente Classic. The Wente family is represented among the track's USAC feature winners as Bob won in the Midgets there in 1969.

A total of 47 USAC races have been conducted at Tri-City. Danny Frye won the first Midget race in August, 1961 and winners since then have included Indianapolis 500 veterans Tony Stewart, J.J. Yeley, Tom Bigelow, Pancho Carter, Jack Hewitt, Greg Weld, Jimmy Caruthers, Larry Rice, Mel Kenyon and Wente.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Don, you are wrong. Those USAC cars (at least KKR, TSR, Kunz, etc.) were not guaranteed to be there until the USAC sanction was added.

And, if you want the truth, the only thing USAC asked ALL YEAR for co-sanctions was to have a USAC purse and to have their race director right alongside POWRi's. That is what you saw this weekend.

Also, the opportunity to have a USAC race against this race was there, but USAC kept knocking on the door to be included at Granite City, even after being turned away multiple times. Luckily, everybody decided to do what was best for the event, and for midget racing as a whole. The USAC tag on this race got it on Speed Report. The USAC tag on this race picked up a few cars, including quite a few of the contenders.

I am usually hard on tracks and sanctioning bodies when they don't get things right. I am the biggest critic of USAC you can find - but I also live in reality and only get on their case when something is their fault. The thing is, I'm not afraid to talk to the players one-on-one. I made sure to know what was going on with this event from the beginning, and I was extremely happy to see it work out so well. I got another opportunity to see the POWRi folks, and the competitors and officials with that group are a lot of fun. The Gundakers have a great track now, and the little things they do are what make them so successful.

I look forward to this getting bigger and better, and I know it will. I also look forward to certain people coming back to reality and looking at things with an objective eye, but I'm not so sure that will ever happen...

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

"Understanding the English Language 101" is offered at most community and junior colleges.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by :
FACT: The stars and cars (as someone called them) had already made plans to participate in this event last spring. I know for a fact that TSR, the Kahne team and Wilke-PAK declared that they would be there.

That "fact" is wrong. Or is this the new tricky kind of English that only Don Moore knows...?

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Made Friday & Saturday’s shows, and as stated above, they were both very well run programs. Very limited down time, quick clean up of accidents (with a couple Haubstadt type tow vehicles), and the whole weekend had a “big race/event” feel to it. There were a few displays, simulators, Driver Washer toss competition and the TV for watching the NASCAR races while the support class was running. Fans were invited to stay after the races, and the Beer garden remained open to sell beer. The racing Friday was superb all night, and the track was very racy throughout the weekend. I must have been thanked 5 times for showing up and supporting the show while signing in at the Pit shed on Saturday by a woman that turned out to be Tammy Gundaker. I heard praise from many of the locals that I talked to about the Gundaker’s and the work they have, and continue to put into the track. Hope to make it back next year! The good weather forecast, and the fact that TSR, KKR, and other USAC cars would be there, sealed the deal for me driving 4 1/2 hours to see the show. Hope everything is the same next year with the co-sanction. It was a darn good weekend!!:thumb

Here are a view vids from Tri-City I have posted on YouTube.

Track Tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrLU2I17Eok

Friday’s second heat race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKsADA4hRM0

Michael Pickens Saturday flip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2AH_kM8_nc

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon:
That "fact" is wrong. Or is this the new tricky kind of English that only Don Moore knows...?

Nothing tricky about it. At least one driver from each of those teams told me directly last spring that their midget team would be there.... unless... of course.. if the widely rumored alleged threat of a USAC sanctioned midget race on that same weekend would have actually happened. Kirk, this is my last statement on this. Move on. They were going to be there, so get over it.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

The drivers don't make the decision to go. I'm just telling you, so that you know the facts, that those teams would not have been there unless it was a USAC show.

You would be the one to tell someone to move on. If it wasn't for your undying hate of all things USAC, we wouldn't even be having this debate...move on, Don!

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Both sanctions got two provisionals. That provisional argument is pretty null and void as well.

It was a great show, with great racing, and, with little tweaks, will be world-class in the very near future...

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

usac needs to step up to the plate and have some big money shows.mscs had 3 10,000 win sprint car shows this year.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by itsanonwingthing:
There were a few displays, simulators, Driver Washer toss competition and the TV for watching the NASCAR races while the support class was running.

You sure missed a good modified feature Saturday night if you were down by the TV watching NASCAR.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by illiNOISE:
You sure missed a good modified feature Saturday night if you were down by the TV watching NASCAR.

I may have spent two minutes Friday in front of the TV, and I did watch the Mod feature Saturday, and YES, it was a good one. The Late Model feature Friday wasn't bad (first time feature winner), once they got the spinning & crashing out of their system!:applaud:

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon:
The drivers don't make the decision to go. I'm just telling you, so that you know the facts, that those teams would not have been there unless it was a USAC show.

Well.. that eliminates all the USAC teams from the Chili Bowl, Twas The Midgets before Christmas... and the open competition shows at Kokomo and the PRI Classic.. I'm glad you cleared this up for all of us, Kirk. Thanks!!!

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by :

Originally Posted by :
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon
The drivers don't make the decision to go. I'm just telling you, so that you know the facts, that those teams would not have been there unless it was a USAC show.

Well.. that eliminates all the USAC teams from the Chili Bowl, Twas The Midgets before Christmas... and the open competition shows at Kokomo and the PRI Classic.. I'm glad you cleared this up for all of us, Kirk. Thanks!!!

Don's impressive understanding of the English language led to him assuming my statement applied to all non-USAC events. Incorrect, good sir. Some of us don't try to fit underlying statements in everyone of our posts, such as your opening post of this thread.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

My question to both of you:Doesn't that depend on what the definition of "is" is?

Seriously, Can't we just say it was a great show and it was good having all of the different teams there.?

Although, I have to admit that it would be pretty foolish for the USAC teams to run the Hut for $3,000-$4,000 and then miss a $15,000 show because it wasn't USAC.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Yeah no support classes that deserve a shot as well!!!!!!!

Im glad that most of you are NOT promoters..lol

In all seriousness, kudos to the Gundakers, ive known them for a while, and they have definately done everything right for Tri City Speedway.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by Chris Nunn:
Yeah no support classes that deserve a shot as well!!!!!!!

Im glad that most of you are NOT promoters..lol

In all seriousness, kudos to the Gundakers, ive known them for a while, and they have definately done everything right for Tri City Speedway.

3 nights of racing in a row is hard on a track!I thought the track was better on Friday as well as the racing.It could have been because they ran the "SUPPORT CLASS"(you know Chris "MUD-CABS")last on Friday:idea:

Great weekend just trying to see the best possible race on the last night:D

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Aero one of these days youll see where allllll the money is. lol

And they should have ran the support classes last, the main event was the Midgets, they should have ran first

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

I have my popcorn..... my cold beverage..... and just going to sit here and continue to watch the show! Entertaining stuff!

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by AERO410SCJA:
Hopefully,They will only have midgets on the final NIGHT next year:angry-smiley-007:

I have no problems whatsoever with running one support class. And it's not like they had staggering car counts in any of the support classes all weekend. (mid 20's for both classes of late models, and 32 or 33 in the mods on Saturday night.)

Believe me, if you didn't like them having one support class each night, you would have had a stroke on some of the special shows this season when the Gundakers ran 3 or 4 support classes, and the featured class A-Main didn't hit the track until 11 or 11:30.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Shows over, goodnight everyone. Tip your waitresses on your way out

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

The Gundakers have done a great job and I'm glad their event was a success. It sure would be nice to see a MSCS race or two next year. Hint, hint.

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by Pat O'Connor Fan:
Posters like DM10 and dwb are perfect examples of a message board malignancy which haunts this and other boards. To attempt to blame all that is wrong with the world on USAC is merely a manifestation of the ugly sore that provides the outward signs of that malignancy.

:O::O::O:

Are you actually trying to be funny with this post, or was that a "malignancy" of your inept posting abilities?

USAC isn't called USUC for no reason.

How many screwups can one organization make and not be creditied for putting a black eye on the short track openwheel world?

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon:
The drivers don't make the decision to go. I'm just telling you, so that you know the facts, that those teams would not have been there unless it was a USAC show.

You would be the one to tell someone to move on. If it wasn't for your undying hate of all things USAC, we wouldn't even be having this debate...move on, Don!

Who died and made you dictator with an emphasis on the first syllable of that word?

Re: Three Cheers for The Gundakers and POWRi
 

With all of this beating up on USAC, I am surprised Mike McCormick isn't on here to defend them.