Here in about 13 hours, Vermilion County Speedway will be opening the gates again as we welcome the MOWA Winged Sprints to the city of Danville. Here is a story from the local newspaper in Danville

BY MARVIN HOLMAN
Commercial-News

OAKWOOD — In the space of a month, Bryan Clendenen has gotten most of the big things set for Sunday’s Rumble by the River event at Vermilion County Speedway.

But Clendenen and his company, Middlefork Promotions, know that there are still many little things that must still be done before the first race starts at 6:30 p.m.

“All the pieces are coming into place at the right time,” Clendenen said. “We just also need to get ready for anything because there are many things that can just pop up.”

A big thing is the track itself. The heat wave of the last week has made keeping the dirt track a slightly expensive notion.

“For a good track, you have to be lucky to get some rain along with the sun,” Clendenen said. “It will cost to keep the track watered down and graded, but it is something that must be done.”

Clendenen — like most of the last few promoters — went to another former promoter in Phil Richardson.

“He knows how to run the equipment and all the tracks that he makes up is very good,” Clendenen said. “When I raced here, he always had the best tracks to race on.”

Some of the bigger things that are done are things like getting a concessions company to serve for the event and a sponsor for the UMP modifieds.

“We have been lucky to get NAPA Auto Parts to come in and be a sponsor for the modifieds,” Clendenen said. “The prize for first place is $1,000 and the money itself will go straight to the racers, not anywhere else, so I hope that will bring them out after races on Friday and Saturday.”

With local racers more than likely to show on Sunday, Clendenen hopes for some big time racers to come in and finish up the weekend and push the car count to over 20 cars, the number needed for the $1,000 to win purse.

“I am hoping with the $1,000 to win, to catch some racers that would try to get some money before the weekend is out,” Clendenen said. “We want to get Deven Gilpin here and he is the national points leader for UMP Modifieds and to get someone like that here would be good and it will bring more fans over. We can only hope and see what happens this weekend.”

The main event is the Midwest Open Wheel Association winged sprint cars and for an area that mostly likes non-winged sprints, this brings a little variety.

“It does bring something new for the fans here and they are exciting and very fast,” Clendenen said. “I think the fans are going to like it.”

To make the event an interactive one, Clendenen has put together an autograph session from 4:45-5:15 p.m. on Sunday at the 4H food pavilion just outside the VCS grandstands. Drivers will also have their cars to show off to the people.

Along with the sprints and modifieds, there will also be UMP street stock action as well.

With all these things put together, Clendenen hopes that Sunday’s show will be the beginning of some big time shows at the track.

“I don’t know what to expect, but I think everyone will have a great time on Sunday,” Clendenen said. “We are going to have a great show and we hope to get it done in a timely fashion.

“I would like to thank Obenland Earthmovers, NAPA, All Source in Danville, Graphix Zone in Oakwood and Wright Motor Company for being our sponsors.”

The pit gates open at 3 p.m. on Sunday with the grandstand opening at 4 p.m. and hot laps scheduled for 5:45 p.m. before qualifying starts at 6:30 p.m.

Grandstand admission is $15 with kids 12 and under free and $30 for a pit pass.