Originally Posted by codyontheroad
We appreciate the critics, skeptics, and even the haters.
But let’s set the record straight—this isn’t just “making an online petition and hoping someone else does the work.”
Doubt is fair. But every revival starts with public support and a vision. And while some sit back and say “it won’t happen,” we’re putting in the work to make sure it can.
What’s Actually Happening?
- We’re proving the public still cares. Businesses in Gas City miss the boost from race nights, and I’ve talked to them firsthand.
- We’re engaging with decision-makers. We’ve reached out to local & state leaders, economic growth councils, tourism promoters, and grant writers to declare to them that the public cares about racing at the facility and that it should be considered in future developments.
- We’re making sure Gas City Speedway doesn’t get lost in inaction. This weekend alone, we sent out six full sets of petition signatures and comments, plus letters documenting our data.
Action & Momentum? 3400 signatures (and counting) from around the world in the first 72 hours of the petition being public. The letters we’ve drafted, revised, and sent to prominent motorsports leaders nationwide, local leaders, and of course the property owner. We’re making them aware that we aren’t here to mourn a problem—we’re here to present an opportunity.
And Monday morning, I’ll be showing exactly what that work looks like—standing in front of hundreds of pages of documentation that prove this movement isn’t just noise.
Why Am I Doing This?
I keep saying “we” and “us” because this isn’t about me. But here’s why I’m giving everything I have to this movement.
- Worked alongside Jerry Gappens for 2.5 years at Gas City, then continued learning race promotion at Eldora when he took over there. I miss those long calls from his drive from Kokomo to Eldora—where we’d talk about how to truly make an event work.
- When Larry took over, it became ‘Play or Go Home.’ And so, I went home—longing for the days Gas City would flourish again.
- Jerry believed in my knowledge of speedway operations so much that he agreed to be a reference for a proposal I worked on last year (in 2024, before his passing).
- Managed the Tractor Pull Show, the AMA Vintage Bike Racing event (which was absolute chaos in the best way), and the Monster Truck Show, which brought a whole new level of safety and crowd engagement challenges.
- Parked cars, ran cheeseburgers to the pit concession, and picked up trash while walking the grounds—because that’s what Jerry taught me.
- Checked in five classes of cars at the pit shack with Tyler Kelly and jumped in wherever needed—whether it was timing and scoring, running entertainment, or keeping the show moving.
- Handled payouts when needed, directed medics in emergencies, and even jump-started a tow truck during a red flag pile-up just to keep things on track.
I’m not claiming to be the one-man fix for this track. And I won’t pretend to do every job as well as the incredible Gas City crew that made it great. But I know what real effort looks like, and I’ve put in that work for this place before.
So no—this isn’t just an online petition. It’s the first step in a real movement to keep this track from getting swallowed up and turned into another commercial development.
You’re welcome to doubt it. But while some stand on the sidelines, we’re actually doing something. So if you'd like to be a part of it, I'd love to print your signature out next weekend for round 2!
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