[nathans1012]

RIP Former Eldora & Gas City Promoter Jerry Gappens

From the Eldora Speedway Facebook page.

[Charles Nungester]

I was going to say, He wasn't what you would call OLD (Don't anyone take that wrong) He was a big guy like me though and I know people who are in charge are under a huge amount of stress trying to please everyone, get the bills paid, Satisfy the owner. getting the right people in the right places.

Just reminds you, none of us go out on our feet.

Never heard a bad word about him enjoyed my one trip to GC under him and the Eldora shows.

Thanks for the memories. Rest In peace Jerry. Condolence to the family.

[B99]

Promoted at Terre Haute too. Nice guy, sad news.

[Grocery Guy]

What a shocker. How sad. Jerry seemed like an old school promoter, learning so much about the business with his Speedway Motorsports years. I remember him at Gas City regularly taking the microphone during intermissions and having trivia and thanking the fans. I walked up to him at Eldora and thanked him for his Gas City and Eldora days. I thanked him at an Eldora HARF night and he was honored that fans were using the discount. He told me he wanted to have more family nights at Eldora, not just special event races. He didn't know me, but he sure found time to talk racing. He'll be missed. Godspeed Gentleman Jerry. 🏁

[mc/rider]

Its hard to turn the page when you know someone wont be in the next chapter but the story must go on.. Thank you Jerry. Condolences to your family and friends.

[kinser]

RIP Jerry, such a great guy and great promoter. We ran there pretty consistently in 2021 and Tyler ended up winning his first sprint car feature there at the end of the year. [ and we almost won the track championship]. Jerry was as excited about him winning it as we were. I know for a fact that he put a few extra dollars in some racers pockets that had a rough night. You sure don’t find that much if at all anymore.

[dustbowl]

Truly one of the best guys you’d ever meet. He revived gas city from the dead and had it thriving. He made time for everyone and treated you like he knew you for years. A true throwback. He cared about every fan and every competitor he will be missed.

[badcoupe]

Class act who cared about the fans and racers alike. After an open practice and weekend race he called the following week to ask what we liked and if we had suggestions on how to make things better for the racer. I hated to see him leave GC but you can’t realistically turn down a spot at the big E. Hopefully some others learned from him and can carry on his ways, he was an example to behold.

[EldoraMark]

Jerry was a great guy, promoter and race fan. When we would get to GC a day before we would invite Jerry to our camp for Pizza King pizza. Jerry always showed up and had some great stores. I stop at Eldora office in March to see how he was doing and had a nice chat. He will be missed by all.

[stp6237]

I had the pleasure of getting to know Jerry when he was working at National Speed Sport News when I was shooting for the paper. When the paper was still in Ridgewood, New Jersey I would meet up with Jerry, Mike Kirschner and Keith Waltz and travel to races, usually NASCAR Mods at Thompson or Stafford Springs. Most of the time the conservation would be about sprint cars and the three Indiana guys talking about the midwest drivers and I would bring up the AAA and USAC guys I saw at "The Grove," Reading and Allentown when I was a youngster. Eventually Jerry and I would talk high school and college wrestling as we both were former wrestlers and I was a coach. Makes me sad I never got to Gas City. Godspeed Jerry, Rest In Peace my friend.