Jetmore Motorplex back on track
By NICK SCHWIEN
Lorne Benish says it simply without hesitation.
The co-director of operation -- along with his wife, Janie -- at the Great American Dirt Track at Jetmore Motorplex didn't have any expectations entering the racing season.
In fact, Benish just was happy getting the track reopened.
"I didn't have any (expectations)," he said. "I just wanted to get it back open and give the people a place to race again. I knew what crowds they had in the past, and I know that if we built it back up, we could get those crowds again."
So far, the plan is working, and drivers and fans will get a chance to go racing again this weekend on the 3/8-mile dirt oval nestled into the prairie about 6 miles south of Jetmore. Races are slated to begin at 7 p.m. and feature the 305 sprint cars of the United Rebel Sprint Series. Also on the agenda include AAA modifieds, stocks, hobby stocks, thunder cars and B-modifieds (IMCA Northern sport mod rules).
It will be the seventh night of racing this season at Jetmore and the closest track to Hays in action this weekend.
"The crowds have been great," Benish said, "and the races have been phenomenal. It seems like every night you think it won't get better racing, and every night it gets better. I saw a (sprint car) driver pass in turn four last time and win by 2 feet. And the modifieds are the same way."
That late pass for the win June 19 came much to the chagrin of Liberal's Ty Williams. The 305 sprint car driver finished an eyelash behind Jetmore's Ray Seemann -- who won his second feature at his hometown track.
"We set the car up thinking it would slick off," Williams said. " ... About the last 10 laps, I could tell it was pushing up off the bottom and I knew I'd be in trouble if we had a restart. We had two restarts at the end, and Ray was able to get underneath me. It was tough, but if you're going to lose, you don't mind losing as much to a guy like Ray who's a great driver."
While Williams came up just inches short of the win, he's put a consistent streak together this season to sit atop the URSS national title hunt.
Williams is coming off a pair of top-five outings last weekend, finishing third at Fort Morgan, Colo., on Saturday before ending the weekend with a fourth-place finish at Lexington, Neb., on Sunday.
"I thought about the points, then after the second race, we were leading the points," said Williams, who expects to move into the 360 and 410 sprint car ranks next year. "We're definitely chasing the points in the URSS now."
That diehard attitude is what makes Benish and the rest of the Jetmore Motorplex volunteers -- and owner Patrick Johnson -- see a lot of potential in the track. Benish said crowds have been good so far this season, and he expects the $12 ticket price for adults -- those 11 and younger are free -- along with good pit and grandstand facilities and a top-notch track to bring in more drivers and fans.
"We've had 25 to 32 sprint cars every night," Benish said about the race track, one of a few to feature the 305 sprint cars nearly every race night. "We've had anywhere from 14 to 22 modifieds and 10 to 12 stock cars. ...
"That's the big draw for us, having the 305s every week. The 305s put on a big show."
The motorplex hosted the second annual Steve King Memorial during Memorial Day weekend, drawing nearly 2,000 fans each night of the two-day event. Benish said Johnson has -- at the very least -- a three-year commitment to the track "but wants it to work for 50."
"We offer family fun and sprint cars," said Benish, who added there will be a fireworks show following Saturday's races. "And we have a friendly atmosphere. That's what we want to showcase."