ABC Raceway to Offer Half-Price Admission; Former Workers, Drivers Invited

Ashland, WI — The ABC Raceway is offering another special night of stock car racing on Saturday – and this time, at a pretty good price.
Heartland Communications and WBSZ, 93.3 FM, will present its “50 Years of Jamming the Stands” special under the lights at the three-eighths-mile red-clay oval just south of Ashland, with fans getting the chance to see their favorite local racers for just five dollars per adult.

“This is a great way for casual race fans – or even non-racing folks – to come out and see what our show is all about,” Raceway president Kurt Beeksma said earlier this week. “People who may not come out to the track that much can get in for half-price and watch a fast-paced, action-packed, family-friendly race program without taking a big hit in the pocketbook.
“We’ve had this five-dollar ticket night for six years now. Other race track promoters thought we were crazy for offering this back in 2009, when the economic recession was at its worst and race tracks were struggling financially. Now nearly every race track around has one of these (shows) on their schedule, because it draws so many new fans.”
In addition to the half-priced ticket, many former racers and track workers have been invited back to watch Saturday’s show, as part of the Ashland-Bayfield County Racing Association’s season-long 50th Anniversary celebration.
“It’s a small way of showing our appreciation to the many former track volunteers and Board members who toiled out here for so many years to set the foundation for what has become one of the most successful grass-roots race facilities in the Upper Midwest,” Anniversary committee spokesman Eric Erickson pointed out recently. “Also, we wanted to extend our thanks to the many dozens of drivers who were so loyal to our track and our organization for the past 50 years.”
Last Saturday’s program saw several hundred fans crowd the front straightaway as they visited with the drivers and got close-up looks at the race cars during the “Meet the Drivers” session prior to the show. Once the green flags flew, a three-hour race program resulted in four drivers collecting their first wins of the season – including one who won here for the first time ever.
Greenland, MI’s George Truscott – uncle to red-hot track points leader Mike Truscott of Chippewa Falls – led from green to checkered for his first WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature win at Ashland. Also collecting their first wins of 2014 here were Steve Stuart of Ashland in the WISSOTA “big” Modifieds and Wayne Stricker of Highbridge in the WISSOTA Super Stocks.
In the Pure Stocks it was young Terran Spacek of Phillips topping the field for the first time this season at ABC.
The only repeat winner on the night was Ashland’s Tyler Hudack, who collected his second Six-Cylinder checkered flag in three nights of racing at ABC so far.
The other highlight to last weekend’s show came courtesy of the fans themselves. Through door-prize ticket and T-shirt sales, a silent auction for specially-designed race car door panels and more, the fans in attendance generously donated in record amounts to the “Relay for Life” chapter for Ashland-Bayfield County, as part of the region’s huge cancer fundraiser this Spring.
The grandstand and pit gates will open at 5 pm on Saturday, with hot laps starting at 6:15. The first race of the evening should take to the track at around 7 pm. For this night only, admission tickets for adult fans (ages 13 & older) are only $5, while fans ages 12 and under are still welcome in for free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Prior to Saturday’s race program, “Race Night” will provide up-to-date track news and weather information live on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, and online at www.wbszfm.com, from 4:30-6 pm. The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call (715) 682-4990, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

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