Schedule Update for 2024

June 10, 2024

After much thought and consideration, Janet and I have decided to cut down the remaining 2024 schedule at the Karl Chevrolet Hamilton County Speedway. This decision does not come easy for us.

The season began strong with good car counts and a good showing from fans in the grandstand. Unfortunately, neither held as the season progressed and we switched to Thursday nights. We knew the Thursday night deal would be hit or miss, but we had to try something different.

We would love to switch back to Saturday night; however, with other local USRA tracks making changes to their schedule based on our change, we do not feel that is in the best interest of anyone if HCS were to change back to Saturday. We do not want to take from what they (local USRA tracks) already have on their schedule.

Low car counts and minimal fans in the stands have forced us to cut the remaining Thursday night events, plus one Tuesday night event. In total five events will be cut. The remaining 2024 schedule at HCS will include the following events:

Tuesday, June 25: World of Outlaw Late Models with USRA Hobby Stocks as the support class.

Saturday, July 6: Mike Baker Memorial race with Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks, and Crown Vics.

Thursday, July 25: MSTS 410 Outlaw Sprint Cars with USRA Hobby Stocks as the support class.

Friday, July 26: Rogue Rodeo.

Saturday, July 27: Kids Night at the Fair Races with USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks, and Crown Vics.

Sunday, July 28: Eve of Destruction Trailer Races.

Saturday, August 24: Bill Rice Memorial SLMR Dual Race with Late Models, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks, and Crown Vics.

Friday, October 18: Night #1 Fall Futurity with Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks, USRA Tuners, and Crown Vics.

Saturday, October 19: Night #2 Fall Futurity with Late Models, USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks, USRA Tuners, and Crown Vics.

We take a lot of pride in the speedway. This is the track I (Todd) grew up on. It’s the track that we started our motorsports career on. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. The track has seen its share of promoters over the past thirty years.

It’s also disheartening to see the hill filled with people, on race night. Take those 30 or so “fans” and turn them into paid admission plus food & beverage purchases, it can help. Instead, they pull in and watch a complete show for free.

We want to acknowledge that this decision has nothing to do with the current Fair Board. They have been great to work with. They agreed to lower the rent to ease the financial burden of promoting the track. While we appreciate their willingness to work with us, we are still not sustaining enough to keep operating at this capacity.

We will fulfill our contract for 2024. From there, the Fair Board will have the opportunity to open the rental agreement to seek another promoter to take over in 2025. We have agreed to work with the Fair Board on finding a replacement for the weekly promotions in 2025. We will be forthcoming and welcome a new promoter with any assistance we can provide.

If no promoter takes over in 2025, Todd will entertain a smaller race schedule for HCS, to be approved by the Fair Board.

The last thing we want is for the track to sit empty. We do not want that to happen. However, we feel as though we have exhausted all our options. The bottom line is that we need the support of the community. The racetrack drives a lot of outside traffic to the city. Many of our fans travel weekly to be with us. We have only twelve local drivers; the rest travel to compete at our events.

Webster City does not have a lot to offer for hospitality. The racetrack (and the fairgrounds) has provided that for the citizens of Hamilton County for many years. Without it, folks will travel outside city limits for weekly entertainment. The revenue the track drives into town will also be no more.

Community members need to get to the track for the remaining events. Not just for the sake of this year, but also for the coming years. Tuesday, June 25, is our next event. It’s a big one. The World of Outlaw Late Model Series is no small venture. It will be well worth your time and money.

Track point fund will be pro-rated based on the number of nights a driver completes. We will still honor a dual-track point fund with the two (2) tracks, Hamilton County Speedway and Mason City Motor Speedway. The dual-point fund is based on thirty (30) nights, so it will be pro-rated on the number of nights a driver completes.

We also want to take this time to give appreciation to the drivers, fans, and sponsors who have continued to show their support. It means more than you know. We know this is not the outcome anyone wanted, but we cannot keep taking a loss each week. We have the best staff who have continued (and will continue) to show up for us at each event. Thank you for your unwavering support.

On that note, if you don’t want to see the track sit empty, come to the races. Pay for admission. Support the drivers. That’s it. That’s the bottom line.

Todd & Janet Staley