Slinger ready for delayed opener
Drivers will be as ready to race as ever if Slinger Speedway's delayed season opener goes off as planned Sunday afternoon.
They just have no idea what to expect when they get to the track.
“Probably that's the biggest conversation being had between crew guys, drivers, races officials: What is this going to look like? Nobody really knows yet,” said Chris Blawat, the 2016 superlate model champion.
“That's the crazy part. We're (less than) a week away from when we think we're going to be starting and we don't know. We don't know how many people we can have, if we're going to race, no fans. … It's really different, a different feeling.”
Promoter Todd Thelen has been itching for weeks to unlock the gates for a season held back by the global coronavirus pandemic. Having worked on a variety of plans for scenarios under state and local guidelines for the coronavirus pandemic, he has a better idea of what might happen.
He also knows what might happen if the 73rd season at the quarter-mile track doesn't open for racing soon.
“The Lambeau Field of short-track racing could be gone forever,” he said.
A shutdown of many Wisconsin businesses – those deemed “nonessential” – began March 25 by order of Gov. Tony Evers to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The order was extended until May 26 with some guidelines relaxed, such as allowing golf courses to operate.
But Republican legislators filed suit, seeking to suspend the extension. Arguments before the state Supreme Court began via video conference last week.
Slinger's plan to open depends on the Supreme Court overturning the extension or some other sort of agreement.
“I'm really upset the Supreme Court justices haven't acted yet, they haven't decided the case,” Thelen said. “It's ridiculous. We talk about lives. These are people's livelihoods and businesses that could be gone forever.”
Racing is a sponsor-driven sport, so with businesses shut down or limited
and unemployment at record levels, money will be tight for competitors and promoters who survive.
“If we’re going to the track, we’re going to have bills,” said Alex Prunty, another super-late model frontrunner. “It’s not like the cost of tires is going down. You still have those bills.
“Hopefully everybody can pull through strong out of this and we can get back on track. But yeah, I’m struggling with it and it’s kind of hard to even ask people when you know what’s going on with the economy.”
The season, which was supposed to open April 26, will have a different look whenever it begins.
The World of Outlaws national dirt sprint-car series resumed racing Friday night with an invitationonly field, no fans in the stands and pay-per-view coverage online. But that’s an untenable business model for a local short track long-term.
Attendance will be restricted in keeping with the principles of social-distancing, Thelen said. As quickly as rules and guidelines can change, though, he can’t be sure how many people will be allowed in. Processes will be streamlined to minimize contact, said Thelen, who has laid out numerous contingency plans.
The track, about 30 miles northwest of Milwaukee in Washington
County, has permitted private testing with limited numbers of people on site.
Blawat said he encountered delays in the shipping of some parts because of business limitations, but there was plenty of time to get everything, put the finishing touches on his car and test at the track last week.
Prunty said his car was already prepared for this season by Thanksgiving, and he used his unexpected time off to build a deck. He has rented the track for Wednesday to try some setup ideas and get the car comfortable on the track.
Then he’ll wait for news. “When Sunday, May 17, comes around, we’ll wake up that morning and see what it’s going to look like and what it’s going to be,” Prunty said. “It’s all new to everybody.
“Obviously the virus isn’t a joke. It’s something that can’t be taken lightly, and nobody wants to see anybody get sick and die from it. You’ve got to take it seriously and try to protect yourself the best you can. But at the same time, we want to go have some fun and race.”