Macomb Speedway changes hands, now Macomb Raceway New owners look to bolster fan participation

MACOMB, IL (March 3, 2007) - Fans of auto racing in Western Illinois, Southeast Iowa and Northwest Missouri have a chance to see a lot of changes at a long time racing facility in Macomb during the 2007 racing season.

Macomb Raceway, formerly Macomb Speedway, is under new ownership and management for the upcoming racing season, with Robert and Debra Giles taking over ownership of the track. The two will be operating the facility as Macomb Raceway, Inc.

Robert and Debra are experienced and successful business people, operating one of Macomb’s most popular restaurants as well as other business ventures.

Operating a racing facility, however, points the pair in another direction in the business world. One that may have caught some who know the couple a bit off guard.

“First of all, I’m a huge race fan,” Robert Giles said. “I love watching races and the last couple years I was even able to participate in a few races.

“…I thought, and think, there is a huge potential in Macomb Raceway,” he added. “The opportunity came up and here we go!”

With family playing an important part in the new owners’ lives, Robert made a point to express how important it is to him that the track returns to its roots as a true family activity.

“To many families sit at home on Saturday night watching television with very few options for a true family activity,” Robert said. “This is a great opportunity for families to get out and do something together.”

Promotion of the track is very important to the new owners, who hope to allow new fans to see grass roots racing at the local level through numerous promotional nights at the track. Some of those nights include Girl Scout Night, Boy Scout Night, Little League Night and many others.

“Our goal is to expose as many new fans in the tri-state area to great entertainment at a pretty great price,” Robert Giles said.

Along with the new ownership, Dewain Hulett has been brought on board as the track’s promoter and general manager.

Hulett is a former flagman and track announcer at several facilities in West Central Illinois, and brings years of experience at the racetrack to the table for management of the newly formed Macomb Raceway, Inc. He was also a racer for a short time driving cruiser and 4 cylinder cars several years ago at Macomb Raceway.

“We hope that with new faces comes a renewed luster to Macomb Raceway,” Hulett said. “There are so many new things planned for Macomb Raceway this year, fans will see the differences as soon as they pull in the front gate.”

According to Hulett, it is important for patrons of the raceway on both sides of the fence to feel and see the differences.

“Both the owners and myself feel that cars breed fans, and fans breed cars, without one the other will not come,” Hulett said. “That’s why we find it very important to guarantee payout for drivers and offer fans the opportunity to become active participants in the racing show.

“It obviously makes it more fun for fans when there are cars on the track and more fun for racers when there are fans in the stand to watch them,” he added.
Fans at Macomb Raceway this season can expect to see many of the same classes at the track, including Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, 4-Cylinders, Mod Lites/Dwarf Cars and Three-Quarter Midgets (TQs).

As said before, racers can expect guaranteed payoff for each division, which will be posted before the racing season begins. Also, the Street Stocks and 4-Cylinders will be sanctioned by the sanctioning body United Midwestern Promoters, better known as UMP.

“We think it is very important to partner our track with a well recognized and respected sanctioning body,” Hulett said, “and there are few, if any, that offer that combination more than UMP.

“While we know the Street Stocks and 4-Cylinders will be sanctioned by UMP, we also have hopes of Late Models and Modifieds being sanctioned as well,” he added. “There are few technicalities that need to be worked out for the two bigger classes, but we hope to have that decision completed within the next couple weeks.”

However, racers should know that the Modifieds and Late Models, sanctioned or not, will be run basically under the UMP sanctioning rules, with only minor changes.

For more information about upcoming events and rules you can call Hulett at 309-299-RACE (7223). Fans and racers can also contact the promoter at promoter@macombraceway.com or check for rule updates and schedule changes at www.macombraceway.com .