by Jack Smith
When the announcement was made late last year that DeSoto Speedway had at long last been sold, a large part of the Sarasota-Manatee racing community said 'so what'. The track had been on the market for several years and many attempted sales had fallen apart. The local racing community had become somewhat steeled to the rumor mill and short term planning for race teams became the norm. Due in part to a long period of absentee ownership, lack of communication and other problems, many felt the situation at DeSoto would never change. Be assured that change has not only come, it has come in a very big way.

The second half of the new team has arrived, with Camille Sarppraicone quickly becoming a very positive force in the resurgence of the speedway. Though still commuting from Melbourne while her husband John has the handle on the day-to-day operations of the track, Camille has been instrumental in getting the community spirit back in gear.

September 23, 2000 marked the beginning of a new era for DeSoto Speedway in Bradenton, Florida. That was the weekend the Sarppraicone family finally had their dream realized when they took over the reigns of the 3/8 mile facility. It hadn't come easy for John and Camille and their two children. Two years previously the Sarppraicone family had attempted to purchase the track from the Musick family, had moved their children into local schools and sold their house in Orlando, but it fell apart at the last minute. Probably not a surprise to veteran observers of the DeSoto Speedway.

After the family moved back to the east coast of Florida, John Sarppraicone involved himself with trying to get a new speedway built in Melbourne. Then finally two years later the phone rang, this time the deal got done, and with seven races left on the 2000 schedule they finally had their race track. But it wasn't time for too much celebration, "it was like a nightmare" is how Camille described it. "All the records, where to buy anything were all taken out. I had no clue. I have to thank all the employees, because they were solid. Everyone was saying 'don't worry, it's going to happen, you'll get there, I just wanted to turn around and cry, but we did it and I was kind of relieved when we had that two and a half month break, but it went fast and I feel so much better this year."

Though she and the kids have to journey from Melbourne each weekend to be with John, the progress in both revitalizing the racing community and in getting local support and community involvement in the race track has been swift. The enthusiasm of Florida's newest race promoter is infectious as she describes the advertising blitz the speedway has embarked on, "Every week we're out in the newspapers, on television, on radio, we're handing out flyers, coupons, we're doing everything we possibly can, two for ones, $2.00 off, everyone is handing out flyers." When asked if she if it was finding it difficult to work with the different groups and businesses in the community, Camille shrugs it off, "not at all".

We invited John and Camille Sarppraicone to be guests on our Internet radio show this past week, and they brought 30 of their staff, fans and drivers along. An indication of the support they are receiving from the DeSoto Speedway racing family. It appears its not smooth talking at work, but dedication to the Desoto program and sincerity with the public.

The speedway will be a main attraction at this year's annual Florida Heritage Festival. In addition to the usual pace car appearance and track champions, this year's DeSoto entry will also have school buses with all the children from the DeSoto Kids Club and other surprises Camille has up her sleeve. Of course the school buses will serve double duty promoting the School Bus Figure Eight race at the speedway on May 12th.



School Bus races, the Joey Chitwood Show, some Demolition Derbys, Boy Scout camp outs, the addition of a junior announcer, and even a wedding are planned in the near future. Plans are also in the works to get race cars donated to area high schools to get the younger set involved in racing at DeSoto. Youth involvement has DeSoto has always been a big part of the program but the energy was not always there to make it effective, but its clear Family and youth involvement are part and parcel of the Sarppraicone ownership. Fourteen-year-old John Jr, can be seen working all around the speedway and daughter Jackie, seventeen, is either in the gift shop, running around selling 50/50 tickets, or working in the office.



One of the major aspects of any successful racing operation is of course the strength of the family atmosphere. The addition of the Finish Line Bar at the speedway gives the racers and fans to share refreshments after the races and socialize with old friends and make new ones. And like the revamping of the Gift Shop the Finish Line is done with a touch of class we'd like to see more of at our race tracks. Camille went through the stands and surveyed the fans as to what they would like in the Gift Shop. Then she came through and stocked it with everything from collectibles to sunscreen. Give the fans what they want seems to be working, with the attendance gradually improving each week.



Bringing back the Fan Participation races has been very successful in terms of adding excitement to the racing card. Winners receive $50, a trophy, and two free passes and like Bruce Sherwood, driver of the number five Street Stock, many of the fans are likely to want to get even more involved.

And it's not all work for the Sarppraicone family, "One of the great things about purchasing this track is it is the opportunity to meet a lot of race car drivers and their families, we have gotten to meet so many great people." The drivers and crew at DeSoto have endured a lot of tough times in recent years, and Camille said on the KARNAC.com Racin' Talk Radio Show recently
"We want to make it better for these drivers, I spent two days looking at Banquet Halls, I feel they deserve a lot better than the halls they have had in the past", prompting the room filled with DeSoto Staff, drivers and fans to erupt with applause. "I want them to have a great place to go, I have been looking and found some very nice places."

Between now and the end of year banquet there are some hurdles to overcome with the racing program, an example being the commitment to a new motor program in the Open Wheel Modifieds. The field has been five or six cars but there are a half dozen more close to being completed, and the interest level from drivers in some of the other classes is indicative of future success. Much like the Sportsman class, which many people including this writer, were sure would never fly now has a pretty good field and with their speed and the many former champions in the field is one of the most exciting racing divisions in Florida. This class may, by the end of the year, prove that high dollar motors aren't a necessity for a successful modified program.

A race track is an enormous undertaking in terms of upkeep and adding improvements, and as has been proved in other sports even at the local level, better facilities bring more fans, keep them happier and add to the quality of the sport. Camille and John Sarppraicone inherited a race track that in the late 80's was made modern by Tom Stimus, and then throughout the 90's gradually deteriorated physically. Since October of last year the kitchens which were deplorable, with old unsanitary wooden tables (I saw them), have been replaced with all new stainless steel replacements, new stoves and refrigerators and over heat fire suppression systems. "I don't even know how Jason did as well as he did over there because the place was a disaster", Camille explains.

With the new kitchens, repaired grandstand seats, painting, and decorations added to the Finish Line Bar, Gift Shop, and other improvements the place looks better, feels better, and though there are miles left to go, the Sarppraicone family has done enough hard work to restore DeSoto Speedway in the eyes of its biggest fans to earn their trust. If the level of enthusiasm is maintained the others still on the fence are sure to come over to their side as well.

After 6 years of beating the drum for a real promotion and marketing person and plan to get DeSoto Speedway where it could be, I think now it's time to retire the drum set and can finally put them away.

Camille Sarppraicone is doing just fine. Look out when she gets here full time.

Somehow you just get the sense this is only the beginning.

Listen to a 35 minute interview with Camille Sarppraicone on KARNAC.com's Racin' Talk Radio show.


-Jack Smith

related links:
DeSoto Speedway Schedule

Racin Talk Radio

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