April 28, 1999 Bringing the Drivers To The Fans The Desoto Speedway drivers were invited to Yuffe’s Restaurant in Bradenton and treated to half price food and drink this past Saturday. It all started as a means of introducing owner Wally Staak and his new restaurant and staff to the local racing community. Staak had expressed a desire to get his business involved with motorsports and has committed with driver Patrick Hughes to run the Yuffe’s open wheel modified #13 at DeSoto Speedway in 1999. Like many other sponsors in the DeSoto market area, Yuffe’s is eagerly waiting on the speedway to open. He came to me on April 17th and said “what can we do to have some involvement now”. KARNAC Motorsports Marketing Group and the always positive restaurant owner worked out the details for the car show and Drivers Appreciation Day on some napkins and set it up for the following Saturday. Several other restaurant owners scoffed at Staak’s plan. Determined to make the event a success even if done on a spur of the moment and short notice, Staak and KARNAC went to work. Sixteen cars and drivers made the show along with family and friends. DeSoto Speedway surprised everyone involved by showing up with their pace car and the little mini race car with the DeSoto Speedway emblems. The little car was too much. It was brought inside the restaurant and was added a special touch to Bradenton’s newest entry in the sports themed restaurant game. Wally Staak wants to “create a place for racers and their families to enjoy good food and good times, in an affordable family atmosphere.” Yuffe’s considered the event such a success, plans are underway to have a much larger, major event at the restaurant, after the speedway reopens. Wally Staak summed it up “everybody loves racing”. Lonnie Miller, Andy Whitted and wife Jeanne, Jonathon Brown, Gus Coorssen, Sue Nichols, James Knight, Brian Teeters, Tom Hix, Patrick Hughes, Mary Hughes, Holly Smith, Rick Anges, and Todd Freed Jr. were among the drivers who came to the event. As many as twenty other drivers wished they could be there but due to the short notice had made other plans. The DeSoto drivers have made a new friend with Yuffe’s. And it all happened in a week. The KARNAC Marketing Group, which includes marketer and sponsorship expert Terry Wall, will assist in future events with the Yuffe’s staff. Yuffe’s is located at 5728 14th Street West in Bradenton. Currently the restaurant and lounge in open at 3 pm, however in May it will begin serving lunch and opening early. The lounge is open until at least midnight. For photos from the event Click Here! -Jack Smith |
