May 31, 1999

                           Rain Rain Go Away

Even thought the skies were falling around them it was apparent that the enthusiasm for the opening of Desoto Speedway was there, the parking lot was almost half full when I arrived right before 6pm in a driving rainstorm.

As we waited out the storm the people were still driving in hoping beyond hope that  mother nature was going to cooperate and give us all what we had all longed for,racing back at our home track!!!! The car count appeared to real good and there were plenty of Open Wheel Modifieds to compete for $1000.00 prize money and from what I had saw from practice Thursday it would have been an action filled evening.

But the weather man didn't cooperate and around 8 o'clock what had to the hardest decision He has made in quite awhile  DeWayne Musick had to call it an evening and send everyone home to wait til next weekend to get the fix they need so badly. The Open Wheel race will be scheduled to a later date and as soon as I'm informed of it I will post it .

Mr Musick really wants to get the track up and running from all that I have seen and been told. Hopefully next weekend the weather will cooperate and we will get what we all need so bad, to see the Green Flag drop on "The South's Fastest Short Track"!!!!!!!!

                                                       From Desoto.......Rick Anges
                                              ******

Last week the drivers who like to race at DeSoto Speedway got a chance to test their cars and the new asphalt a bit with a Thursday and Friday practice.
Rick Anges was there and filed this report:

                                      They’re Baaaaaaaaaack
      
Desoto Speedway opened for practice today for the first time in what seems like forever. I personally went out and checked the track for first hand and was impressed with the repaving job done in turns 3 & 4.

At first it was virgin territory with cars slipping and sliding  going into and
come out of it but after some rubber was laid down and drivers got used to
being in the seat again it was all out and Saturday should bring us some good
racing back on the high banks again.

Hats off to Mr. Musick and Gator Asphalt for a job well done in fixing the track. It is a much better patch then the previous one and should bring us some great racing again at the "South's Fastest Short Track"!

The cost of the repairs was roughly $19,000  according to Mr. Musick with the engineering costs being picked up by Trinidad Asphalt which is around 5k. When asked about the schedule he mentioned that he would like to bring Limited and even Pro Late Models back but is concerned with getting the crowds back quickly enough so he can at least break even which is understandable.

When asked about the sale of the track Musick responded with "Oh yes, Lots of people want it but all want to steal it or just have me finance it.  I don't want to finance it but will if the party is right". The payoff for the Open Wheels has been raised through the field, but in Mr.  Musik's own words he said "I like the little guys" and we assured to see some improvements for them too.

Dwayne also told me he wishes he could devote 100% of his time to
Desoto because in his words "it deserves it" . I then asked him: Do you really
like the track that much? his reply struck a chord........"I Love it more
then anyone knows".......
                                                      ...From Bradenton......Rick Anges