In a rare move of cooperation among area dirt tracks, several are joining together to enforce each other’s suspensions and bans for drivers involved in fighting and other serious offenses. The pact among the tracks was announced on Wednesday.
Spearheaded by Angie Kyle at I-75 Speedway in Sweetwater, 411 Motor Speedway, Tazewell Speedway, Volunteer Speedway, and Wartburg Speedway have joined I-75 Speedway in upholding each other’s suspensions and banishments. The move is to prevent those involved in altercations from going to another area track with no repercussions.
“I was at another track late last year and saw a fight break out following one of the races,” Kyle said. “The first thought through my mind was ‘they’re going to be at my racetrack next week.’ And sure enough, they were. I got to thinking there’s no real punishment for them if they just go to another track the next week. I started making calls and there are several that are on board with us. We’re still getting in touch with the others to see if they want to join in.”
The move is for suspensions of any length in any class as well as any permanent banishments any of the tracks hand out. Promoters are hoping this will cut down on altercations.
“I believe that racetracks need to form an alliance so that trouble started at one track doesn’t carry over to another”, stated Chris Corum, general manager of Tazewell Speedway. “What used to be shoving matches and a helmet throwing has gotten more serious. We need to stand together as tracks to help control it.”
The new alliance is not to eliminate arguing or disagreements, but to eliminate some of the fighting that has taken place.
“There are always going to be disagreements in racing,” Kyle added. “But if people want to fight, they need to take it down the road somewhere and not do it at the racetrack in front of the young fans. There’s no place for it.”
Other racetracks could also be joining the alliance. Expect to see specifics in each of the participating track’s web sites over the next few days.
