Chris Corum is back into promoting oval track racing.
Corum, who has spent the last four years as the promoter and owner of I-40 Motocross, is the new general manager of Tazewell Speedway. Gary Hall, owner of Tazewell Speedway, made the official announcement earlier today.
Hall and Corum have been in discussion on the possible venture for a number of weeks. The announcement was on hold pending a possible sale of the I-40 Motocross and Raceway facility located near the former Atomic Speedway. The sale was finalized a week before Christmas.
Hall and Corum came close to a similar agreement after Corum’s tenure at 411 Motor Speedway came to an end. Brad Hall, son of Gary Hall, wanted to try his hand at managing a racetrack and was given the opportunity.
“Chris and I talked several years ago about him running things for me,” Hall said. “Brad wanted a chance to run things to see how he liked it, so I gave him the chance.”
Four years later, Hall and Corum resumed talks when Corum had an offer on the I-40 Motocross property. Corum closed the deal last week to sale the motocross.
Hall, 64, had recent back surgery and cited the need to get someone to manage the 1/3-mile speedway.
“I’ve had five surgeries in six years ranging from my knee to my back,” Hall said. “I had recent back surgery that’s been pretty painful. The doctor told me I need to refrain from serious physical activity for a year. To run a racetrack, you just can’t do that. The timing was right for us to talk again about Chris running things.”
Hall has contemplated running a reduced schedule over the past couple of seasons because of his back problems and other ailments. Bringing in Corum is what Hall was looking for to continue a season-long schedule.
“Chris has been a great promoter everywhere he has been,” Hall stated. “When Doug (Sopha) owned 411 and Chris was running things for him, they had that place really going. Chris is really good at bringing in sponsors and good at working with people and the racers.”
Chris Corum is taking his talents to Tazewell Speedway as the new general manager.
While Corum was enjoying success at I-40 Motocross, he says the offer to sale was the right timing for he and his family.
“Gary and I have known each other since I was little,” Corum said. “He used to race with my dad (“Little” Bill Corum) and they’ve been friends for years. Gary and I have talked in the past about me coming to work for him. The timing was never right. Between his surgery and the offer I had on the motocross property, the timing just seemed right this time. I really wanted to get back into car racing.”
Corum said the decision to sale was not an easy one.
“This was not an easy decision to make,” Corum added. “Leslie (Corum’s wife) and I have gotten to know a lot of the riders at the motocross the last several years. They were disappointmenedt to hear we sold the motocross. Most of them understood the decision we made.”
“I’ve had several offers on the property. The buyer had been talking to me for a few years about selling. I wasn’t interested at the time. Things just kind of fell into place to sell it now. I’ve grown up around car racing all my life. While I enjoyed my time owning the motocross, my heart is in car racing. I’m glad Gary has given me this opportunity.”
Corum is excited about getting back into dirt track racing, especially at Tazewell Speedway.
“I consider Tazewell to be my home track,” Corum said. “I’ve tried to get up there a couple of times a year when we weren’t racing at the motocross. My dad raced there a lot when I was a kid. It’s always been a special place to me.”
Hall was quick to point out that Corum will be completely in charge of Tazewell Speedway in 2017.
“Chris is 100% in charge,” Hall stated. “He’ll be there every week and he will be running things. If there is a problem, Chris is the one to call, not me. I’ll be there for some of our bigger races, but I’ll be there more to oversee things than doing much of anything.”
