The grandstands will likely be filled with race fans this weekend at I-75 Raceway
Tim and Angie Kyle took on the task of running I-75 Raceway just over one year ago with their primary focus being on staging an entertaining weekly racing program. But after playing host to the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series back in August, the Sweetwater, Tenn. track is set for a big two-night event with the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series this weekend.
The Chevrolet Performance cars use the Chevrolet LS-based 525 engine while the NeSmith Late Models employ the 604 crate engine manufactured by General Motors.
This will be the first time the Kyles have had racing on back-to-back nights at their facility. While they may not have as much track ownership experience as some, this is a family that knows how to run a successful business. Tim and Angie operate ALot Less Factory Outlet retail stores in three east Tennessee locations.
“We’re excited,” Angie Kyle said in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com. “We’ve had people contact us from all over and we’re hoping for good weather and a great weekend. We have an awesome staff working with us and we couldn’t put on an event like this without them.”
Both the Chevrolet Performance and NeSmtih Late Model Series are officiated by the same people. It was an association by the Kyle family with the announcer from those series that brought each to the 3/8 mile east Tennessee track.
“Roby Helm lives just right down the road from us and he keeps me pumped up and excited about it,” Kyle explained. “It was him that got us into these races with both the NeSmith and the 525 races.”
Kyle says the challenges for her team will be great this weekend due to the tight turnaround required for running a two-day show such as this.
“A lot of people aren’t aware of how much work goes into running a two-day deal like this,” she declared. “All the the trash will have to be picked up after that first night so everything can be ready for the second night. The bathrooms will have to be cleaned and the concessions will have to be stocked for both nights.”
I-75 is a large facility with much maintenance required
But more than that, the maintenance for the facility is an ongoing and time consuming process.
“There’s a lot of work every week,” Kyle insisted. “A couple of years ago, some of the local racers around here talked us into opening Spring City and getting it back up and going. That was a smaller facility and we could go over there on Thursday to get everything ready and then race on Friday, and that was it. You cannot do that at I-75. Somebody has to be mowing and weed eating every single day because there’s 85 acres up there. There’s somebody up at the racetrack working everyday.”
Kyle admits that she was worried about the track hosting its first touring series race when the Chevy Performance Series came to town one month ago. Making enough money to cover the cost of the added purse is always a concern for any track owner or promoter when hosting a big event.
“I’m not going to lie,” she said. “I was really nervous about the 525 race because we only charged $12 to get in where most tracks charge $15. But in our area, we need to just be charging $12 to get in. I would rather pack the stands at $12 than have them half empty at $15. That works for our area, but I was nervous about that purse. After doing it though, I’m not afraid to do that anymore.”
I-75 Raceway has made a name for itself in a relatively short period of time in an area in which competition among dirt tracks can be somewhat fierce. Kyle believes that her family’s success has come about due to a number of people.
“Labor Day marked our one year anniversary. I want to sat thank you to each person that has come through the gates at I-75. When we took on this huge adventure we had no fans and zero drivers. We appreciate everyone who has taken a chance on us. It has been a joy to work with the drivers, their families, and all of I-75’s supporters. We are still rookies and we are learning every week.”
