Volusia Speedway Park To Celebrate 50 Years Of Racing In 2018
Story By: COLBY GORNIEWICZ / DIRTCAR – BARBERVILLE, FL – While DIRTcar Nationals participants and spectators will be the first to enjoy the renovations to Volusia Speedway Park, weekly racers will continue to reap the rewards all year long as the Speedway re-opens for the 2018 season.
The 50th season of weekly racing will begin on Saturday, March 17 and will continue well into November on Saturday nights.
For two days; Sunday, March 11 and Monday, March 12 a special event with the AMA Flat Track Motorcycles will compete on the half-mile clay track and Tuesday, March 13 at the Volusia Speedway Park’s fifth-mile dirt oval located adjust to the half-mile speedway.
The 2018 management team will be stronger with the addition of Florida businessman and entrepreneur Tom Whipple as the new promoter. Whipple has an extensive background in racing, competing recently with his son Michael at Volusia Speedway and all the Florida dirt tracks in several different racing divisions as well as competing in ARCA, SCCA and APBA events.
“I am looking forward to helping build on the success John Allen had last year” said Tom Whipple, “I have a long history and a fond attachment to the facility and am humbled and proud to be a part of celebrating the 50 years of history and creating new memories and traditions.”
Back for a second straight year to host weekly racing is partner John Allen. Allen, no stranger to Volusia Speedway Park, got his start at eight years old when he helped pit for local teams. A successful businessman in his own right and longtime Florida resident operates a plumbing business. Aside from running his plumbing business, Allen contributed to the facility as a track sponsor.
“I’m excited to have Tom Whipple join me on this venture,” Volusia Speedway Park lease co-holder, John Allen. “Tom will be more involved on the day-to-day of the financial side of the business and will allow me to focus more on the general maintenance and assist with the promotion of the track.”
When Allen was asked what some of the biggest challenges of running the dirt track was in his first year he said: “there were some big hurdles last year, for example being on top of the rules and learning the business of running a race track – this was new for me it wasn’t like running a plumbing business, but it was definitely an experience.”
Whipple and Allen plan to continue to put a lot of time and effort into the facility but will continue to step up with big paying events for all the divisions, “we will continue to have some of the big shows, like the $5,000-to win Street Stock event, the 23rd annual Powell Memorial featuring a $5,000-to win Late Model event. Back after a one-year break is the Benny Corbin Memorial race that will pay $5,000-to win for the V8 Thunderstocks. Volusia Speedway Park’s founder Benny Corbin’s son, Kent continues to help out and is very special to us – so having this event is big a deal.”
The major improvements made around the facility will not only benefit the major events that Volusia Speedway Parks host, such as DIRTcar Nationals but the weekly racer and fan that attend on any given Saturday Night.
