JEFFERSON SPEEDWAY RECAP

Doug Strasburg
Mid American Stock Car Series
June 26, 2014

TENACITY DEFINED

There were many facets to last weekend at Jefferson Speedway that went together to make a diamond out of a piece of coal.

Somewhere between five and six inches of rain, which fell during the week,'14 Jefferson Pit Area'14 Jefferson Pit Area soaked through the hill, the upper pits and the camping area. The natural catch area for this is the lower pit area. This not only rendered the main pits with the slabs useless but also flooded the road to the back grassy pits. A bleak start to a special night planned of racing, featuring the Mid-American Stock Car Series and Tundra Super Lates.

Not to be beaten, the "Tucker Team" (led by track owner, Terry Tucker) had multiple pumps evacuating water for multiple days in an effort to remove enough water to maneuver in and/or through the pit area. Attached picture is Friday looking across the main pits. Pumping Thursday and Friday seemed to be fruitless. Then Friday evening they brought in another six inch, 'big gun', pump.

One back up plan was to fence off an area in fan parking. But, the Tucker tenacity paid off and come pit pass time Saturday there was a path through the 'pit lake' that allowed access to the back upper pit area.

But wait, Terry Tucker is not the only one that is tenacious. Track opens for practice and the skies cut loose again. The pit and track soaking virtually wiped out practice. Time to call it? Not a chance!

Now it's time for the drivers to meet the fans for autographs. But, with the rain there are few fans. So, shift gears and adjust again. A quick practice for each class would bring things very close to schedule and hope the fans will venture out.

Then the tide turned (so to speak). The good Lord removed the clouds and brought out the sun. Then the most impressive thing happened. Even with the threat of more inclement weather, some of the most loyal fans in Wisconsin began filing in the gates. Lo and behold, come race time the racers were ready, including 24 Mid-American loyalists representing five states, the fans were there and the sun was out. It was a great night of racing at Jefferson speedway! Just ask Mid-American racer, feature winner and former champion, Lyle Nowak.

That's how tenacity makes a diamond out of a piece of coal,... Lord willing!