Stick a fork in yet another USA oval, it’s almost done
12/11/09 At least officially, the Wisconsin State Fair and NASCAR say that the two races set for next summer at the Milwaukee Mile are still on the schedule. The two races are the Camping World truck series race on June 18 and the Nationwide Series race on June 19.
"We still have the races on our schedule," said Ramsey Poston, a NASCAR spokesman. Craig Barkelar, interim executive director of the State Fair, said the same thing.
However, race sources say the clock is ticking. After striking out twice with potential race promoters this year, and with a third promoter who went out of business last summer, State Fair officials are running out of options.
A known interested party is race entrepreneur Scott Quick, of Brainerd, Minn. In a brief interview recently, he expressed interest in becoming the promoter, but said much work needed to be done.
To that end, Quick has been talking to NASCAR officials as well as Indy Racing League executives. For now, IRL has not scheduled any events at the Mile in 2010. As a practical matter, it is going to be difficult for any promoter to land corporate sponsorships AND sell tickets this late in the game. NASCAR knows that. State Fair, meanwhile, say they hope something can be worked out soon. Gov. Doyle's administration is on record as saying that the fair needs and wants racing to continue next season and beyond.
Right now, the prospects are not looking very good. JSonline.com
12/08/09 Scott Quick, a Minnesota racing entrepreneur who is expected to talk to Wisconsin State Fair Park officials soon about running the Milwaukee Mile, is talking to officials at the Indy Racing League and NASCAR.
Quick is talking to the major racing bodies to determine if they still have an interest in racing at the Mile. NASCAR has scheduled two races next summer, but those races are in doubt right now. IRL has not scheduled anything for next season. jsonline.com
Quick isn't talking to the media. Craig Barkelar, the fair's interim executive director, wouldn't talk about Quick, but said he expected there would be more to say in the next week.
It has been a rough year at the Mile, with one promoter leaving a big bill behind from last summer's races. Then, two different potential promoters were unable to seal the deal with the State Fair.