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Friday, August 17, 2007
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After storm, NCS gets back on track
By COREY HERMANSON Staff Intern Perseverance has helped drivers win at North Central Speedway but the greatest display of dedication has come off the track this week from people who have devoted their time to cleaning up the venue following Monday's storm.
About 40 volunteers and staff members have worked from sunup to sunset and beyond to get the speedway back into shape for Saturday's races. Although he's not positive, NCS owner Cliff Sasker is optimistic about the track's outlook for this weekend.
"We're gaining a lot and we're putting things back together," said Sasker. "We haven't even stopped to figure anything out yet. We've just been going as fast as we can."
NCS promoter Peggy Jensen said, "We're still planning to run Saturday. We're still working on it and will be working on it until Saturday."
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Jean Meier picked up broken glass Thursday in front of the grandstand bleachers at North Central Speedway. Management at the speedway is hoping to have the track ready for the regular racing program Saturday night. The facility was hit by high winds Monday night after a storm swept through the Brainerd area.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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NCS was hammered by 80 mph straight-line winds and the track took several severe blows. Spectator booths and suites that had been perched on top of the grandstand high above the track collapsed onto the grandstand below, ruining much of the structure before coming to rest on the track wall.
"I didn't know what to think. When I got here I was really shocked," Sasker said of the damage that was the "worst by far" in NCS history.
In addition to the destruction of the 152-foot, two-story building, sections of the fence were damaged and the wind deposited the turn No. 4 bleachers on the racetrack. Light poles, lights and other bleachers also fell victim to the winds.
Race fans and drivers, old and young, are painstakingly toiling to get the speedway back into working condition. Sasker and Jensen are grateful for the volunteers who have helped remove debris, taken apart broken bleachers and cleaned up broken glass.
"It's been really great, they're all helping and they all know what to do," said Sasker. "There's someone here all the time. Yesterday, I got in at 7:30 (a.m.) and left at 10 (p.m.) and there were people here the whole time."
"The volunteer cleanup efforts have been awesome," said Jensen. "Fellow racers have been working with fans and friends, I don't even have words to describe it."
"It's an amazing feeling to know that the racing community has such great teamwork. All of the support is greatly appreciated."
What will spectators notice is different at NCS?
"We won't have booths (the rest of) this year and some bleachers are gone, but we will have enough seating so we're hoping it won't be an inconvenience," said Sasker.
"Brainerd International Raceway has offered to borrow us some portable bleachers, which we really appreciate. We might just take them up on the offer."
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