Tim Herbst
Motor Racing Monday
November 20, 2004
For Immediate Release:
Tri-City Speedway Sold at G&G Motorsports
by Steve Birmingham
Granite City, IL -- Bob Wente, owner and operator of Tri-City Speedway announces the sale of Tri-City Speedway to G&G Motorsports, whose principals include Gordon Gundaker and Kevin Gundaker. Terms of the sale are not being disclosed and the sale closes January 7, 2005.
Wente, who purchased and has promoted the Granite City half-mile and quarter-mile dirt tracks since 1992, said he was pleased to pass the speedway to capable hands.
"There are some other opportunities in motorsports that I've been approached on and have looked in to, and its something I want to do," Bob Wente says. "We've done our job here, and the speedway is in a lot different position than when I bought it 12 years ago. We've got a lot of good things in place that we're leaving behind for Gordon and Kevin to take control of. It's in good hands and there's alot of experience there. Kevin shows a lot of enthusiasm and has a lot of knowledge about the sport and knows what makes it work, and that's what it takes to be successful."
Bob Wente will stay on board to assist G&G Motorsports in the run-up to the 2005 season.
New owner/promoter Kevin Gundaker, a well-known dirt Late Model driver for over 33 years, says he plans no changes to the weekly Ironman Late Model series, nor to the Sportsman, Modified, Street Stock and Factory Stock series and says that the current rules will remain in effect.
"At this point in time we decided that maybe it's in our best interests for the near future to step out of the race car and take the next big step in owning a race track," Kevin says. "We came to terms with Bobby on the sale of Tri-City Speedway, a place that's always been fond in my memories since I ran my first laps there and ran my first race there."
"I'm looking forward to being there long-term," Kevin says. "It's not going to be a shopping mall, it's not going to become some of the other things that have been suspected, and long-term we plan on keeping it a race track and keeping it there as long as I'm around."
Among the special events scheduled on the venerable half-mile for 2005 are the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series May 7, the UMP Challenge of Champions on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19 and the $10,000-to-win UMP Summer Nationals on July 17. The remaining special events schedule is being finalized, Kevin says.
During Bob Wente's tenure many historical firsts were achieved, including the All-Wallace Dash in 1989 that featured Tri-City Speedway legend Russ Wallace, NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace, Mike Wallace and Kenny Wallace; 48 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events; World of Outlaws star Steve Kinser's October 9 victory, which was his 23 in 48 starts on the lightning-fast half-mile since 1979; and NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart's history-making USAC Sprint Car Series win, which led to his clinching the title and his Triple Crown season.
The 2005 Tri-City Speedway rules will be mailed to all participants who were registered during the 2004 season and will also be available in the near future at www.tricitymotorsports.com.
Tri-City Speedway's 2005 Registration meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, January 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 4225 Old Alton Rd., in Granite City. 2004 Banquet of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, January 15 at the Knights of Columbus. Banquet details will be announced in the near future.
Tri-City Speedway's 2005 season opens Saturday, April 2 with a Test 'N Tune scheduled for Wednesday, March 30.
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For Immediate Release:
Tri-City Speedway Sold at G&G Motorsports
by Steve Birmingham
Granite City, IL -- Bob Wente, owner and operator of Tri-City Speedway announces the sale of Tri-City Speedway to G&G Motorsports, whose principals include Gordon Gundaker and Kevin Gundaker. Terms of the sale are not being disclosed and the sale closes January 7, 2005.
Wente, who purchased and has promoted the Granite City half-mile and quarter-mile dirt tracks since 1992, said he was pleased to pass the speedway to capable hands.
"There are some other opportunities in motorsports that I've been approached on and have looked in to, and its something I want to do," Bob Wente says. "We've done our job here, and the speedway is in a lot different position than when I bought it 12 years ago. We've got a lot of good things in place that we're leaving behind for Gordon and Kevin to take control of. It's in good hands and there's alot of experience there. Kevin shows a lot of enthusiasm and has a lot of knowledge about the sport and knows what makes it work, and that's what it takes to be successful."
Bob Wente will stay on board to assist G&G Motorsports in the run-up to the 2005 season.
New owner/promoter Kevin Gundaker, a well-known dirt Late Model driver for over 33 years, says he plans no changes to the weekly Ironman Late Model series, nor to the Sportsman, Modified, Street Stock and Factory Stock series and says that the current rules will remain in effect.
"At this point in time we decided that maybe it's in our best interests for the near future to step out of the race car and take the next big step in owning a race track," Kevin says. "We came to terms with Bobby on the sale of Tri-City Speedway, a place that's always been fond in my memories since I ran my first laps there and ran my first race there."
"I'm looking forward to being there long-term," Kevin says. "It's not going to be a shopping mall, it's not going to become some of the other things that have been suspected, and long-term we plan on keeping it a race track and keeping it there as long as I'm around."
Among the special events scheduled on the venerable half-mile for 2005 are the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series May 7, the UMP Challenge of Champions on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19 and the $10,000-to-win UMP Summer Nationals on July 17. The remaining special events schedule is being finalized, Kevin says.
During Bob Wente's tenure many historical firsts were achieved, including the All-Wallace Dash in 1989 that featured Tri-City Speedway legend Russ Wallace, NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace, Mike Wallace and Kenny Wallace; 48 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series events; World of Outlaws star Steve Kinser's October 9 victory, which was his 23 in 48 starts on the lightning-fast half-mile since 1979; and NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart's history-making USAC Sprint Car Series win, which led to his clinching the title and his Triple Crown season.
The 2005 Tri-City Speedway rules will be mailed to all participants who were registered during the 2004 season and will also be available in the near future at www.tricitymotorsports.com.
Tri-City Speedway's 2005 Registration meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, January 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 4225 Old Alton Rd., in Granite City. 2004 Banquet of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, January 15 at the Knights of Columbus. Banquet details will be announced in the near future.
Tri-City Speedway's 2005 season opens Saturday, April 2 with a Test 'N Tune scheduled for Wednesday, March 30.
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