Brent Prouty isn’t a newcomer to the Redwood Speedway. He’s watched races at the half-mile track at the Redwood County fairgrounds since he was a kid, and as an adult has sponsored several racers in more recent years.
Paul Swoboda’s experience with the track goes further than that. He raced there with his brothers since 1978, and has maintained the track for 15 years.
Back in 1993, when the Speedway needed a new promoter, Prouty and Swoboda competed with each other for the chance, but it didn’t happen then for either of them.
Last year, when the Speedway was in need of a promoter again, the former rivals decided to team up. Late last year, the Redwood County Ag Society, which owns the fairgrounds, gave their approval for Swoboda and Prouty to take over the summer races.
Now they have to actually do it.
“We held a drivers meeting a couple weeks ago, and didn’t know what to expect,” said Swoboda. In previous meetings, it was common for only 20 potential drivers to show up.
“There must have been 150 people in the room,” said Swoboda. “They came from within 90 or 100 miles. We even had a driver from Sioux Falls.”
“They seemed really happy there was someone local running the races,” said Prouty.
What do racing promoters do?
“We work with the drivers, line up advertisers and sponsors, and prepare the track every week,” summed up Prouty.
Since they’ve gotten started in January, they’ve decided to divide up the responsibilities somewhat, each working to his strengths. Swoboda will continue maintaining the track, while Prouty will concentrate mostly on the office side, dealing with all the paperwork in running a successful track.
What do racing fans have to look forward to when the season opens on May 23?
As far as the track itself goes, “we’ll be adding fresh clay and reshaping the track, and adding a bank in turns two, three, and four.” The public address system will also be upgraded soon.
Racing fans can do good deeds attended the special charity night fundraisers, where a portion of the ticket price will go to non-profits such as the Dominick Bruns Memorial Fund, and the Jason Wyfells Memorial. Sunday, Aug. 8 will feature the “Faster Pastor” race, with local preachers hopping in the cars and competing with each other on the track.
Drivers can look forward to seeing increased payouts, a two-day demolition derby extravaganza, and a greater variety of divisions. For example, the IMCA sprint car (360s) division will be back, with under different rules that should draw more cars.
“We just want to have a good facility,” said Swoboda. “We just felt the place would be better run locally.”
For more information, check out the Redwood Speedway’s new website at www.redwoodspeedway.com.
