SRX - Newest Race Series

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 Butler Garage located in Clio, Michigan was started in 2005 by Rueben Butler. He is from Otter Lake and graduated in 1983 from LakeVille Memorial High School. He then attended University of Northwestern Ohio where he earned a degree in Automotive, Diesel and High Performance and Business Tech graduating in 1986.

He is married to Janet and resides in Swartz Creek. He has two grown children, Brittany and Rueben Jr. His son, also, works with him at the Clio location. He owns a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, and it happens to be the same color as his favorite color which is blue. He loves all flavors of ice cream. He enjoys fishing, riding his Harley and shooting the breeze with his customers. He is glad to have a mechanic business that can provide a service to his customers and has earned a reputation of doing a good job and being fair on his prices. He hopes to continue to have a prosperous and successful business for the next several years.   Butler Garage is located at G-11421 N. Saginaw St., Clio, MI,

Rueben enjoys racing but admits that it isn’t the same as it was during his favorite period of the 1980’s-2000. He enjoyed watching Dale Earnhardt race. “That was when racing was racing,” Butler stated. Today’s racing is more about money than the driver. Rubbing is racing, especially from an Earnhardt fan. 

If you took a poll, most people would likely credit fan groups as a relatively recent phenomenon. They'd be wrong.

Yes, those groups of people who adore their favorite team or celebrity, have been around for nearly a century. In fact, one of the first organized fan clubs was founded in the 1930s for popular crooner, radio star, and actor Bing Crosby.

It would be six decades before organized fan clubs became a touchstone in auto racing. 

It was the early 1990's, and a young kid named Jeff Gordon was getting hot on the NASCAR Busch Series, now known as NASCAR Xfinity. At the time he had the largest personal touch fan club in the history of NASCAR, Maureen Harris said. Harris and her late husband, Russ, met with Gordon and his parents at a track in Phoenix. Together they worked to set up a monthly newsletter. Eventually, that led to the Harris’ overseeing his fan club public relations and all non-legal matters. The group organized several special events honor fans to attend throughout the year. The inaugural event in August 1993, was a celebration for Gordon's 22nd birthday and featured cake and all the usual birthday hoopla. Some 50 people attended. Today, it’s not unusual for fans to attend sold out events.

In the early years, an individual one-year membership cost $9.95; a family membership was $24.95. A membership could be purchased anytime during the year. Members received a fan club member card and a 16-page newsletter. Members were also able to purchase Gordon merchandise. The early ACCESS program made it easier for the Harris’ to keep track of members and all merchandise sold. 

The newsletter was published for the 10 years the original fan club operated. In 2001, the club was reorganized and a group of new people began overseeing its operation. Today the club is more digital. It also offers fans three different membership packages. However, people can join during the first few months of the year. More details can be found at www.JeffGordon.com 

The Harris’ went on to work with other sports stars such as Tiger Woods and Rusty Wallace. Russ died in 2005. Maureen went on to write the book, Jeff Gordon on a Chance, and her latest series of young children’s books, Moonlight and Molly. 

Interestingly, there are fewer fan clubs today. 

“NASCAR now does many of the fan clubs,” Harris said. “Especially with the NASCAR Nation program.

“It takes a great deal of time to put one together and organize and run it. There is very little money made unless you are selling merchandise.”

Many have started and within a couple years are closed. Many drivers have no fan club. Some are doing fan clubs organized within the different race teams. Check that avenue if you are interested in joining a fan club. 

In NASCAR, as well as INDYCAR, both series have come up with the NATION. That is the chance to join and receive insider merchandise and other benefits. Contact each group separately to see what they have to offer. 

Today it seems in racing, the series have taken over many of the driver’s fan clubs, rendering them more corporate and offering fewer member benefits. The corporate world has much more influence than does the everyday fan. But all racing series – please remember, if there are no fans in the stands, it will affect corporations when no one is buying! The old saying of win on Sunday, sell on Monday is not as popular as it once was. 

So go out and see if your favorite driver, team or series has a fan club you can join. See everyone at the races!   

See you at the races!! 

 
It’s that time of the year. Birds chirping, woodpeckers pecking and race cars firing up. The below is a list of Michigan racetracks. If I missed any – let me know. If you can update any info, send me an email. Looking forward to seeing everyone’s favorite track opening. See you at the races!! 📷
Name                                              Website                                         Race Day                Opening Day      
Auto City Outdoor Event Center     www.autocityspeedway.com         Saturday                  05/01/2021

Bark River International Speedway    ww.barkriveroffroad.com           Saturday/Sunday     07/10/2021

Berlin Raceway                               www.berlinraceway.com               Saturday                  04/17/2021

Big Air Motocross                           www.bigairmotocross.com             Saturday/Sunday    04/24/2021

Birch Run Speedway & Event Center  www.birchrunracing.com          Friday                     05/07/2021

Butler Motor Speedway                  www.butlerspeedway.net               Saturday                04/24/2021

Capitol Quarter Midget Asso.         www.capitolquartermidgets.com   varies see web       May-Oct.

Cherry Raceway CLOSED closed 

Crystal Motor Speedway               www.crystalmotorspeedway.com    Saturday                05/01/2021

*Flat Rock Speedway                     www.flatrockspeedway.com            Saturday               05/01/2021

Galesburg Speedway                   www.galesburgspeedway.com        Saturday                04/24/2021

GingerMan Raceway                    www.gingermanraceway.com          Saturday               04/03/2021

Grattan Raceway Park               www.grattanracewaypark-mx.com Saturday/Sunday      04/10/2021

Hartford Motor Speedway            www.hartfordspeedway.net              Friday                   05/21/2021

High Caliber Karting & Entertainment   www.highcaliberkarting.com   7 days                   na

I-96 Speedway                             www.i96speedway.com                    Friday                  04/23/2021

Jackson Speedway                      www.jacksonspeedway.net              Saturday              06/05/2021

Kalamazoo Speedway                 www.kalamazoospeedway.com       Friday or Saturday  04/16/2021

Kinross Speedpark                      www.racekinross.com             Friday/Saturday/both  05/28-29/2021 M-40 Speedway                          www.m40speedway.net                    Friday                   03/13/2021

Merritt Speedway                        www.merrittspeedwaymi.com           Saturday              04/24/2021

Michigan International Speedway  www.mispeedway.com                   varies 

Michigan Midgets Racing Associations   www.michiganmidgets.com 

Mid Michigan Motorplex              www.midmichmotorplex.com            Saturday             05/01/2021

Mid-Michigan Raceway Park      www.mmracewaypark.tripod.com     Friday 

Milan Dragway                            www.milandragway.com                   Closed for 2021

Mom's Motor Sports Complex    none

 Mottville Speedway                    www.mottsvillespeedway.com           Saturday            04/10/2021

Mt. Pleasant Speedway             www.mtpleasantspeedway.com         Friday                 04/23/2021

Northern Michigan Dragway      www.northernmichigandragway.com Saturday             04/17/2021

Northern Michigan Speedway    www.northernmichiganspeedway.com Saturday          05/29/2021

Norway Speedway Stock Car Racing   www.norwayspeedway.com   Friday                  05/28/2021

Onaway Speedway                    www.onawayspeedway.com             Saturday             05-28-2021

Owosso Speedway of Michigan  www.owossospeedway.com            Saturday             05/15/2021

Palmyra Speedway                    none                                                  Friday                 04/30/2021

Sands Speedway                      www.sandsspeedway.com                 Sunday               06/13/2021

Silver Bullet Speedway             www.silverbulletspeedway.com          Saturday            05/01/2021

Corrigan Oil Speedway             www.corriganoilspeedway.com          Friday                 04/23/2021

Tri-City Motor Speedway          www.tricityracetrack.com                    Friday                 04/30/2021

Ubly Dragway                           www.ublydragwaymi.com                   Saturday/Sunday  05/29/2021

Upper Peninsula Int’l Raceway  www.upperpeninsulainternationalraceway.com  Sunday  06/06/2021

US 131 Motorsports Park          www.us131msp.com                         Saturday               04/03/2021

Waterford Hills Road Racing Course   www.waterfordhills.com          Saturday/Sunday  05/01/2021

Waterford Oaks County Park -    BMX www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/Waterford-Oaks/Pages/default.aspx                                                                    varies                    continuous 

West Michigan Sand Dragway - Mears  www.sanddragways.com     Saturday                not posted

Whittemore Speedway              www.whittemorespeedway.org          Saturday              05/29/2021 

Winston Motor Speedway   www.winstonspeedway.myracepass.com    Friday or Saturday  site not updated 

  Communication on the racetrack in the 1960s and ‘70s happened in a flash. If the driver missed the hand signal or sign board, it could mean the difference between a win and a loss.  But a click of button changed all that with the invention of two-way handheld radios. They were not only convenient, but affordable. The real change, however, came in the 1980s with the birth of Racing Electronic (RE). The rest was static.

RE was founded in 1988 by Bruce Silver. It started as a scanner business. The following year he began selling in-car race communication radios. Throughout the next four decades, race teams in NASCAR, Indy Car, ARCA, NHRT and many other series have integrated RE into each race. Originally located in Atlantic County, New Jersey, in 2005, RE relocated to Concord, N.C. – the heart of NASCAR racing. 

The fan experience improved in 2009, when Andrew Daines founded FanVision. The company produced video devices and enhanced experiences for the fans through hardware and software products, including handheld screen and radio networks that allowed a person the ability to see data and analysis while a listening to the race. Unfortunately, the early FanVision had a problem. The battery life was only about six hours. 

FanVision was in New York, NY. In 2015, Stephen Ross, owner of the NFL Miami Dolphins team, bought RE, who in turn sold it to the International Speedway Corp. (ISC) in 2018. RE continued to sell and support FanVision equipment until FanVision closed in 2020, due to Covid-19.

Today, RE no longer rents or sells equipment at the track. All rentals and purchases must be done in advance online. Although there is no walk-up rental available, RE does have people onsite to assist with any other RE issues or programming. 

RE equipment may be purchased or rented at www.racingelectronics.com or by calling 1-800-272-7111. All products are made in the USA. 

See you at the races!! 

Kyle Thomas has loved racing since he was knee high to a grasshopper. He credits his dad, Steve Thomas, with the reason for his love of racing. His dad was a racer in the 1980’s and raced at Auto City Speedway and Owosso Speedway, Birch Run Speedway, formerly Dixie among others before retiring from racing. Kyle tagged along and picked up a few pointers here and there.

Kyle began racing over 16 years ago and eventually went racing for Tony Lupien. In 2016, he and Tony became partners when Kyle purchased the car from him. Tony is still the crew chief and several of his hard working friends serve as the team on race days. Not only do they work on the car but sit in the stands and cheer him on to a victory. 

Kyle races the Street Stock #21 on dirt at Tri City Speedway in Auburn, MI. He has raced at Silver Bullet and Mid-Michigan Raceway Park. He has over 25 heat races and over 15 feature wins. He has three (3) championships. The first two were in 2016 and 2017 at Mid-Michigan Raceway Park and in 2019 at Tri City Speedway.

Kyle is single but has a girlfriend Sami Dawn. He has two children, Charlotte 3 and Lucas 1 ½ who are often there to cheer on Kyle. He lives in Mt. Morris and graduated from Clio High School. He has the support of his dad, mom and sister Lyndsey as she is the vinyl lady. 

He loves hunting, fishing and being outside. His favorite color is blue and enjoys a good Moose Track ice cream.  His goals for the next few years include buying a house, getting married and continue moving up in racing and winning races.  

Over 1 million was raised in 2020 in spite of Covid-19 and over $750,000 was distributed in grants to over 60 applicants and helped 53 organizations with in kind contribution which was difficult due to Covid-19. The benefactors included Make A Wish Central & Western North Carolina, Mooresville Christian Mission, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Dove House, SCAN of Iredell, Rescue Ranch, Loaves & Fishes, Blessing in a Backpack, Lake Norman Special Olympics and many more. 

A new initiative in conjunction with Unilever Brands was the United for America Campaign. This allowed two elementaries in North Carolina to expand their educational goals. Over $270,000 was raised and awarded to Allenbrook Elementary School in Charlotte, NC and N.B. Mills Elementary School in Statesville, NC. Both schools were able to earmark funds toward technology.
The foundation was able to have other fundraisers including the Win Dale Jr’s Ride, Bristol Ride Around, Gift Bags and Win Dale’s Vacation Home. All of these were held even with Covid-19 and the restrictions that were in place during these events. 

The Win Dale Jr’s Ride winner purchased just two tickets and was Misty from Kansas. The event sold 15,000 tickets for $25.00 each. The Grand Prize was a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Hd Crew Cab LT2 donated by Chevrolet and a Keystone Outback Camper 300 series donated by Gander RV of Statesville, NC. There were gas gift cards which came in handy for Misty and her family’s trip back to Kansas. The best part of prize was that it was presented to Misty by Dale Jr. himself. The awarding of this event was during the week of Thanksgiving and Misty and her family were very thankful and and all taxes were paid by TDJF. 

In August the drawing was held for the Ride with Dale Jr. Raffle. This event sold 18,888 tickets at $8.88 each. There were 8 winners who won the opportunity to take 3 laps around the .533 mile high banked track at Bristol Motor Speedway. The full prize package included the laps, along with a private tour of JR Motorsports office on September 17, 2020 which also included a catered lunch hosted by Kelley Earnhardt Miller, VP of JRM as well as the Dale Jr. Foumdation. Other prizes that each of the winners won were 2 tickets to Nascar Xfinity Race on September 18, 2020, VIP treatment and tour of the Pit and Garage area prior to the race. A four night stay at Hampton Inn in Huntersville NC and two tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC.

November was another time of giving back to the community. The foundation made up gift bags for over 100 children and families in need including Shamrock Garden, My Sister’s House, Home of Mooresville, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Children’s Home Alliance. The Dale Jr. Foundation staff helped fulfill wishes for over 75 teachers through h the Donor’s Choose program. 

The last event of the year was Win Dale’s Vacation Home. This event sold 7,500 tickets at $10.00 each. The prize will allow a family up to 8 persons to use the Earnhardt Family Lake house on gorgeous Lake Norman. The house includes 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, large bonus room with Table Tennis, Standup Paddle Boards and an in ground pool. Also, included a meet and greet with Dale Jr, $500 in travel expenses, 2 tickets to Nascar Hall of Fame and much more. The prize must be used by September 22, 2021.

To read more about upcoming events in 2021 visit www.thedalejrfoundation.org. 

See you at the races  

 The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation began its 20th year of raising funds and awareness for children’s cancer research. The foundation has two major fundraisers for the 2020 year. All proceeds go directly to research for pediatric cancer. 

The first fundraiser was for a 2013 Camaro ZL1 that begin in late 2019 and was raffled February 24, 2020 and won by Steve Q from Seattle WA. He is the first-ever winner of the Camaro For a Cure. The major fundraiser is the Corvette C8 Stingray Coupe was won by Vick C of Memphis, TN and was announced on September 30, 2020. There were 20,000 tickets costing $100 each and sold out in 9 days. This fundraiser raised a phenomenal $2 million for pediatric cancer research. Look for the next Corvette For a Cure summer 2021. All prizes were donated by Jeff Gordon. All federal taxes on all prizes are covered on the winner’s behalf by Jeff Gordon.

Despite Covid-19, in 2020 over $2 million was raised for childhood cancer research for the first time in the history of the Corvette for a Cure Program. Overall, the foundation has raised over $22 million since it was founded in 1999.  

 
For more information go to www.jeffgordonchildrensfoundation.org 

 With 2020 being under quarantine and executive orders making events hard to hold or attend, The Tony Stewart Foundation went back to see how many of the previous recipients were doing. Tuesday Tour was born. The foundation started out by visiting with the different benefactors from over the past couple years. The groups included Indy Humane, Bartholomew County Humane Society, Indianapolis Zoo, Terre Haute Humane Society, OTTB Horse farm Springcliff Farms with Friends of Ferdinand Inc., Columbus Youth Camp & the Foundation for Youth, Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue, The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Eldora Speedway – Governor’s Reign; Almost Home Humane Society, Canine Assisted Therapy Inc. (Florida), Prison Greyhounds and rounded it out with Giving Tuesday. 

The foundation still had applications coming in and over 70 were received. Out of the 70 applications, 40 applicants were granted monies for their various causes. The amounts were from $2,000 to $10,000 with a total of $209,500 grants given out for 2020. 

When asked what two goals the organization has for 2021, Erica Raisor said, “get fundraising back up so more grants can be funded and more awareness of what the foundation does and how others are benefitting from the TSF.”

The foundation has several ongoing events that are open year round. If you are interested in donating, please visit the foundation website, www.tonystewartfoundation.com.