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Motorsports Exec. Leases Gas City I-69 Speedway
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Racing executive Jerry Gappens has reached an agreement with track owner Jack Himelick to lease and promote Gas City I-69 Speedway effective immediately, as reported by the United States Auto Club (USAC) Racing.
Located just off Interstate 69 between Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne, the semi-banked, quarter-mile dirt oval opened in the mid-1980s.
Gappens enjoyed a 23-year career with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. as the owner and operator of eight major NASCAR venues. During that time he also worked for the NASCAR Hall of Fame track owner O. Bruton Smith.
A native of Kokomo, Indiana, Gappens most recently served as executive vice-president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) for eight years. Before this, Gappens spent 15 years in executive management at Charlotte Motor Speedway working under H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler.
Himelick purchased the facility, which was dormant at the time, in 1996 and has made significant upgrades during his ownership. He brought in Jiggs Thomason in 1997 to promote the track, and the two enjoyed a successful 17-year run until Thomason’s retirement. In recent years, various promoters have rented the facility for special events only. Gappens plans to restore a full schedule of races this season.
Gappens said the priority is putting together a schedule of races for this season, including contacting various sanctioning bodies for date availability. Divisions being considered include midgets, Late Models, modifieds and additional local classes. Other non-racing dates could consist of flea markets, music, car shows and a Christian-themed festival.
Located just off Interstate 69 between Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne, the semi-banked, quarter-mile dirt oval opened in the mid-1980s.
Gappens enjoyed a 23-year career with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. as the owner and operator of eight major NASCAR venues. During that time he also worked for the NASCAR Hall of Fame track owner O. Bruton Smith.
A native of Kokomo, Indiana, Gappens most recently served as executive vice-president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) for eight years. Before this, Gappens spent 15 years in executive management at Charlotte Motor Speedway working under H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler.
Himelick purchased the facility, which was dormant at the time, in 1996 and has made significant upgrades during his ownership. He brought in Jiggs Thomason in 1997 to promote the track, and the two enjoyed a successful 17-year run until Thomason’s retirement. In recent years, various promoters have rented the facility for special events only. Gappens plans to restore a full schedule of races this season.
Gappens said the priority is putting together a schedule of races for this season, including contacting various sanctioning bodies for date availability. Divisions being considered include midgets, Late Models, modifieds and additional local classes. Other non-racing dates could consist of flea markets, music, car shows and a Christian-themed festival.
