I-96 Speedway Drivers Adjusting

I-96 Speedway's new oval draws mixed reviews as drivers adjust
By Steve Ungrey
The Grand Rapids Press

LAKE ODESSA -- Jeep Van Wormer has been to about 100 tracks across the country, so he has seen tracks in all shorts of sizes and shapes.

The Pinconning resident has given passing grades to I-96 Speedway’s new track, and he is sure others opinions will be positive.

It might just take some time.

“We’ve been to a bunch of tracks. Usually, we race on the big track when we come here,” Van Wormer said before the features started. “I think we’ll have good racing tonight. It seems like the corners are sweeping more so we’re constantly turning. Guys enter the corner a bit different.”

The track has a new three-eighths-mile oval within the half-mile track, which has been in place since 1970 when the speedway opened.

Mike Mouch, the owner of I-96 Speedway, wanted to create a more economical track for drivers to race on for the weekly features, while still utilizing the half-mile oval for larger events like next Saturday’s World of Outlaws, which is expected to draw about 8,000 spectators.

Mouch has noticed an increased interest and higher car counts this season, signs that people are warming up to the new look.

“My fans are enjoying this so far,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of races where it has been multi-group, with cars sometimes three or four across. Sometimes, we’ve even had cars be five or six wide across the track.”

The track will host the weekly race divisions, which include Late Model, Modified, Mini Sprint, Street Stock and Road Beater. It is one of 10 tracks in Michigan that have three-eighth mile ovals, including Crystal Motor Speedway (near Carson City), Winston (Rothbury) and Thunderbird (Muskegon).

“A lot of my racers like this better, but the guys that used to dominate on the half-mile aren’t as happy because there’s increased competition,” Mouch said.

"What we’ve built now accommodates the average racer week in and week out.

“The ones who are on the budget, the ones that don’t take part every week, those are
the ones that race the half-mile.”

The track has met with approval from longtime fans like Jack Painter, an Alma resident who travels to several tracks across mid-Michigan.

“I’ve been here every week and I wasn’t aware he was going to do the improvements this winter,” said Painter, who has attended races here since 1972. “I like it myself. I think (Mouch) has done a great job.

“It’s not quite as big as I’d like, but it’s good. There’s a couple ruts on the turns, and once those are taken care of it should be fine.”

Veteran I-96 drivers, such as Lowell resident Mark Anderson, still are getting used to the new configuration.

“I’ve been here for about 10 years and I like the half-mile,” Anderson said. “I’d much rather have the half-mile. There’s a lot less beating and banging and more room to race.