Arena Racing News: February 5th, 2011

Arena Racing twist at DeltaPlex may return again


Published: Saturday, February 05, 2011, 11:30 PM Updated: Sunday, February 06, 2011, 12:33 AM

By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press

WALKER -- It was grassroots racing, DeltaPlex Arena style. DeltaPlex officials cleared the floor, coated it with Coke syrup and threw the green flag for Saturday night’s Thunder on the Grand. The result was plenty of bumping, banging, caution flags, a few hot tempers and hard wrecks, along with competitive racing.

Amidst that thunder, officials said they just might be onto something. The program was a first at the DeltaPlex, even though racing is nothing new at the Walker-based arena.

Arena Racing came to West Michigan two years ago, however, officials had to scale back on the number of shows this season because of the lack of cars.

Jack Gritter, head of the Arena Racing tech team, decided to run something different.

Forget the track, Gritter said. He decided to let them race on the floor. He opened it to Micro Sprints, Quarter Midgets, Arena Cars and go-karts, and nearly 100 other cars.

Gritter said he is considering more shows like this in the future, and DeltaPlex owner Joel Langlois said it is a possibility.

"We are talking to people about having a four or five race series with these cars, with (the DeltaPlex) being one of the tracks hosting it," Gritter said. "We are talking to people in Ohio and Indiana."

Saturday’s program attracted drivers from across the Midwest, including Danny Shirey of Oberlin, Ohio.
Shirey, 21, won the 35-lap non-winged Micro Sprint feature. He said he would gladly make the trip back to West Michigan.

"I have had fun ever since I got here (Friday)," Shirey said. "They gave us plenty of practice. They gave us enough time to get the car dialed in, which was great. The track was actually really good. There was a great second groove up top. The promoters were great, and it was a professionally run show. We enjoyed ourselves every minute we were here.

"We raced down in Ft. Wayne a couple of weeks ago, and it seemed like this track was a little more racier. That was more of a one groove race track. This was definitely one of my favorite indoor tracks."

Arena Racing returns for another show March 26. Langlois said DeltaPlex officials will continue to try and sell its cars.

Other winners included Clayton Marvel of Lowell, in the 50-lap Arena Car feature race. A.J. Lesiecki of Lorain, Ohio, won the 35-lap winged Micro Sprint main.