By: Ron Burt
Millstream Update
Race fans and drivers are looking forward to Millstream Speedway coming back to life in 2024. For years it hosted major races before it went idle. New owners Matt and Beth Cogley have been working hard on the track and grounds and fans have volunteered time to help. Matt knows more than a thing or two about racing, he’s raced sprints and so has his son. Recently the Cogley’s got a big shot in the arm. Rich and Shelly Farmer have come on board to help promote races at Millstream. The Farmers operated Fremont Speedway for 10 years (2008-2017). This year they are back at Fremont once again promoting the races. This gives the Farmers two tracks to work with and it sounds like a win, win for owners and promoters. The 2024 racing schedule will depend on how much work can be done in the off-season. Because of the proximity of Findlay to other tracks it’s a challenge to decide what classes of cars to run and what nights. Right now, the 410, 305, and 360 Sprints all have weekly tracks and on special nights Waynesfield runs Sprint shows. Millstream has always been known to run Sprints. Will other classes draw a crowd? I personally would like to see Sportsman, and the Fremont Dirt Trucks have one more night of racing each week. Currently they both race on Saturdays. We all have our ideas, and it will be interesting to see how everything unfolds. Even if they only hold a handful of events this summer, race fans will come out and support Millstream once again.
Schlenk Headed to St. Louis
The 7th annual Gateway Dirt Nationals are December 14th-16th and area Late Model ace Rusty Schlenk will be in St Louis at the Dome (the former NFL football stadium). Last year he qualified in his group on the first night. He placed 3rd in his heat and won the B Main. He started the feature 13th and finished 11th. Schlenk started the Saturday night’s feature 15th settled for 11th. Back in 2018 he won the Race of Chapions in the Dome. If you can’t make it to St Louis, FloRacing will be doing the TV broadcast. Besides the Dirt Late Models, UMP Dirt Modifieds will be competing.
The Rumble Is Coming
Racing promoter Larry Boos gave me an update on the 25th Rumble in Fort Wayne. It will be held December 29th and 30th at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, inside the Expo Center. The Midget division will headline the two-day racing event. In the past 24 years, 46 different drivers seen victory lane, but Tony Stewart sits on top all time win list with 12 victories. Russ Gamester and Billy Wease, each with 5 triumphs to their credit.
The first Rumble was won by Tony Elliott. Nick Hamilton is the most recent driver to crack victory lane. Even though this is the 25th Rumble, the Coliseum has hosted indoor racing for 61 years. It gave racing fans a much need fix when the outdoor tracks closed for the winter. Early races were held in the hockey arena until 1989 with racing legend Tom Bigelow getting the last win before the Expo Center opened the following year. This years car classes include the Midgets, Quarter Midgets, 600cc Midgets (wing and non-wing) and go-karts. The Left Turn plans to cover as many of the weekend events that we can. Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
