Dirt_Slinger99
03-08-2011, 10:23 PM
FARMER CITY Clinton electrical contractor Jeff Hammer and Kyle Logue, a Decatur-area racer and carpenter, have joined forces to take on promotional responsibilities at Farmer City Raceway this year as the track is set to reopen in early April following seven months of uncertainty.
Hammer and Logue have formed J.K. Promotions to stage weekly Friday night racing events at the track with opening night scheduled for April 8.
The duo decided less than a month ago to try their hand at motorsports promotion at a track that closed last July 23 because of financial difficulties.
Since the closing, negotiations between the fair board and prospective promoters have gone nowhere until Hammer and Logue stepped in.
I read the (Feb. 8) article in The Pantagraph and saw that there was a real possibility that the track would not reopen this year, said Hammer, a lifelong racing fan and the cousin of former Farmer City Raceway promoter Don Hammer. Thats when Kyle and I got together and decided we should try to do something about it.
Logue has been a dirt late model competitor for a number of years. Together they contacted fair board members the day after the article was published to get the ball rolling.
A quick meeting was arranged that included Farmer City/DeWitt Fair Board president Bill Rutledge.
A contract is being reviewed by attorneys, according to Hammer. The contract is for one year with an option for three more.
Although the contract still awaits signature, Hammer and Logue have been busy at the raceway with plans for making improvements to the facility, including work on the concession stands on both the grandstand and pit area of the track. Resurfacing of the racetrack itself is also in the cards.
A meeting has been slated for 3 p.m. Sunday at the American Legion Hall in Farmer City with racing teams and fans invited to attend. The first practice session is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 27.
Hammer and Logue have formed J.K. Promotions to stage weekly Friday night racing events at the track with opening night scheduled for April 8.
The duo decided less than a month ago to try their hand at motorsports promotion at a track that closed last July 23 because of financial difficulties.
Since the closing, negotiations between the fair board and prospective promoters have gone nowhere until Hammer and Logue stepped in.
I read the (Feb. 8) article in The Pantagraph and saw that there was a real possibility that the track would not reopen this year, said Hammer, a lifelong racing fan and the cousin of former Farmer City Raceway promoter Don Hammer. Thats when Kyle and I got together and decided we should try to do something about it.
Logue has been a dirt late model competitor for a number of years. Together they contacted fair board members the day after the article was published to get the ball rolling.
A quick meeting was arranged that included Farmer City/DeWitt Fair Board president Bill Rutledge.
A contract is being reviewed by attorneys, according to Hammer. The contract is for one year with an option for three more.
Although the contract still awaits signature, Hammer and Logue have been busy at the raceway with plans for making improvements to the facility, including work on the concession stands on both the grandstand and pit area of the track. Resurfacing of the racetrack itself is also in the cards.
A meeting has been slated for 3 p.m. Sunday at the American Legion Hall in Farmer City with racing teams and fans invited to attend. The first practice session is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 27.