nathans1012
12-15-2011, 12:15 PM
Kankakee County Speedway
Kankakee, Illinois
A RECAP OF IMIS... AS KCS SEES IT
Former AMA Supercross / Motorcross Super Star Ricky Johnson to give Kankakee (IL) A Try this Summer in A Late Model. KCS Promoter Tom Smith also talked to Lucas Oil Series Race Director Richie Lewis about trying to get a show at Kankakee in the near future. Tom recently signed an extention to be the Promoter of Kankakee County Speedway.
ALOT OF GREAT INFO IN THIS ARTICAL......
__________________________________________________ __________________
A RECAP OF IMIS... AS KCS SEES IT.
With the 2011 IMIS show now in the books as being the biggest and best yet, Kankakee County Speedway promoter made his way around the Indiana Convention Center meeting with dozens of series officials, track promoters, drivers, industry leaders, and a childhood idol has agreed to come out to have a little fun with us next summer.
As we arrived inside the amazing complex that is now home to the International Motorsports Industry Show, the first person we delt with Lucas Oil Series Race Director Richie Lewis. Lewis and track promoter Tom Smith seemingly share the same philosphy when it comes to producing a quality show when it comes out of pocket expenses for the promoter. The duo agreed to continue talks towards a future date, which will no dout be a tremendous show in the arm for racing in Illinois.
Smith also talked extensively with Bill Long of the Michigan Dirt Cup series in hopes that an effort will be made to bring the best drivers from the State of Michigan here to Kankakee on an invitation only basis. The same sort arrangement would then travel to Michigan the following year. Smith shared his enthusiasm of the idea with UMP President Sam Driggers who also liked the idea and hopes to have a similar arrangement made at Eldora Speedway during the UMP Fall Nationals in the near future.
World Racing Group cahirman Tom Derry, who has been a long time friend of Smith's, assured us that the World Of Outlaws Late Model Series, or perhaps the Sprint Car Series, will work something out in the future. Now that Smith has signed on as promoter for an additional three to four years, the stability is there for such major organizations to take Kankakee seriously.
Finally, Smith (and I) had the oppertunity with one of his all-time childhood idols upon entering the IMIS floor. Ricky Johnson, who is best known as a motorcycle racer whoo has competed in AMA Motorcross and Supercross. During the 1980's, he won seven AMA National Championships. He retired from motorcycle racing at the beginning of the 1991 season. At the time of his retirement form Motorcycle racing at age 26, he was the all-time leader in Supercross victories, Johnson was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame in 1999.
After his Motorcycle career, Johnson went on to have success in off-road racing and stock car racing. He tokk wins in the famous Baja 1000 twice and was American Speed Association stock car series Rookie of the Year in 1999, driving for Herzog Racing as a teamate to unrelated El Cajon, CA of-road racer Jimmy Johnson. Johnson ran twelve races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 1995 to 1997. In 2010, he won the Pro 2WD Trophy Truck Championship in the Traxxas TORC Series.
Johnson founded the Traxxas TORC Series for the 2009 season. He sold the series after the season to the United States Auto Club (USAC) and he concentrated on being a driver. Rick Johnson won the TORC Series Pro 2WD Championship in 2010 after a season long battle with Rob MacCachren, the defending champ.
Johnson has verbally agreed to be a our guest next summer and try his luck behind the wheel of a full blown Super Late Model. We're excited to have Johnson join us and see how he stacks up with our local talent here at Kankakee.
Kankakee, Illinois
A RECAP OF IMIS... AS KCS SEES IT
Former AMA Supercross / Motorcross Super Star Ricky Johnson to give Kankakee (IL) A Try this Summer in A Late Model. KCS Promoter Tom Smith also talked to Lucas Oil Series Race Director Richie Lewis about trying to get a show at Kankakee in the near future. Tom recently signed an extention to be the Promoter of Kankakee County Speedway.
ALOT OF GREAT INFO IN THIS ARTICAL......
__________________________________________________ __________________
A RECAP OF IMIS... AS KCS SEES IT.
With the 2011 IMIS show now in the books as being the biggest and best yet, Kankakee County Speedway promoter made his way around the Indiana Convention Center meeting with dozens of series officials, track promoters, drivers, industry leaders, and a childhood idol has agreed to come out to have a little fun with us next summer.
As we arrived inside the amazing complex that is now home to the International Motorsports Industry Show, the first person we delt with Lucas Oil Series Race Director Richie Lewis. Lewis and track promoter Tom Smith seemingly share the same philosphy when it comes to producing a quality show when it comes out of pocket expenses for the promoter. The duo agreed to continue talks towards a future date, which will no dout be a tremendous show in the arm for racing in Illinois.
Smith also talked extensively with Bill Long of the Michigan Dirt Cup series in hopes that an effort will be made to bring the best drivers from the State of Michigan here to Kankakee on an invitation only basis. The same sort arrangement would then travel to Michigan the following year. Smith shared his enthusiasm of the idea with UMP President Sam Driggers who also liked the idea and hopes to have a similar arrangement made at Eldora Speedway during the UMP Fall Nationals in the near future.
World Racing Group cahirman Tom Derry, who has been a long time friend of Smith's, assured us that the World Of Outlaws Late Model Series, or perhaps the Sprint Car Series, will work something out in the future. Now that Smith has signed on as promoter for an additional three to four years, the stability is there for such major organizations to take Kankakee seriously.
Finally, Smith (and I) had the oppertunity with one of his all-time childhood idols upon entering the IMIS floor. Ricky Johnson, who is best known as a motorcycle racer whoo has competed in AMA Motorcross and Supercross. During the 1980's, he won seven AMA National Championships. He retired from motorcycle racing at the beginning of the 1991 season. At the time of his retirement form Motorcycle racing at age 26, he was the all-time leader in Supercross victories, Johnson was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame in 1999.
After his Motorcycle career, Johnson went on to have success in off-road racing and stock car racing. He tokk wins in the famous Baja 1000 twice and was American Speed Association stock car series Rookie of the Year in 1999, driving for Herzog Racing as a teamate to unrelated El Cajon, CA of-road racer Jimmy Johnson. Johnson ran twelve races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 1995 to 1997. In 2010, he won the Pro 2WD Trophy Truck Championship in the Traxxas TORC Series.
Johnson founded the Traxxas TORC Series for the 2009 season. He sold the series after the season to the United States Auto Club (USAC) and he concentrated on being a driver. Rick Johnson won the TORC Series Pro 2WD Championship in 2010 after a season long battle with Rob MacCachren, the defending champ.
Johnson has verbally agreed to be a our guest next summer and try his luck behind the wheel of a full blown Super Late Model. We're excited to have Johnson join us and see how he stacks up with our local talent here at Kankakee.