Twin Cites Raceway Park (North Vernon, IN) Closed until further noticed for safety.

[HoosierDirtFan]

Twin Cities Raceway Park - North Vernon, Indiana.
Via tracks Facebook Page.
Drivers and fans of Twin Cities Raceway Park - It is with a heavy heart I have to let you know that as of tonight the track is closed. We Thank each of you for your support and patronage. in light of some safety and other concerns we feel we can not operate at this time. While this was not an easy decision to make it is one we feel is absolutely necessary at this time. We wish each of you the best of luck going forward. This is all the information I have now. If more becomes available I will post it here. -- Renee.

[Clayton_Wetter]

Wondering if they raced last Saturday and if they did, did something happen?

[Just The Tip]

Interesting. I wonder what is going on. I've been there quite a few times, and while nothing fancy I didn't think the track and facilities where that bad. However, I have witnessed a few sprint cars flip completely over the fence and out of the track. We be interested to see what happens here.

[MI Dirt Fan]

Is any track really "safe"??? Anything can happen anytime, anywhere.

[old fan]

no but some tracks are safer than others

[CIRF]

Interesting. I wonder what is going on. I've been there quite a few times, and while nothing fancy I didn't think the track and facilities where that bad. However, I have witnessed a few sprint cars flip completely over the fence and out of the track. We be interested to see what happens here.

JTT, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't North Vernon host an Indiana Sprint Week race not all that many years ago. If I recall correctly it was an Indiana Sprint Week show at NV that Jack Hewitt was racing in when he had the accident involving Jack and D!ckie Gaines that basically ended Jack's career.

[JustAddDirt]

vernon

JTT, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't North Vernon host an Indiana Sprint Week race not all that many years ago. If I recall correctly it was an Indiana Sprint Week show at NV that Jack Hewitt was racing in when he had the accident involving Jack and D!ckie Gaines that basically ended Jack's career.

Yes, I was there when that happened. I believe it was entering turn 3 or at the end of the backstreach

[Rollover]

place is a dump. most of the stands are not safe to sit in and the track itself seems to have alot more rocks in it then most. ive seen several incidents there where rocks have hit people in the face. got hit in the knee myself.

[Clayton_Wetter]

no but some tracks are safer than others

That sounds like a kidrock observation. Nothing but the obvious.

[Clayton_Wetter]

place is a dump. most of the stands are not safe to sit in and the track itself seems to have alot more rocks in it then most. ive seen several incidents there where rocks have hit people in the face. got hit in the knee myself.

The rocks are one heck of a problem there. I don't go often but every time I go someone is getting hit in the head or somewhere by a rock. I got clobbered in the knee by a big rock one week and hit in the mouth the next. It seems likely that a real tragedy is just waiting to happen if something is not done about it.

[Just The Tip]

JTT, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't North Vernon host an Indiana Sprint Week race not all that many years ago. If I recall correctly it was an Indiana Sprint Week show at NV that Jack Hewitt was racing in when he had the accident involving Jack and D!ckie Gaines that basically ended Jack's career.

I belive you are correct CIRF. I can't remember if it was an ISW show or not, but I was there that night. Like just add dirt said, it was in turn 3 and if memory serves me he landed on a ladies fairly new car. I remember her being really upset about the car.

Off topic, but I was in Bloomington one night and saw D!ckie Gaines get caught in the fence just past the flag stand. He was hanging up there quite a while, while they figured out how to cut him down.

[old fan]

Nothing but the obvious sometimes it has to be said

[bigq11]

Off topic, but I was in Bloomington one night and saw D!ckie Gaines get caught in the fence just past the flag stand. He was hanging up there quite a while, while they figured out how to cut him down.[/QUOTE]

That was 2004. He was above the fence hanging from the arm of a light pole. I have pics, but don't know how to post them here.

[wheelpackin]

Some may call the place a dump, some may dislike the people involved. All of us, however, need to understand that in today's racing era tracks are closing way too often and we should be thankful to have places to go and watch the races. I have been to Twin Cities a couple of times, yes the facilities definitely need some work, yes the track wasn't in great shape, however, the couple of times I have been I witnessed some very good racing. Think about the situation before you go off the deep end.

[kidrock]

Tracks may be closing but, if a track is not safe then it's best to shut it down and fix the things that need to be fixed. it may come down to the insurance company dropping a track because of safety issues and demanding those things fixed before they insure them again.