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The New Punta Gorda Speedway
Heading to the city farther down U.S. 17, the renamed Punta Gorda Speedway
is a little racetrack whose new owners -- Kevin Williams and Mike Chase --
have some big goals
"We're trying to make it a fun place, a clean place, a family place with
affordable prices," Williams said of the 2,500-seat former Charlotte County
Motorsports Park, near the Charlotte County Airport.
The speedway was closed for three weeks as Williams and family members,
including his sister Rhonda and her husband Don Cope of North Port, prepared
for this past Friday's opening night. His parents, Ruby and Red Williams of
El Jobean, also pitched in.
He said the group did "some serious cleaning up," including a redone women's
restroom.
Williams said he and his nephew Damien Fedo, co-owners in Perfect Pest
Control, also attacked the grassy area at turns three and four to remove red
ants there and make it more comfortable for fans who want to watch the
action from their lawn chairs.
At the entrance, 70 palm trees were planted recently to give the speedway a
Florida look.
In the 1990s, Williams said, he raced at the speedway, leading to a second
goal. He wants to have the local racers who used to race in Punta Gorda
return to the track.
Already, Goodyear Tire is coming back as a sponsor for six divisional weekly
championships, he said.
Drivers will earn points for competing in the weekly races, as well as for
their performance. At the end of the series, the division champions will
receive a $1,500 check, a 6-foot track trophy and an embroidered Goodyear
jacket.
Most of all, Williams said, the goal is to help local businesses and
families during a trying economic time. The previous owners were from the
Tampa area, he said, and outsourced jobs.
"Money (from Saturday night gate receipts) (was) leaving on Sunday and
crossing county lines," he said. "This place needs to generate money in this
(Charlotte) county."
Now, the vendors will come from Charlotte, Lee, DeSoto and Sarasota counties
he said.
In Williams' mind, Punta Gorda Speedway will be an affordable,
family-friendly place where a young couple and their two young children can
come for a good time.
Prices have been slashed and program times tightened to help that kind of
family, he said.
"We're trimming the cost, setting the stage for what the area has in the pay
scale," Williams said. "We've cut the price on food but kept the quality."
Tickets to the speedway have dropped from $15 to $10 for adults, $8 for
seniors and $5 for teens. Children 10 years old and under are free.
The program will not be extended by long breaks between races, he said.
Gates will open at 4 p.m., qualifiers will begin at 6 p.m., and races
between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The national anthem will be played at 8 p.m.
Williams said plans call for the feature race to be held between 9 p.m. and
9:30 p.m.
"We'll shoot for 10:30 (p.m.), 11 (p.m.) being the latest," he said of a
program's end.
"We'll get fans in and get 'em out," Williams said.
Local fans who suffer under a 12.5 percent unemployment rate can't afford a
$5 pork sandwich, a $4 burger or a $3 bottle of water, Williams said, adding
they won't see prices like that at the speedway.
Pork and chicken sandwiches will be $3, as will the burgers -- sandwiched by
buns from a local bread company. Water is $1.50 a bottle.
There'll also be menu additions. A sloppy wimpy, influenced by his
88-year-old grandmother, Norma Buckley of Englewood, will replace the sloppy
Joes. There'll be a chili hot dog from a secret Georgia chili sauce recipe
supplied by Vickie and Keith Davis.
If lower ticket and food prices, a cleaner facility and an almost-bug-free
outdoor setting don't bring in customers, Williams has one last crowd
pleaser -- fried bologna sandwiches.
By CAROL SAKOWITZ
North Port Assistant Editor
The New Punta Gorda Speedway
Heading to the city farther down U.S. 17, the renamed Punta Gorda Speedway
is a little racetrack whose new owners -- Kevin Williams and Mike Chase --
have some big goals
"We're trying to make it a fun place, a clean place, a family place with
affordable prices," Williams said of the 2,500-seat former Charlotte County
Motorsports Park, near the Charlotte County Airport.
The speedway was closed for three weeks as Williams and family members,
including his sister Rhonda and her husband Don Cope of North Port, prepared
for this past Friday's opening night. His parents, Ruby and Red Williams of
El Jobean, also pitched in.
He said the group did "some serious cleaning up," including a redone women's
restroom.
Williams said he and his nephew Damien Fedo, co-owners in Perfect Pest
Control, also attacked the grassy area at turns three and four to remove red
ants there and make it more comfortable for fans who want to watch the
action from their lawn chairs.
At the entrance, 70 palm trees were planted recently to give the speedway a
Florida look.
In the 1990s, Williams said, he raced at the speedway, leading to a second
goal. He wants to have the local racers who used to race in Punta Gorda
return to the track.
Already, Goodyear Tire is coming back as a sponsor for six divisional weekly
championships, he said.
Drivers will earn points for competing in the weekly races, as well as for
their performance. At the end of the series, the division champions will
receive a $1,500 check, a 6-foot track trophy and an embroidered Goodyear
jacket.
Most of all, Williams said, the goal is to help local businesses and
families during a trying economic time. The previous owners were from the
Tampa area, he said, and outsourced jobs.
"Money (from Saturday night gate receipts) (was) leaving on Sunday and
crossing county lines," he said. "This place needs to generate money in this
(Charlotte) county."
Now, the vendors will come from Charlotte, Lee, DeSoto and Sarasota counties
he said.
In Williams' mind, Punta Gorda Speedway will be an affordable,
family-friendly place where a young couple and their two young children can
come for a good time.
Prices have been slashed and program times tightened to help that kind of
family, he said.
"We're trimming the cost, setting the stage for what the area has in the pay
scale," Williams said. "We've cut the price on food but kept the quality."
Tickets to the speedway have dropped from $15 to $10 for adults, $8 for
seniors and $5 for teens. Children 10 years old and under are free.
The program will not be extended by long breaks between races, he said.
Gates will open at 4 p.m., qualifiers will begin at 6 p.m., and races
between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The national anthem will be played at 8 p.m.
Williams said plans call for the feature race to be held between 9 p.m. and
9:30 p.m.
"We'll shoot for 10:30 (p.m.), 11 (p.m.) being the latest," he said of a
program's end.
"We'll get fans in and get 'em out," Williams said.
Local fans who suffer under a 12.5 percent unemployment rate can't afford a
$5 pork sandwich, a $4 burger or a $3 bottle of water, Williams said, adding
they won't see prices like that at the speedway.
Pork and chicken sandwiches will be $3, as will the burgers -- sandwiched by
buns from a local bread company. Water is $1.50 a bottle.
There'll also be menu additions. A sloppy wimpy, influenced by his
88-year-old grandmother, Norma Buckley of Englewood, will replace the sloppy
Joes. There'll be a chili hot dog from a secret Georgia chili sauce recipe
supplied by Vickie and Keith Davis.
If lower ticket and food prices, a cleaner facility and an almost-bug-free
outdoor setting don't bring in customers, Williams has one last crowd
pleaser -- fried bologna sandwiches.
By CAROL SAKOWITZ
North Port Assistant Editor