Kankakee County Speedway promoter explains temporary shut down

Kankakee nearly shut down for 2017

They actually did, for one week. A press release was published, announcing that the track had shut down following a social media controversy. “Social media IS killing the sport,” it stated.

A few days later, a second press release was published. The track was now re-opened and the final points night was re-scheduled. Following, an outpour of social media demand, it was fired right back up.

I traveled to Kankakee County Speedway on Friday night. It was the re-scheduled program. The KCS Championship Point Night that was once terminated was now back on at the 1/3 mile dirt track in Kankakee, IL.

Dave Whittington in the water truck at Kankakee County Speedway

What happened?

“It was multiple things really,” Kankakee County Speedway co-promoter Dave Whittington told RacingNews.co from turn 4 of the dirt track.

“When you’re in charge of the track and you spend as much time out here, as a lot of us do. Certain people, even drivers, become your friends. You kinda grow that bond with guys that race here every week.”

“Sometimes you don’t expect them to go in the direction, sometimes, that they do.”

“There were a few guys that race here on a weekly basis. Obviously, calls aren’t going to go your way, every time. We’re human, we do out best to make sure that everybody’s treated fairly and the same, every time.”

“It was multiple things. There was a lot going on, from the Friday night through the Sunday. The decision was made Monday morning. I put a press release together Monday, ending our season.”

“Sometimes everybody makes an un-rational, emotional decision that’s not in the betterment of everybody, at the heat of the moment.”

Kankakee County Speedway racecar door wall

Soon after the statement from the track, the Kankakee County Fair board released their own statement. It stated that the Kankakee County Fair was in search of a new promoter for 2018.

The statements were really close in proximity. So, that led me to speculate. Maybe the Fair Board already told the current track promoters their direction, then the track promoters decided to shut down the track after receiving the word.

Was it anything like that?

“No. That was not the case at all,” Dave Whittington clears up the speculation.

“Their comment came out after ours. That had no baring on the decision at all. We we’re completely unaware of that, at that particular time.”