Politics and the Superior Speedway have been intertwined for the last few years.
Now, new track managers, Rick Gondik and Larry "Butch" Erickson are hoping to put the political fights of the past to rest as they prepare for the upcoming racing season.
Gondik and Erickson are inviting all drivers, fans, sponsors and anyone else interested in having input on how the track at the Head of the Lakes fairgrounds is run this year to speak their piece.
They're seeking input before deciding whether to continue affiliating with the Dirt Track Racing Association, under which the Superior Speedway operated last season, or to go back to Wissota, the sanctioning body that governed racing in Superior for many years.
"It's an informational meeting only," Gondik said. "It's not a vote. We're not going to take a show of hands or have people write down on a ballot. I would imagine a lot of people are going to give us their opinions, but we're not actually going to solicit a vote."
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Representatives of both sanctioning bodies will be at a town hall-style meeting at noon today in the Androy Hotel mezzanine level.
"We want the free flow of ideas," Gondik said. "That's the heart and soul of our democracy. So when we make the decision that affects [drivers], we've at least heard from everybody."
Wissota was formed in 1981, and its programs cover more than 50 race tracks in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Ontario and Manitoba. The DTRA formed last year and currently governs four tracks, excluding Superior.
Gondik said while there are philosophical differences between Wissota and DTRA, the biggest difference between the groups is the tires that sanctioning bodies require racers to use. Wissota requires drivers to run on Hoosiers, a tire made exclusively for racing, while DTRA requires Goodyear tires.
While drivers have been polled independently and appear to be split on the sanctioning body they favor, Gondik said the majority "could care less ... They want to race cars. They don't care if they're doing it on Goodyears, Hoosiers or wagon wheels. They just want to go fast and turn left. And that's the way it should be."
