CRESCO, Iowa (Nov. 12, 2002) - Cresco Speedway, a regular stop for racers and race fans on Sunday evenings for the past 13 years, has announced its weekly program will move to Friday evenings in 2003. The decision to change was made by the Howard County Fair Board, the owner of the speedway, at its November12 Board of Directors meeting.

"The Fair Board really felt a need to make changes to the racing program," stated Tom Barnes, Executive Secretary of the Board. "The program has been a traditionally a Sunday show since 1990. In the 90's Sunday was a popular day to race. But in the last 3 to 4 years we have seen a softening in our fan base. In order to continue the weekly program, the Board felt it needed to make this change. The Board was down to two options; to eliminate the weekly program and have just a few special events during the year; or to continue a weekly program with some major changes. And they choose the latter."

The Fair Board surveyed both the fans and drivers this year and found they really prefer to have Sunday for other things than racing, such as taking in family activities, church functions or travel. Plus it is expensive for the drivers and owners to maintain a racecar, and they have stated that Sunday is a day they prefer not to race.

"The start time of the program will be later than our Sunday program was, so as to accommodate our fans and drivers," Barnes added. " We most likely will start hot laps in the 7:15 p.m. area with racing immediately after hot laps. And we will do everything we can to get the program completed at a timely hour, say by 10:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. We want to get our fans and drivers on the road at a decent hour, plus we definitely do not want the program to interfere with the residents in our neighborhood."

While the exact details of the program for 2003 was not released, Barnes did state the program will most likely feature the same classes as it did in 2002, with a few minor rule changes and procedure updates. The 2003 rules will be worked out in the next month, as will all details of the 2003 race program. Complete details of the program will be posted on the Fair Board's web site, at www.mightyhowardcountyfair.com. Click on the Cresco Speedway logo to find the information on the race program.

"The Fair Board, and our Cresco Speedway team, are very excited about this move to Friday and look to this change as not only a challenge, but also as an opportunity to make the race program successful. We also see this as an opportunity for the Cresco area merchants to take advantage of the race program and to work to draw the fans and drivers to their place business on Friday evening, both before and after the program." Barnes said.

"The Board is looking at all aspects of the program, to see where it can be improved and at the same time, be made more efficient. If the Board finds the support is not where it needs to be by the midseason, we will really have to look at the program and re-evaluate its future." ended Barnes.