DARLINGTON - The 1940s is when Jackie Robinson became the first African-American major league baseball player and World War II was in full swing. It is also when the Lafayette County Speedway got its start.
"I think there has been a strong racing heritage between Darlington and the Freeport area," said Jason Udelhofen, the director of the Lafayette County Speedway which has catered to drivers for more than a half a century. "That heritage has never been lost. It has been passed down and passed down."
Udelhofen said the speedway averages 50 to 60 cars per week during Friday race nights, which is an increase of about 10 cars compared to last year. The racetrack seats up to 3,000 and averages 500 to 600 spectators on Fridays for races. The season at the track runs from April to August.
The track closed for 29 years after an accident in 1970 at the Lafayette County Fair that killed three pit crew workers.
"There were cars going into the river and a couple were killed," Udelhofen said.
The one-time half-mile track was moved farther from the Pecatonica River and reopened in 1999. In addition, two corners were shortened and the backstretch was reconfigured into a clay three-eighths-miletrack.
Now, the first two turns on the track are unique with a gradual first turn then knifing into a sharp second turn.
"It throws a lot of people for a loop," Udelhofen said.
When the Freeport Raceway Park was demolished in 2011, the Lafayette County Speedway saw an increase in drivers. The average car count for races spiked to 70 to 80 cars per night compared to 43 a night in 2011.
"We picked up a few more drivers," Udelhofen said. "It did boost our attendance because people still needed their racing fix."
However, the spike in attendance wasn't sustained.
"When you lose a racetrack you lose racers," Udelhofen said. "When you lose a racetrack in your hometown a lot of drivers and fans just quit going to races."
The economic impact of the racetrack to the community may not be easy to measure, but for Suzi Osterday, the director of the Darlington Chamber of Commerce/Main Street, the racetrack offers a vibrant entertainment option that attracts tourists.
"Everything you have to do in a small town adds to the excitement," Osterday said. "It has a big impact on the community. It's good family entertainment and there is always a big crowd."
Osterday said since the racetrack is a private club, the Chamber of Commerce has not conducted an economic impact study on the speedway.
The Lafayette County Fairgrounds offers camping. There also is a campground about five blocks from the racetrack that is connected to the Cheese Country Trail. The Optimist Club of Darlington sells cheese curds on race days.
"It helps all of the nonprofit organizations in town that sell food," Osterday said. "It brings in people who need gas and groceries."
The speedway has added Limited Late Models to its racing lineup this summer.
Other upgrades the track has undergone the past 10 years include repaired fencing and guard rails and adding dirt to the track. A new announcer's stage was built in the middle of the track.
The biggest class during race days is the Sports Modified division. Udelhofen said the Sports Mods division brings 18 to 27 cars to the racetrack. The popularity of the Sports Modified division is one of economics and experience.
"It's an entry level class for the modifieds," he said. "It's not as expensive as some bigger classes."
Udelhofen is considering adding a transponders system that requires the use of underground cables attached to cars to keep track of the finish of each race. The transponder system costs an estimated $20,000, which includes an antennae for each car.
"It's a very expensive system to install," Udelhofen said. "We are holding back for now. We would have to have some fundraising of some sort to get it done."
"I think there has been a strong racing heritage between Darlington and the Freeport area," said Jason Udelhofen, the director of the Lafayette County Speedway which has catered to drivers for more than a half a century. "That heritage has never been lost. It has been passed down and passed down."
Udelhofen said the speedway averages 50 to 60 cars per week during Friday race nights, which is an increase of about 10 cars compared to last year. The racetrack seats up to 3,000 and averages 500 to 600 spectators on Fridays for races. The season at the track runs from April to August.
The track closed for 29 years after an accident in 1970 at the Lafayette County Fair that killed three pit crew workers.
"There were cars going into the river and a couple were killed," Udelhofen said.
The one-time half-mile track was moved farther from the Pecatonica River and reopened in 1999. In addition, two corners were shortened and the backstretch was reconfigured into a clay three-eighths-miletrack.
Now, the first two turns on the track are unique with a gradual first turn then knifing into a sharp second turn.
"It throws a lot of people for a loop," Udelhofen said.
When the Freeport Raceway Park was demolished in 2011, the Lafayette County Speedway saw an increase in drivers. The average car count for races spiked to 70 to 80 cars per night compared to 43 a night in 2011.
"We picked up a few more drivers," Udelhofen said. "It did boost our attendance because people still needed their racing fix."
However, the spike in attendance wasn't sustained.
"When you lose a racetrack you lose racers," Udelhofen said. "When you lose a racetrack in your hometown a lot of drivers and fans just quit going to races."
The economic impact of the racetrack to the community may not be easy to measure, but for Suzi Osterday, the director of the Darlington Chamber of Commerce/Main Street, the racetrack offers a vibrant entertainment option that attracts tourists.
"Everything you have to do in a small town adds to the excitement," Osterday said. "It has a big impact on the community. It's good family entertainment and there is always a big crowd."
Osterday said since the racetrack is a private club, the Chamber of Commerce has not conducted an economic impact study on the speedway.
The Lafayette County Fairgrounds offers camping. There also is a campground about five blocks from the racetrack that is connected to the Cheese Country Trail. The Optimist Club of Darlington sells cheese curds on race days.
"It helps all of the nonprofit organizations in town that sell food," Osterday said. "It brings in people who need gas and groceries."
The speedway has added Limited Late Models to its racing lineup this summer.
Other upgrades the track has undergone the past 10 years include repaired fencing and guard rails and adding dirt to the track. A new announcer's stage was built in the middle of the track.
The biggest class during race days is the Sports Modified division. Udelhofen said the Sports Mods division brings 18 to 27 cars to the racetrack. The popularity of the Sports Modified division is one of economics and experience.
"It's an entry level class for the modifieds," he said. "It's not as expensive as some bigger classes."
Udelhofen is considering adding a transponders system that requires the use of underground cables attached to cars to keep track of the finish of each race. The transponder system costs an estimated $20,000, which includes an antennae for each car.
"It's a very expensive system to install," Udelhofen said. "We are holding back for now. We would have to have some fundraising of some sort to get it done."
