New racetrack beginning to take shape

Things are beginning to take shape as new management takes over Laird International Raceway, now called Superior International Motorplex.

The track will have three divisions with a schedule that will see 10 to 12 races beginning in June.

The new management, which includes former Laird driver Jordan Sims, held an information meeting on Thursday night to address interest and any concerns regarding the new developments at the track.

The first season of racing will include a modified division, ABC division and a 4-cylinder division. There will also be a mini-wedge division, which will be for children and separated into a pair of levels, one for kids aged six to nine and a second for those ages 10 to 14.

Sims said he expects to have rules for the divisions in “the next few weeks” as he gets personnel in place, which includes a tech man.

Sims said that the future could include other attractions for the track.

“We’re not just limiting ourselves to just race cars,” Sims told the audience. “We plan on developing some other series’ and other attractions out at the racetrack.”

Sims couldn’t confirm details though he would say that there were other things “in the works.”

“The reason for (it being) a motorplex is it’s going to become something more than just an auto-racing track,” Sims said.

Sims would say that he plans to make the track “a positive place.”

“Negativity will not be tolerated,” Sims said.

Greg Brazeau, who is Sims’ uncle and will also help Sims in running the track, said the plan was “to make this fun, like it was supposed to be.”

“We’re here for fun,” Brazeau also said. “We don’t ever want this to be a place where you’re scared to walk down in the pit area and talk to people because everyone is at each others throats.”

Sims told those in attendance that Donnie Varcoe, who is the lease-holder at the track, will not be racing when the season opens. Varcoe will not be involved in any other fashion aside from being the lease-holder of the facility.

Sims and Brazeau would say that the ultimate goal is to eventually take over the lease in the next five years and credited Varcoe for allowing them to take over the day-to-day operations of the track.

“For him to be able to let us do our deal to better the sport says a lot,” Brazeau said.

“We’re hoping that Superior International Motorplex is going to be something that is going to be around this town far longer than we can be around,” Brazeau said.

Sims also addressed the weather cancellations that can become a factor during the summer.

Decisions on cancelling race programs due to rain will be made later in the day, between 3 and 4 p.m., as dirt tracks “have a lot more give” with the rain water.

Sims said more meetings will be held as the winter moves on and preparations continue for the season.