Fan award goes to Tri-City’s Puvalowski
ri-City Motor Speedway promoter Steve Puvalowski and his brother Denny (center) accept the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Promoter of the Year award, presented by award sponsor Jim Gullett, at left, and MARFC President, Dave DeHem. (Photo by Paul Anton Photos)
His Friday night shows were a hit in 2011, and Puvalowski has the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Promoter of the Year prize to show for it.
“I’d never have guessed this would happen,” admitted Puvalowski, who accepted the award he shared with his brother Denny during the annual MARFC gala. “We did something different and made it work.”
While maintaining the speedplant’s rich history, he brought the IMCA Modified division back to Auburn after an absence of more than two decades and oversaw a facelift that included replacing an asphalt oval with a 3/8-mile dirt track, moving grandstands from the east to the west side of the track, expanding the pit area and new lighting.
“The dirt track is a D-shape and that helps allow us to put on quite a show,” Puvalowski said. “We had to make more grandstand seating and expand the pits because we had so many cars. Those were two good problems to have.”
“First improvements of 2012 are finishing the pit expansion and putting cement slabs in for the high demand of reserved pit parking,” he added. “We will be doing away with the majority of porta-potties on the grandstand side with the addition of a bathroom house.”
IMCA Modifieds helped fill the pit area and Tri-City looks for even bigger and better numbers from the open-wheeled class this year.
“Our average Modified car count was 14.7. It was our division with the most regular drivers every week,” Puvalowski noted. “Going with IMCA was definitely the best move we made. I’m sure we’re going to have even more guys come to race with us in 2012.”
He’ll share many of those drivers with Saturday venue Crystal Motor Speedway operated by Ron Flinn, now a seven-time recipient of annual award given by the Michigan Speedway Promoters Association.
“Working with Ron is a blessing to have. He is a wealth of wisdom and knowledge,” Puvalowski said. “It is nice to be able to work with him along with our other neighboring tracks. Cooperation helps everyone succeed.”
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