Rumors Are Laid to Rest - Facts Are LGR Will Close! By Dale R. Erdmann

January 30, 2005, Lake Geneva, WI. - A crowd of nearly 250 heard the words they never wanted to hear.Lake Geneva Raceway a one third mile paved banked oval in the city of Lake Geneva, a resort town of some 5500 permanent residents would close it’s gates at the end of the 2008 season.

Current owner Kevin Dawson told the crowd at the annual awards banquet the news. “We are going to accept the offer to purchase soon and with about 24 months of preparation with the city,the raceway will probably not go past the 2008 season”, Dawson said in his emotional story.

The raceway started off as a drag strip back in the early 1960’s,then in 1966 the flat quarter mile oval was born, three nights a week stock car racing ensued. Dawson purchased the facility in 1984. In 1990 a state of the art oval would give race fans the best racing in the Midwest. But the city is creeping out around us and the writing is on the wall.

Some 50 years ago over 5000 race car tracks were around the United States. Now there are less than 900. Racing on TV and with a “die hard” base of less than 30 % of the total nightly crowd, it’s hard to make it in the racing business. 2004 was the worst season for ovals across the country. The weather was part of the factor ,but families don’t have money for fun and racing suffers.

The 2005 weekly Saturday night program will begin on April 2nd. Originally the season was to begin on April 9th. The BARS’let’s go racing” motorsports show is on hold. Promoter Mike Babicz, who has come on board to replace zany Dave Kamholtz as one of the Saturday night announcers, found out Thursday January 27th.that the original Outlet Mall was sold and the new owners don’t want the show in the suffering facility that has lost most of their stores since last year. Race fans are urged to call the mall and let the know that the 10,000 people the show brings in, is worth their own interest too. The phone number is 262-857-7961 and management is there 9am.until 5pm. Monday through Friday.