Toft and Watson Grand Marshals! By Mike Babicz

(Lake Geneva, Wis., Sunday, July 30, 2006)-  Former promoter/owner Ray Toft and past champion Dave Watson will be honored as the co-grand marshals of “The Ultimate Racing Spectacular” at Lake Geneva Raceway Thursday, August 3.

Toft, of Trevor and formerly of Antioch, is the retired promoter of both Lake Geneva Raceway and Wilmot Speedway.  Toft sold the Lake Geneva facility to present owner/promoter Kevin Dawson in 1984.  Although Toft was not the promoter, he was instrumental in bringing the first open wheel races to the LGR facility in 1966 when he was the first president of the Interstates Racing Association, at the time, a group of modified competitors.  The IRA has since developed into a sprint car traveling sanctioning body. 

“It will be an honor,” said Toft, hinting his “start” of the sprint car race will be unique. “It’ll be fun to see many old friends, both fans and competitors.  I’m looking forward to it.”

Watson, of Milton, is a past late model champion at LGR who mastered the outside groove on the old quarter mile asphalt.  Watson went on to compete with success in USAC stock cars, Trans Am and had a short stint in NASCAR Winston Cup. “This will be really neat,” Watson said, in accepting the invitation.  “It’s been a while since I’ve been to Lake Geneva, and to be part of its final season and exciting event like this will be lots of fun.”

“We are pleased to be able to honor two of the legends of Lake Geneva Raceway as part of this special night to be included in our Checkered Flag Season,” said Dawson. “We are honored they will be making a return visit to renew old friendships and witness history.”

“Ray Toft gave me my start in announcing back in 1980 at Wilmot and Dave Watson had my cousin, Tom Brian, on his pit crew for most of his career, so I’ve been a fan of Dave’s for many years,” said Mike Babicz, show co-promoter. “Dave has local ties as well having driven for Fred Nielsen of Lake Villa. I’m excited and feel privileged these two instrumental men in my personal racing career as well as the life of Lake Geneva Raceway have agreed to join us.”

The monumental event coming to Lake Geneva Raceway features the winged sprint car warriors of the Hoosier Outlaw Sprint Car Series (HOSS) who will be making their first, and only, appearance at the 44-year-old facility.

HOSS point leader Greg Wheeler of Fort Wayne, Indiana will lead the traveling stars to take on local sprint car warriors headed up by reigning HOSS champion Tim Cox of Park City.  Joining Cox will be several local sprint car competitors making the change over from dirt to asphalt including past Wilmot Open Champion and second generation driver Brian Kristan of Beach Park; 2001 IRA Rookie of the Year runner-up Ryan Irwin of McHenry; second generation driver Johnny Fahl of Milwaukee; Frank Moser of Antioch; Todd Lehr of Twin Lakes; and recently announced Darryl Dodd of Beach Park, a past IRA champion who won his very first open wheel race in an old style modified over his father, Junior Dodd, at Lake Geneva in 1975.  The younger Dodd plans to bring the trophy he won and the elder Dodd also plans to be in attendance.

Erik Darnell, a third generation racer, of Beach Park now the leading NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor is planning to compete in the Big 8 Late Model Stock Car Series portion of the program driving racing Antioch dentist Dr. Ken Johnson's late model. Darnell is the son of current periodic late model competitor Danny Darnell and the grandson of former USAC stock car and area driver Bay Darnell.

The LGR weapons division stock cars round out the historic and memorable motorsports show.  Gates open at 5 p.m. with time trials at 5:45 and racing taking the green flag at 7:30.  Rain date is Friday, August 4.

The Raceway including a one-third mile semi-banked asphalt oval is part of an overall facility that includes an off road course, competitive go kart track, public go kart track, stadium motocross course and a restaurant/bar.  The entire complex has been sold to a developer and will become a housing development after the season ends in the fall. 

Race day grandstand tickets are $16.00 for adults, $8.00 for youth ages 8-14 with youngsters under age 8 admitted free accompanied by an adult.  Pit passes will be $30.00 per person.

Show sponsors include Budweiser, Body Craft Of Antioch, FedExKinkos of Libertyville, Eagle Graphics of Muskego, Image 1 Sportswear of Beach Park, Sign X Vinyl Graphics of Genoa City, KC's Cabin of Fox Lake, Pedersen GMC of Antioch, Nielsen Enterprises of Lake Villa and Brass Ball Mobil/Burger King of Paddock Lake.

Official hotels of the event are Best Western Harbor Shores in Lake Geneva and Best Western Executive Inn in Antioch.  Both are offering reduced rates to fans, competitors, crew members or media mentioning the Lake Geneva Raceway HOSS event.

For the latest updated information go to www.lakegenevaraceway.com or phone the trackside hotline 262-248-8566.