THREE WEEKS BEFORE OPENER, UPIR RECEIVES UNEXPECTED FINAL TOUCH

ESCANABA, Mich. (May 24, 2010) – As the first leg of the inaugural UPIR Triple Crown inches nearer, volunteers have been working frantically to prepare the Midwest’s newest racing facility. Last week, the group put some of the final touches on the raceway – including a layer of fresh clay as a surface.

The layer of clay will provide a smoother, much more consistent surface for the racers. It will also significantly decrease the possibility of small rocks or debris becoming unearthed during a racing event.

“It is very clean clay,” said volunteer coordinator Boyd Widdis. “There were no rocks or debris for us to pick out of it.”

Funding for the clay was provided by several of the Micro Sprint teams. Degnan Motorsports, Steve Ives, Jason Kressin, Jesse and Justina Liss, John Mathias and Nick Pinar made donations to purchase the clay. Ed Brunette of Brunette and Sons Construction dug out the clay and hauled it to the Upper Peninsula Fairgrounds.

Placing the clay, was icing on the cake for UPIR volunteers, who have been working on a weekly basis to prepare the 1/8-mile facility. Thanks to the long list of volunteers, over the past month UPIR has undergone a complete facelift. What was once an empty field in front of a grandstand is now fully capable of hosting an event on Saturday, June 12.

“It already looks like a race track,” said Widdis after the latest volunteer work day, or work bee. “The enthusiasm is great. The Wednesday work bees have worked out really well for us.”

The first work bee was held to pick rocks off the surface and lay the concrete wall. Since that time the front stretch wall has been completed, fencing for the front stretch wall and the pits have been placed and the facility has been prepped for race fans.

“It's pretty exciting at the fairgrounds,” said Vickie Micheau, Executive Director of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce. “I think even Boyd is surprised at all the work the volunteers have done. They're excited and so are we.”

Racing is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on June 12 and will feature the Micro Sprints, Small Cars and Tough Trucks. The second leg of the Triple Crown is scheduled for Saturday, July 31 and the third for Saturday, Aug. 21. All funding that is raised during the Triple Crown races will be used for track development.

UPIR is an abbreviated 1/8-mile multi-surfaced course carved out of the existing course at the Delta Co. Fairgrounds. A Triple Crown in 2010 will be used to gage the interest of race fans in the area and to fund the efforts of reopening the facility in 2011 on a full-time basis as a multi-purpose motorsport facility featuring a 3/8-mile asphalt oval.

Rules and registration are available by contacting Boyd Widdis at 906-450-5112.