The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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July 1, 2010

Racing returns at Enid Speedway

By Cheryl Licklider, columnist Enid News & Eagle

ENID — Ground-pounding thunder will return to the high-banked oval at Garfield County Fairgrounds on July 24 as new track promoter Ed Beckley re-opens the facility with the National Championship Racing Association (NCRA)-sanctioned Sport Modified Nationals.

Enid race fans will see hometown favorites and series regulars such as Todd Decker, Kevin Snow, Randy Bohnstedt, Tommy Bohnstedt and Landon Maddox return to battle on the hometown track.

Though he has yet to announce the specifics, Beckley said he plans to round out the O’Reilly Auto Parts-sponsored series with racing in other divisions.

Located in Kansas, where he promotes events at Dodge City Raceway Park and the Liberal Fairgrounds Speedway, Beckley jumped on the band wagon when he found out Enid Speedway Park had closed its gates in early May.

“I was going through the news on the Internet one day and I saw the track had closed down,” Beckley said. “I called  (fairgrounds manager) Steve Barnes and asked him what was going on down there and he said, ‘you mean my new parking lot?’ I knew I wanted to keep racing alive in Enid and submitted a proposal.”

According to Beckley, he braved inclement Oklahoma weather, including tornado warnings, to meet with Garfield County Fair Board. He sealed the deal May 30.

Having promoted Monster Truck shows at Chisholm Trail Coliseum for several years and attending the legendary Winter Nationals, Beckley was familiar with the local facility. Even though the previous owner/operator, James Longpine, closed the track after four race nights due to a waning car count and lack of fan support, Beckley said he didn’t want to see the historic track die like others in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

“Right now I know that I can’t do it fast enough or big enough,” Beckley said. “It’s like someone started making a birthday cake and then they left. Someone needs to come in and finish it off.”

The award-winning promoter said he plans to host four or five race weekends this season in Enid.

“We want to come in once a month and do some big motorsports shows,” Beckley said. “By now, we’ve got racers involved in points races at other tracks so we might try some special events.”

Beckley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the venture. In addition to promoting two tracks, this veteran promoter is the owner/operator of Checkered Flag Productions, which features Monster Trucks, demolition derby, mud racing, arena cross and pulling at venues from coast to coast.

Recently, Beckley was named 2009 World of Outlaws Promoter of the Year during the series’ Champions Banquet in Concord, N.C.

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