MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — Marshalltown Speedway, the quarter-mile track at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds, is known for well-run race programs.
Jerry Vansickel is the general manager and has been in charge of keeping things moving for the last few years.
The man who holds the track contract, Toby Kruse, is also involved with 141 Speedway in Maribel, Wis., and both venues seem to follow the Kruse Theory. That is a track gets 75 minutes for every 50 cars. A hundred cars means 2 1/2 hours to run the show from the time the first heat comes on the track until the final checkered flag waves.
Sprint cars and midgets do not race at Marshalltown, so no there is no push starting. Maybe someday Kruse Theory No. 2 will include a formula for open-wheel divisions.
Vansickel looks at the importance of efficiency of a program, stating, “I don’t want to be here any longer than an average race fan because I am an average race fan.
“We make sure the minute we can send the next race to the track we send it and do not take unnecessary parade laps,” he continued. “Scorers are quick on getting them realigned if a yellow is needed. The racers know we keep the show moving so they do their part to keep it going.”
Keeping it going was clearly the focus on April 4 when Marshalltown raced 196 entries in five divisions. That meant the track had 4.9 hours for the show, using the Kruse Theory. Vansickel and his staff completed the entire show in 3.5 hours.
Being efficient seems to be the way at Iowa tracks. Maybe it is one reason Iowa has been labeled by some as the “racing-est state.”
Drivers at Marshalltown know waiting for them if they are not in line won’t happen. If running two divisions then some consideration would be given. Main events order is based on the type of car and what they do to the track. Sport compacts might be raced before stock cars because the little tires help bring back some moisture.
All races — heats, B mains, and A mains — have a one-minute-per-lap rule. That can be a huge help in keeping the show moving. There is also a one-and-done rule for heat races and B mains. Involved in one yellow and that car is done for that race except in the A main drivers are done after two yellows.
“We strive for consistency and efficiency,” Vansickel noted, “and put on a program with a sense of urgency. Always have to think rain is coming and run our program like it is going to rain. There really isn’t anything I could do differently to keep the show moving.”
Sprint car driver Andy Forsberg has been racing quite a few years, enough to earn 28 championships. He sees things changing in California in terms of what the fans want at the race track.
“Today’s crowd does not want to sit through a six-hour program but want 2 1/2 or 3 hours,” Forsberg stated.
“California lost their diehard fan base and are tapping into a new audience. The new fan base wants a short program,” he continued. “I have a lot of people who come into my business and see the pictures and I get some of them to go. When I see them later and ask them how they liked it, they said they did, but they left at nine.
“The casual fan does not know what they are getting into as to finish time. Common sense should be in charge.”
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