77 YO Historic Short Track’s Dreams Come Short Despite Owner Shift Makes Progress

Short track racing hooks fans with its raw, close-quarters action, where drivers battle wheel-to-wheel on tight ovals. But sadly, ‘short tracks are dying, and eventually, it will kill NASCAR.’ Well, that’s what some fans like to believe. But, in words of Jeff Gordon, “The road courses are the new short track. And we all know we need more short tracks on the circuit.” This season’s Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium showed this charm in full force, when fans camped outside the track before the race began. At just a quarter-mile long, it packed grandstands with rowdy crowds watching cars scrape and shove through turns.

But the recent closing of the iconic short track Irwindale Speedway really has got people thinking. The short layout, unlike sprawling superspeedway, keeps racers bunched up, ensuring constant passing and chaos. It’s gritty, loud, and a pure nod to NASCAR roots. But, is the sport preserving its own places of popularity? Let’s understand it through a track whose owners are trying to make it a big thing, but lack adequate support.

New owners want to make Slinger Nationals ‘grand’

Last year, the 45th ‘Annual Slinger Nationals’ kicked off at the 77-year-old Slinger Super Speedway on July 9, 2024, delivering a 200-lap Super Late Model showdown. Andrew Morrissey crossed the finish line first, but a post-race inspection disqualifies him for failing the front roof height check, handing the win to Brad Mueller. Mueller, Derek Thorn, Derek Kraus, Steve Apel, and R.J. Braun round out the top five spots in the unofficial results posted by Racing America.

“New Slinger Speedway track owners hire UARA and Ricky Brooks to oversee technical inspection for prestigious Slinger Nationals; race remains unsanctioned,” Matt Weaver posted on X. UARA helps with officiating to keep the Super Late Model race fair. But, this disengagement raised many questions. “The Slinger Nationals has long been regarded as one of the top short track events in the country,” Racing America published, noting its $15,000 prize.

Brooks runs Cordele Motor Speedway. And, the man doubles down as UARA’s series tech lead, but no sanctioning body has joined him yet. As the track was preparing to host the Jerry “Bear” Priesgen Memorial race on April 27 this year, owners Todd and Elizabeth Thelen declared that the track had been sold to a new set of owners on February 24. But, there were no actual whereabouts of the new owner until now.

The Wisconsin track wants to grow under new owners but doesn’t fully qualify to host the 46th Slinger Nationals on July 8-9, 2025. But, by divine intervention, March 5, 2025 saw Travis and Kelsey Dassow bought the track from the Thelens, aiming to keep its history alive.

“We believe change brings fresh perspectives and new opportunities,” Kelsey Dassow said on social media. They tried to make the Nationals a nationally sanctioned race but failed. Thelen sold to the Dassows who are local racers like him. “Travis and I have had the passion for racing since we were young,” Kelsey said. They keep the 2025 schedule, including the Nationals and an ASA STARS race on June 15.  The Nationals stay big but unsanctioned, missing a past chance with STARS from 2023.

Earlier in 2020, NASCAR Truck series champion of 2024, Ty Majeski clocked the fastest lap at 11.384 seconds. NASCAR stars Ryan Preece, William Byron, and Erik Jones joined the track at different points of time, with Preece starting strong in his Slinger debut for Kevin Harvick Inc in 2024.

All these events, streamed live on RacingAmerica.tv, drew top Midwest talent to the quarter-mile oval, known for its high banks and fierce competition. The track has seen stories that might never have made it to fans. Mueller’s victory marked his first Slinger Nationals win after years of trying in 2024, while Morrissey’s DQ stirred debate. The night also featured the Uptown Motorcars’ Late Models, with Jacob Nottestad topping that 40-lap race. Slinger Nationals remains a key stop in short track racing and may it never go away.

UARA stepped up later. An insider added, “From what I’ve been told, everyone seems excited to work with Ricky Brooks and his group,”. Slinger, racing since 1948, sees champs like Dick Trickle too. The Dassows pushed the track forward to make dreams of many racers come true, but their dream of a sanctioned Nationals hasn’t happened yet.

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NASCAR Tackles Short Track Woes with Next Gen Tweaks

NASCAR fans once hailed Bristol and Martinsville as the best racing spots, where tight half-mile tracks delivered fender-banging action and drama. That changed with the 2022 Next Gen car debut. Now, fans point to Kansas or Charlotte for excitement, often griping about short tracks losing their edge. NASCAR notices the shift. While the Next Gen boosts intermediate tracks, it dims the thrill at these venues, which are the roots of the sport’s regional past. Officials aim to fix this.

Last fall, Brandon Thomas, NASCAR’s VP of vehicle design, admitted, “I don’t know how to fix this yet,” but has vowed to investigate. A December test at Phoenix Raceway tries tweaks, landing on one big change for 2024: shrinking the car’s undertray on short tracks and road courses. Less downforce should let drivers slide and pass more. John Probst, chief racing development officer, says, “A competitive race and an entertaining race weren’t always the same,” noting fans crave lead changes over top-15 passes.

The fix faces hurdles. Low speeds at short tracks blunt aero changes, and David Wilson of Toyota Racing Development says, “There is no silver bullet.” Drivers blame gearboxes, slow-wearing tires, and 670-hp engines, which is down from past highs. More power could help passing, they argue, but reliable engines save teams millions. Wilson added, “If the consensus is we need to put the power back up, then we’re on board,” though balance is tricky.

Ford’s Richard Johns predicts, “It’ll probably take another iteration or two” to match old racing quality. NASCAR keeps pushing. Probst insists, “We’ll try again” if needed. The Next Gen evolves, chasing great racing everywhere, but short tracks remain a tough puzzle.