POSTED 5-26-09 FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY ISSUES STATEMENT

A MESSAGE FROM TRACK PROMOTER DANNY DENSON (With quotes from Andy Johnson and Mark Day) I am so proud of the strides we have made and the things we have accomplished in a very short span of time at the Fairgrounds Speedway. This is without a doubt the greatest short track in America! We have so many exciting events on the horizon in 2009 with series' such as ASA, CRA, and Ken-Ten making an appearance later in the year. Our show this past weekend was an impressive night of competition on both tracks here at the Fairgrounds Speedway. I think it may have been the best show of the year to date. We now have new competitors in our Sportsman division, which is a big plus for the fans too. The Trucks are without a doubt the show the fans cannot wait to witness on the track with its non-stop action. In our Late Model division we feel we have some of the best racers in the country, but this past weekend short tempers gave way to dangerous actions by our current track champion Andy Johnson and former track champion Mark Day. The first 100 laps were exhilarating for the fans and the staff here at the track. The second leg of the action, the first 50 lap section, was also intense and eventful. But, the beginning of the last leg of the race, the second 50 laps, is where I have to draw the line as a respectable promoter. After the massive wreck on the track that virtually took out the entire field for a short while was not only an on-track melee, but it spilled over onto pit road. As the promoter of the Fairgrounds Speedway I will not tolerate drivers and/or their crews taking situations into their own hands and therefore endangering themselves, the pit crews, officials, and fans in the pit area. This has been an ongoing battle for several years between Johnson and Day, two of the best Late Model drivers in the country, but tempers flared past the acceptable stage on Saturday night. I fully understand the passion and talent these two drivers possess, but those attributes should be a deterrent to such behavior not a catalyst for a brawl to ensue. I have issued the following penalties against Johnson and Day: · Both drivers are disqualified from the event on Saturday, May 23 · Neither driver will receive points for the event · Neither driver will receive money for the event · Both drivers are suspended for one race · Andy Johnson is fined an additional $500 for his action on pit road as his actions could have resulted in severe injury or even death of a crew member, an official, or an innocent bystander in the pit area. Several other crew members from random teams will also be contacted and possibly fined or suspended for their involvement during the pit road clash. We are striving hard to make this track the premier destination for all racers. We want all racers to know this type of ill-advised conflict will not be tolerated and it will be penalized to the fullest at the Fairgrounds Speedway. I'm truly grateful for all the support we are receiving from the competitors and the community and I want to thank every one of them. THANK YOU! Sincerely, Danny Denson Fairgrounds Speedway Promoter Andy Johnson said, "I understand the penalties leveled against me. As far as the points and championship run I know I will have to come back after a week's suspension and win a lot of races." Mark Day said, "I guess I'll have to decide if I want to come back and race at the Fairgrounds Speedway anymore. It's something I'll have a week to think about and will make the best decision for me then."