A proposal to shorten the Shawano Speedway was approved by one county committee Dec. 4 and forwarded to a second committee for consideration.
Members of the ag and extension committee agreed to the plan and will forward it to the public property committee for further review.
“This request has been vetted properly,” said Supervisor Joe Miller, chairman of the ag and extension committee.
He urged forwarding the issue to the public property committee to continue the process.
The Shawano Area Agricultural Society proposed shortening the Shawano Speedway from a half-mile to three-eighths of a mile. They believe a shorter track will attract more drivers and have a domino effect leading to more competition, more spectators, bigger purses, more concession sales and more revenue for the track.
A recent survey of 199 drivers (with 191 responding) indicated 57% favor a shorter track, 32% are opposed and 11% have no preference.
Also, a majority of drivers in all five divisions favored a shorter track.
Numbers for 2024 show the track lost $32,850, and in 2023, the track had a loss of $32,637. Numbers for 2025 are not yet available.
Supervisor Randy Young noted the several comments made on social media that better track management could fix the revenue problem and that a shorter track is not necessary.
Miller agreed.
“I think the fair board should stick to the fair, and you have a separate race committee,” he said.
Scott Breitrick, of the Shawano Area Agricultural Society, said there is a race committee, but new race director Stan Giese will form a new one for 2026. Giese inherited the existing committee when he took over as race director midway through the 2025 season.
Mike Thorne, who handles some public relations for the speedway, said many of the social media comments are from fans, not drivers.
“They’re not racing on that track,” he said. “I know how fans can get, but they’re not racing on that track.”
Alyce Welk, office manager for the track, added that many of the fan comments were from people outside of the area and the state.
“A lot of them … have never even been to our track,” she said. “I don’t know — for some reason, they feel they have to comment on it when they don’t even live around here.”
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
