‘He’s the reason that this place is famous'

By David Hughes
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE May 02, 2008 12:15 am

— Only Mother Nature can stop them now.
Brian Dorsett, Davey Hamilton and Mike King, who combined to form DHK Promotions LLC in February, have probably been keeping their fingers crossed this week that the weather will cooperate when it’s time for their first race at the Terre Haute Action Track today.
The inaugural Clabber Girl “Don Smith Classic” presented by Indiana State University, a 30-lap feature sanctioned by the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series (MSCS), will be the first event to take place at the half-mile clay oval since May 19, 2007, when curfew restrictions forced an abrupt ending to the Tony Hulman Classic.
King said Thursday that Smith, the Action Track race organizer during its prime in the 1960s, will be introduced before tonight’s feature, take a ride around the track and present the trophy to the feature winner.
“He’s the reason that this place is famous,” King told the Tribune-Star. “All we want to do is honor him a bit by trying to turn this place back into what he made it. Our hope is that this race will do him justice for everything he’s done for racing.”
This also will be the first event of the season for the MSCS. Heat races will commence at 7 p.m., with the feature starting at about 9:30.
Twenty-four non-wing sprint cars and drivers will compete in the feature. Among the drivers expected to be on hand are 2007 series champion Kyle Cummins of Princeton and Robert Ballou, who won the MSCS’ final two events of 2007.
If the weather does not cooperate today, a rain date has been set for Sunday.
But King and track workers were taking steps Thursday to ensure top-quality racing conditions for today.
“The track looks beautiful,” King said. “The new [interior] walls are in. For fans who haven’t been here in a while, I think the changes will surprise them and please them. I just hope the weatherman cooperates.”
King, the radio voice of the Indianapolis 500, admits that this new endeavor in his life has been a challenge, but it’s a worthwhile challenge.
“It’s been hands-down the busiest 10 or 11 weeks of my life,” he said. “There’s no comparison. The anticipation of [the season opener] is what’s killing me.”
For more information on the track, go to its new Web site at www.theactiontrack.com.