When promoter of the
successful NEETS series, Billy Bartley, announced at their December
annual awards banquet that he was going to take them in a new direction
in 2007, he wasn't kidding. He took them North East to Bethel NY. The
Enduro series headed by Bartley has been home based at Mountain Speedway
in St. Johns, Pa. for the last 3 years. A few weeks ago Billy resigned
as Mountains' Co-Promoter due to some conflicts with the track promoter.
A move that would prove to be not also beneficial to Bartley but to
effect many race drivers and fans in eastern NY.
If you are up on current
events, you will have known about the closing threat of yet another
asphalt oval in the Northeast, the former Catskill Mountain Speedway.
Bartley heard about this and started checking into aquiring the 1/4 mile
oval. After many days of phone calls, emails and research, he has
realized this track needs to be saved. After talking to the land owners
about costs he was in need of some financial help, Billy asked in his
series internet forum for such help. Along comes Jason Makarewicz, late
Model driver and friend of Billys, offering his help. The two sat and
talked over a few days, worked up a deal, met the owners and are now
business partners in the newly named Bethel Motorsports Park. Both
parties are on the same page with where they want this track to go in
the future. Billy will be track promoter and Director of all racing
operations. Jason will be named track manager and take care of the day
to day operations and track business.
With a short term lease in the
beginning and option at the end for a longer term and improvement help,
their plans are to keep running the same basic divisions that were there
but with some rule massaging to fit surrounding track rules. More will
be announced in the future about this and what divisions it will affect.
BMP Mods, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, BMP STOX, BMP 4STOX and
BMP TRUX will be the main weekly/semi weekly divisions. A website (
www.bethelmotorsportspark.com ) will be up before the end of 2006
for all the information on these divisions and new rules.
A weekly racing schedule will
be forthcoming on the website with many special shows planned to make
the upcoming season exciting. Billy is now contacting and talking to
many invited division promoters. The weekly racing will take place on
Sunday afternoons throughout the season with some special events on
Saturdays. The Sunday racing is felt by both partners that it will be
beneficial. "Why butt heads with every Saturday night track in the
Northeast" quoted Bartley, when we have a day all to ourselves....the
rest of the weekend is free for our drivers to go to other tracks and
also the reverse.
Many people are very excited
about having Bethel Motorsports Park as the new home for the NEETS
enduro series. The series draws hundreds of cars from all over the
Northeast and beyond for each event. They will run their entire points
season here and also a few fun, non-points shows. This will be one small
part in putting this track back on the map.
Short term goals for Jason and Billy are to pick the place up, dust it
off, paint it and dress it up with signs, banners, etc. It MUST look
like a race track. I want a fan to come in our track and know he is at a
racing facility. We must purchase/aquire all needed equipment to operate
a speedway since we were left with a bare track. They must also know we
are here. Weekly advertising in AARN, more exposure and press will be
seen for 2007. A giant step forward for '07 will be the installation of
a new AMB computerized transponder scoring system. The absolute main
goal for this year is to have a great racing season for all....and have
fun.
With the success of the first
season, long term goals include before 2008 will be to widen the track
surface for better weekly racing action plus have divisions such as the
R.o.C Modifieds or True Value Mods showing up for a few dates.
We have many more goals and
will take them one at a time always trying to improve. The important
thing for now is there will continue to be racing at the facility. The
people are great and welcomed us with open arms and much offers of help.
We will do our best to make this the best it has ever been.
For any info on Bethel
Motorsports Park you can contact either Jason or Billy by email.
jason@macbrothersracing.com or
billyb@neetstour.net
Source: Billy
Bartley/Bethel Motorsports Park PR
Posted:
December 11, 2006