Last weekend, the Lovelock Speedway had its first nights of racing in two years. On Friday, Heather Bonderer, from Battle Mountain, registered about 25 drivers at the pit gate while her son Eric, 4, played nearby. On Saturday night, everyone came back for more.
“It takes a lot of people to get a race going, including volunteers, officials, drivers and their pit crews,” said Bonderer. The spectators and racers enjoyed the balmy weather and almost-full, red moon. Drivers from Susanville, Fallon, Winnemucca, Silver Springs and Lovelock raced in the season-openers.
New owners Bob and Crystal Conley of Silver Springs have reopened the quarter-mile clay track 97 miles east of Reno on I-80. On Saturday, the Conleys celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary at the Lovelock Speedway Silver State Racing Track.
Both days, Steve Evenson broadcast the races on Facebook live. His twin daughters, Ainsleigh and Mallory, 14, raced their mini-stocks side by side.
“It was Mallory’s first time in that car, and Ains got faster every lap. I could not be more pleased with both of them. What a confidence builder,” he said after their races, one of which ended with almost everyone spinning out, including the twins.
“It’s a beautiful track, a beautiful setting. Even with this hazy smoke, you’ve got a great view of the town from out here; out at the tufa rocks,” he added.
The track’s divisions include carbureted, Chevrolet Performance 602 sprint cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA sport mods, Bootleggers and Gen X (front-wheel-drive four-cylinders). Over the weekend, there were six to eight cars in each group. The spectator section was light but enthusiastic.
Up until the last minute, Crystal Conley searched for help at the concession stand. Volunteers get a meal and free admission. The track runs on a shoestring budget and needs community support to survive.
“Payouts are paid off back gate only,” she says. “The track is a nonprofit. We can only do what we can. We’re hopeful that sponsors will come forward and help bring the payouts up.”
Joe Keough of Fallon raced a recycled Lovelock hearse in the Bootlegger class. He had help from his fiancee Jessica Johnson, John Minor (K & M Tires) and Kenny Snatiuk. Five-year-old best friends Jaxon Minor and Abel Johnson cavorted nearby.
It was Kaity Sample’s first time on the Lovelock track, although she remembers racing her go-kart on the speedway 12 years ago. Her brother, Cory Sample, ‘the King of the Wild West,’ had to work, so Kaity came from Winnemucca to represent the racing family. She is in her rookie season and plans to hit the track as much as possible in Northern Nevada.
Saturday night, the Conleys celebrated a personal milestone. “We are spending our anniversary at the track doing what we love with many new friends,” said Crystal Conley. “My husband has always wanted a track and when this one became available, nothing was going to stop him. He was a man on a mission.”
“Hopefully, every race, we grow in numbers, and we can update to make it more comfortable for the spectators,” she said. “We have high hopes for the future of the track.”
Official results were not available at press time. The next races are on Aug. 6 and 7 during Frontier Days. The season continues into the fall, with events on Sept. 10-11 and Oct. 1-2.
Admission costs $10 for people aged 13 and up. Seniors and military pay $5. Children five and under attend for free.
