High Point Motor Speedway (HPMS) project manager Dick Cutshaw asked the city council and county commissioners to hear from the public regarding the proposed drag strip, and presented the plans in a public meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23 to more than 100 citizens.

To begin the meeting, Cutshaw presented the joint councils with a petition that had been circulated for four days prior to the meeting. That petition had more than 450 signatures of supporters for the project.

Also attending the joint meeting was Ed Arcuri , owner of Rocky Mountain Super Chargers. Arcuri offered support to Kimball by way of providing entertainment at the drag strip once it is built.

Also present to support Kimball and HPMS were managers from the drag strips in Julesburg Colo. and Douglas Wyo.

Cutshaw encouraged commissioners, council, and citizens to look at this as an opportunity to make Kimball a destination center and see the project as a way to entice visitors to the area.

“Make an investment opportunity,” Cutshaw urged.

Following the presentation, Mayor James Schnell addressed the public, stating that a question and answer period would be given.

Council member Kim Baliman questioned the cost of fuel and what effect it might have on the industry as well as the impact on racing centers.

Cutshaw explained that while fuel costs were rising, the sport has countered the cost by making the norm a two-day event. This offsets the cost of fuel, but adds lodging expenses.

The added benefit to Kimball would be the racer’s need for lodging, groceries, and amenities after the races on the first night.

Owner of the Wooden Keg, Ken Heng, asked Cutshaw who owned the land and how the joint boards would go about paying for the land if they take the proposed track over.

Cutshaw explained that there is currently a 50 year non-transferrable lease on the land for HPMS and that a new lease would be needed.

Sterling Huff, land owner and attorney, said that as a land owner he would be willing to work with the boards. Currently the lease amount is 15 percent of the gate fees.

Commissioner Larry Brower pointed out that the lease may be a certain amount per month, and that the same amount may actually be enough to purchase the land outright.

Business owner Marilyn Petterson also pointed out that if the city or county bought the land, it would then be taken off the tax rolls.

Schnell offered to look into the legalities of it and stated that if the boards further considered the proposal it would have to be investigated anyway.

The project would generate revenue and may therefore be expected to pay taxes, according to council president, Scott Haun.

Carol Brown showed concern for direct competition, asking what the managers from nearby tracks thought of the project.

According to Cutshaw, building the drag strip here would likely put Julesburg and Douglas out of business. He further stated that Bandimere would consider Kimball’s strip competition.

Many citizens questioned how Kimball could attract such a number of competitors. More than a dozen racers from surrounding areas and Kimball all showed support, raising their hands when Kimball resident Shannon Klemt asked for a count of racers in the room.

Former Mayor Greg Dinges, fire chief Rick Wynne, business owner Kathy Porter, and Kimball county resident Jessica Hanson all explained that this is a pricey sport. They all said that when they leave Kimball to race they take a weekend budget of more than $1000.

Advocating the growth this project may bring, Porter said, “I think the drag strip will bring in more businesses to Kimball.”

Dinges supported the character of racers in general, saying it is an expensive sport, the owners take pride in their cars and enjoy doing so.

Not only do the racers come to the strip, but they take family and friends according to Wynne. Racing fans follow as well, where there is a race there are fans willing to travel to enjoy the sport.

“Racing families go together, if we race here our family does too,” Hanson added.

Another former Mayor, Shortie Kiefer, said racers go to tracks, no matter where they are. If they want to go, they go; if they want to do, they do.

Gary Anderson of Cheyenne was present at the meeting as a supporter of racing. Anderson said he watched Douglas Wyo. grow due to the track from the very beginning, and said Kimball could do the same thing.

Kimball resident Jonathan Selves said he left Kimball 18 years ago for the military, and he came back to nothing, a dying hometown. Kimball has passed too many opportunities up to other communities.