Denton Dragway under new management

[RedHeartbeat]

Copied from an Email from the track management...

March 5, 2007

To New and Returning Racers, Families, Friends and Motorsports Enthusiasts, The DRAGWAY and its Entire Staff Extend a Warm Welcome for Another Exciting Year of Drag Racing action at North Texas' Premier Dragstrip. Effective with 2007 racing season the DRAGWAY will be under New Management and anticipated New Ownership, by March 7th. Mr. Mitch W. Muse will be the Dragway's New General Manager and can be contacted at mwmuse@dentondragway.com. Mr. Muse has been involved in the Motorsports Industry for over 40 years specializing in the Winston World Championship Series and Top Fuel Dragsters. With his ‘‘fan-friendly’’ approach and ability to run fast paced racing programs "Mitch" is the most qualified and excellent candidate for this position. I am confident that the entire Drag Racing Community will extend there very best wishes and support to "Mitch".

The 2007 season will include Test & Tune, Midnight Madness, Texas King of the Hill, SouthWest Super-Chargers, Jr. Dragsters, Bracket and Motorcycle Racing.

THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE SO COME ON OUT!!

Here is what is scheduled at the

DRAGWAY this week:
FRIDAY NIGHT MARCH 9th....COME OUT FOR TEST & TUNE AND MIDNIGHT MADNESS. GATES OPEN AT 7PM. ADMISSION IS $10 PLUS $5 FOR A TECH CARD TO RACE. RACE UNTIL 1AM. MIDNIGHT MADNESS 11PM TO 1AM. $10 TO RACE OR WATCH!!



UPCOMING EVENTS:

March 31st: Texas King of the Hill. (Gates open at 6PM).



April 7th: SouthWest Super-Chargers. (Gates open at 6PM).




See you at the track!
Mitch W. Muse

&

Jack M. Ciarletta

[Chevy366]

1/4 or 1/8 mile track ?

[RedHeartbeat]

1/8th. I hope it gets sold because the only reason it hasn't been expanded to 1/4mile is the people that own the land to expand it hate the current owners, is what I have been told.

[outlaw_king]

the the screwed up part is that jack is still envolved with it which means that even though he sold it or better yet it was sold at auction cause he owed back taxes, penalties and had several liens on it. i will post up some other information about it soon. jack does not know how to run a track that is obvious by how pourly the KOTH and other events are run... Its new name is Supposed to be Northstar Raceway...

this is posted on one of the Area's fastest outlaw organizations boards...

I spoke with some key players today regarding the sticky situation surrounding the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and impending sale of the "dragstrip in Denton." I want to provide this information to you, the racers, so you can make your opinions known to the world.

Just to recap for anyone that hasn't heard, Jack Ciarletta was granted a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy status for Denton Dragway/Dragway Management, LTD. almost two weeks ago. The property was placed in care of a bankruptcy court trustee named Chris Moser. He is charged with executing the sale of the property to satisfy the creditors of the facility. It is the sole responsibility of the court to see that the property is sold to pay off the debts against it.

There is a mortgage of $670,000, a mortgage pre-payment penalty of $80,000 (which means a payment to the bank holding the lien in the event of early pay-off of the loan), and approximately $3000-$4000 in back taxes owed to Denton County. The total amount needed to satisfy the creditors would be approximately $754,000. The last time I spoke with Chris Moser he was still looking for verification on two other alleged liens against the facility. The first was $50,000 owed to a paver for concrete/asphalt work. The second is $130,000 that was allegedly financed in 2004 by a family member for the aluminum bleachers on the pit side. Neither of those liens had yet to be verified and documented. There are no other outstanding debts associated with the facility.

What has transpired since Wednesday, February 28 is potentially the death-nail to the racing venue. Jack Ciarletta somehow convinced a financier to agree to bid $1,250,000 for the facility, pay Jack $200,000 directly, and name Jack as the sole owner of the facility. This person, Richard Witkowski, has recently sold a local radio station he owned for $12 million. Mr. Witkowski has a son that has NO experience in the drag racing industry. Their little plan is for Jack Ciarletta to teach the younger Witkowski how to run/manage a drag racing facility.

There are 3-4 other parties involed with the potential purchase of the facility. All of them have either owned or managed successful drag racing venues in the past. Each of them has the financial fortitude to do the right things at that track...some even have the money in hand to beat the Ciarletta/Witkowski screw-job. But the more that has to be spent on the initial purchase will mean less than can be spent to give the region's racer and fans what they deserve.

Those are the facts as I know them. And, I contend that my sources are VERY close to the situation.

I don't know about you, but where does Jack Ciarletta get off thinking he can teach someone else how to run a racetrack? He did nothing but fail miserably in his reign of terror at the helm of Denton Dragway. Let's think back to some of the key points.


You need to stand up and be heard! I don't care if you are a died-in-the-wool Texas Raceway, Texas Motorplex, Redline Raceway, or some heads-up series participant/fan...this will affect you!! Denton Dragway is already in danger of being on the same level as Yellow Belly in terms of public perception and that hurts the other area tracks in ways you can't possibly imagine. Sponsors won't advertise at tracks, local communities won't support the events, insurance rates will go up (and your entry will, too), and we'll all suffer.

[RedHeartbeat]

I've been going there for four years and it's not the best track but it beats the pants off of many I've been to. It's clean, has an easy access from the interstate and doesn't get overcrowded like some other tracks. It would be nice if it were a 1/4 mile track but that requires buying or leasing more land. Guys bitch about the track prep but I think it's more guys trying to run rock hard or crap tires causing issues. The professional racers don't seem to have troubles launching there. They need to be able to pay more track employees to work there because of the fools that bring their cars out there and do donuts and launch practices in the pits. I'd be tossing those fools out the gate rather than let them endanger the other racers, crews and spectators. All last year I saw numerous times that the track was vandalized, supposedly by Jack's ex-wife's new boyfriend and his hooligan buddies. Stolen timing equipment, busted computers, broken windows in the timing booth, cut cables going to the timing lights, hoses cut on the track compressor that ultimately lead to it burning up... I almost feel sorry for the guy on that crap. Hell, someone even sabatoged the ambulance that is parked at the track! Maybe with a new owner all the vandalism will stop.

[outlaw_king]

we shall see....

[RedHeartbeat]

FNG's latest post.


March 8 2007

Due to ongoing facility repairs and the chance for isolated T-storms the Dragway will be closed on March 9th. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused a look forward to seeing everyone next weekend.

FRIDAY NIGHT MARCH 16th....COME OUT FOR TEST & TUNE AND MIDNIGHT MADNESS. Gates open at 7PM. Admission is $10 plus $5 for a Tech. card to race. Race until 1AM. Midnight Madness 11PM to 1AM. $10 to race or watch!!

SATURDAY NIGHT March 17th....COME OUT for TEST & TUNE. Gates open at 6PM. Race until 12AM. Admission is $10 plus $5 for a Tech. card to race. Spectator admission (Walk into the pits) is $10.

March 31st: Texas King of the Hill. (Gates open at 6PM).



April 7th: SouthWest Super-Chargers. (Gates open at 6PM).




See you at the track!
Mitch W. Muse


This guys has his own drag racing assoc? http://vintagedrags.com/

[outlaw_king]

great news guys they had the meeting tonight at the track and from what i hear the J&J (jack and jason) show is GONE!!! and the owner seems to be really sincere about wanting it to be a great track and run the right way. so i am sure that it will take a little bit becuase we know that Rome was not built in a day but the new owner seems like he really cares about everything and everyone....