The Queensland family has owned and operated the track since 2002, according to the Deer Creek Speedway website.
The Post Bulletin reported that the Queensland will continue to run the track until it is sold. So it won’t sit idle by any means with the USMTS Fall Jamboree, the Gopher 50 late model special and the Harris Clash on the docket for another busy summer at the 3/8-mile oval.
I admit it. I love the place. It is my favorite modified track ever. It is one of the most well-run tracks I’ve been to — and each night I’ve been there, Randy Queensland, the owner has stood by the exit gate thanking fans for coming. That isn’t a big deal to some people but to me it’s a nice gesture.
Two of the best performances I’ve ever seen in a modified were at Deer Creek. One was in 2008, when Rochester driver Tim Donlinger wrapped up his first USMTS championship with a big-time win at Deer Creek’s Fall Jamboree. Donlinger started 12th in his B main, won it, and then started 19th on the A feature starting grid and put on a driving display I’ve never seen equaled in a modified, working his way to the front to win the feature and USMTS title. One of the best driving jobs I’ve ever seen.
A few years later, Brad Waits of Rochester — driving 2007 Skyrocet with just a number 24 on it and no graphics — held off Iowa driver Ryan Gustin — who was pretty much unbeatable in USMTS racing at that time — to win the $20,000 to win World Modified Dirt Track Championship. Waits had to be flawless and drove a perfect race. It also proved that a graphic/paint scheme doesn’t win the race, too.
Southeast Minnesota has produced some of the best modified talent in the state of Minnesota over the years. Mark Noble, Tommy Myer, Donlinger, Waits, Mike Sorensen and Bob Time are some of the big time talent that has come from the region. And now, you have younger drivers like Jake Timm, Lucas Schott, Jason Cummins, Dustin Sorenson and Jacob Blees who have emerged as top contenders.
The impression I got from the Post Bulletin article is that the Queensland family doesn’t think the property will sell overnight, and that the process to sell it will take time. In the meantime they will run the place like they always have and that is great news for fans.
Compare that to the clown show that Huset’s Speedway, or Badlands, or whatever it is called. The historic sprint car track near Brandon, S.D., is still idle and for sale, badly overpriced and sadly wasting away. I think the Queensland family will make sure that doesn’t happen at Deer Creek.
Notes
—Congrats to Tyler Peterson of Hickson for winning the modified finale at the Wild West Shootout in Arizona. This came a night after he had to settle for second after receiving a nudge in turn four from Matt Leer of Bruce, Wis. and was edged at the finish. On Sunday’s finale Dustin Strand of East Grand Forks, who had an excellent week, was third.
—Fergus Falls driver Brock Gronwold was fourth in the X modified feature with Lucas Rodin of Marion, N.D., finishing fifth.
—Casey Arneson of Fargo won the finale of the IMCA Winter Nationals on Sunday at the Cocopah Speedway. Arneson won $1,222 for the win.
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