Sandusky Speedway picks up speed heading into Hy-Miler

PERKINS TWP. -- Sandusky Speedway owner Kevin Jaycox looks at the weather forecast and the weekend schedule at his track and smiles. "I'm hoping for a record all three days," "Thursday, Friday, Saturday can't be any better forecast." Hy-Miler Week is here, and the 45th annual feature is scheduled for Saturday night. The week began with go-kart racing last weekend and go-karts took over the half-mile paved track on Wednesday. Thursday is Dollar Night and features three stock car series. On Friday and Saturday, the International SuperModified Association is in the spotlight as the national series runs its Fast 40 on Friday and it's annual 100-lap feature on Saturday. Jaycox said ISMA has 22-25 cars ready to race this weekend. "Hopefully people will come out and support it and we'll make it bigger next year," he said. Jaycox has turned over promotion duties to his son Kevin Jr., who wants to add more events to Hy-Miler Week. "We've been trying to build a speedweek deal, seven-eight days of racing ending with the Hy-Miler," Jaycox said. "We're really close on that. Kevin is gonna add a couple more events next year. He put up a lot of money for go-kart racing. "He's done a real good job; really proud of him. He's done some great things already that have helped us a lot. He thinks a lot differently than me, which I'm sure is a good thing. I'm just really a maintenance guy and pay all the bills. Him and Chris Mize are pretty much running most of it." The Hy-Miler, which is always held the last full weekend in July, is the fifth race on ISMA's 10-race schedule. "They cut back. Every race track now is having tire issues. Nobody has them," Jaycox said. "Right now ISMA is sitting pretty good on tires to get through this weekend, but after that, who knows?" Mike Ordway Jr., from Windham, Maine, has won two of the four ISMA features this year, including a 60-lap event July 16 at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan. Trent Stephens is the series points leader, followed by Kyle Edwards, Ordway Jr., Otto Sitterly and Mike McVetta, who won last year's rain-shortened Hy-Miler finale at Sandusky. "The car's been good all year," said McVetta, who lives in Medina. "We hope what we learned last year (at Sandusky) will make us even stronger." Jaycox said all 138 campsites have sold out and a few overflow sites remain. There was plenty of activity at and around the track Wednesday. "We've made 10 more campsites, all the rest have been sold out," he said. "There's already go-karts in the pits, we've never had that this early." The speedway has seen some recent improvements, including a new concrete wall on the inside of the track on the front straightaway. "We've done numerous improvements the last two years," Jaycox said. "Business has been pretty decent so we've poured a lot of business into it. "Racing's tough right now for everybody with gas prices being where they are, but we've survived." The Zone Safety Modifieds also will race Saturday. The track's Renegade Stocks series also is on the schedule. Clayton Oliver from Malvern, Ohio, leads the Renegades point standings. Mikey Oldenburgh, from Cleveland, and Kenny Sharp, from Lorain, are second and third, respectively. "They deserve it. They've had great car counts all year and they're unbelievable shows," Jaycox said of the Renegades. "We wanted them to race in front of some huge crowds." ----- Hy-Miler Nationals Thursday Fan Appreciation Night — Stock car series, $1 admission and concessions. Racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday Fast 40 — ISMA Supermodifieds in 40-lap feature. Ohio Wheelman Series also races. Racing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday Hy-Miler finale — 100-lap ISMA feature. Also: Zone Safety Modifieds and Renegade Stock Series. Racing at 7.