Fan Appreciation night kicks off Hy-Miler Nationals

By JOE GILROYSpecial to the RegisterSANDUSKY — This weekend marks the 39th annual Hy-Miler Supermodified Nationals at Sandusky Speedway — and things kicked off on Thursday with the annual fan appreciation night.It's a night where track owners Kevin and Bev Jaycox get to say thank you to all those who come out and watch the races — as well as welcome in new fans to the facility. The hope behind the promotion is to introduce new fans to the sport while making it an affordable evening for a family."We added the third day 12 years ago," Kevin Jaycox said. "The thought behind it was to get more people interested in racing and to reward our loyal fans with a fun and affordable evening of competitive racing."Find more photos from the evening here.In the dozen years since the Jaycox's started the $1 general admission night, they have seen tremendous growth."We now have campers setting up their sites on Monday and Tuesday and staying all week," Jaycox said. "We started this thing out at just 550 fans in that first year and have grown it to 1,600-plus last year. My personal goal is to break 2,000 tonight."Tamara Baliles, of Port Clinton comes every weekend to watch her boyfriend, Rich 'Never Lift' Clemm race."I moved here from Georgia last year and met Rich and have been coming ever since." Baliles said. "The dollar night is awesome, I wish they did it more. It brings out a lot people who normally don't come. It's just a great atmosphere when the stands are full."Jillian Jacomet and her family came all the way from Dobbins, Calif, to take in Thursday's action."We decided to travel across the country this summer," said Jillian, an elementary school teacher. "We were on our way back from Niagara Falls, where we ran into a nice couple who had just came from Cedar Point, and after hearing how much fun it is we decided to come to Sandusky."Jacomet and her husband planned to take their two teenage daughters to the amusement park Friday morning."Then someone in line at Kroger was talking about the dollar races, and here we are," Jacomet laughed.Thursday night featured drivers of all ages and experience levels, ranging from 30-year veterans to young adults under the age of 20. One such teenager is Collin Penn, who placed second in his class last year and won Rookie of the Year last year and three feature races."This is the second time out here this year, and the first time we didn't fare so well, so we're looking to improve tonight." Penn said, "I race primarily in Lorain County, but I really like this track because of the speed and the car usually comes out in pretty good shape."Representing the old guard is Jeff Karl, who has been racing for 26 years, mostly at the Sandusky Speedway."It's a nice, competitive half-mile, in our division alone we have six cars that usually come within a half-second of one another."For Karl, it's a family business, as his sons and brother both drive in his division. He has fond memories of the track."I have won four championships and my boys have won another four. But if we're running neck and neck, I'll put a fender in him if I have to," Karl joked.Dennis Haynes has been enjoying the track ever since 1968 when he was brought along by a driver to help with the car."That first time I heard the roar of the engines and seen those cars fly down the track I was instantly hooked." Haynes said. "You can tell who has been here a long time by the location of their camp sites. I have mine in the very front right by the ticket booth and entrance, that's how you can tell I have high seniority here. The Jaycox's really take care of their customers, and especially us old timers."Haynes also likes the atmosphere of the event. The drivers all know him and many of them stop by his site to share a cold water and to eat some of his famous chicken he grills."Oh yeah, Saturday I will be grilling over a hundred chicken quarters to share with those around me," Haynes said. "We are like family and have been camping out at the same spots for years. I share my food and drinks with whomever wants to stop by and visit."Haynes said he successfully predicted the winner 12 years straight, and mother nature ended his streak when the weather was too bad to run the event. He'll give another yearly prediction on Saturday."If you watch the Mods enough, you start to learn which cars are going to be strong and which ones won't," Haynes said. "I have been watching these things so long that I don't get fooled often."Fans and drivers mingle during an autograph session leading up to the feature races at the Hy-Miler Nationals at Sandusky Speedway on Thursday.During an autograph session before the feature race, Mason Leedy, 1, sits in a seat of one of the cars while his sister, Kensley, 7, watches on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at the Hy-Miler Nationals at the Sandusky Speedway. Kelly Lilie races her hobby stock car during the first evening of the 39th Hy-Miler Nationals on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at the Sandusky Speedway.Preparing for a qualifying run at the Hy-Miler Nationals on Thursday, Joe Borcsuch fastens his helmet in the pit of the Sandusky Speedway. The green flag is waved during a Thursday evening race at the Sandusky Speedway for day one of the Hy-Miler Nationals. Rich Walcher records the stagger of Jeff Karl's car before qualifiers at the Hy-Miler Nationals on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at Sandusky Speedway.