NickHolt Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 Major changes coming to Houston Motorsports Park in 2015 Houston, TX (October 27, 2014) -This past Saturday night, 10/25/2014, marked the conclusion of the 2014 NASCAR stock car racing season at Houston Motorsports Park, and only a few drag races still remain on the 2014 HMP drag strip schedule. As the track gets ready for the off season, plans are already being made for the 2015 season, and beyond. With the departure of John and Sarah Mandabach earlier this season, the corporate structure and operational management seemed uncertain, but that has all been successfully resolved. Over the past several weeks the Baker family has been in negotiations with an investment group to purchase the property as well as the business known as Houston Motorsports Park. The parties are in the final stages of the acquisition and transaction and the future of both the oval track the drag strip at Houston Motorsports Park have never looked better. As part of the investment group's purchase there will be a board of directors that will include Graham Baker, Jim Beasley, Doug Siemonsma, and Tracy Trotter. Graham Baker will serve as Vice President of HMP and Dean Baker will remain as the drag strip's general manager. Additional staff will be announced shortly. At the drag strip all of the classes will remain in 2015 including X275, Ultra Street, 5.80 & 7.0 Index Drag Racing, Grudge Racing and the Friday Night drags. Likewise, the oval track will continue to run the Bandoleros, Legends, Eco Stocks, AMCAR, NASCAR Trucks, and Modifieds as well as some other exciting racing. In addition to the racing we are considering concerts, festivals and other family fun events. More announcements will be coming as plans are firmed up. The Baker family and the Investment Group want to assure the racers, fans and sponsors that the racing at Houston Motorsports Park will be bigger and better than ever. The future of racing at HMP looks bright indeed. The Baker family wishes to thank all the racers, fans and sponsors for the past 12 years that have made HMP the premier regional racing facility in Texas, if not the Southwest, and to ask for your patience while this transaction and transition is being completed. On a more personal note, for all of us who have know and supported Graham during his struggles with his health over the past several weeks, our prayers were dramatically answered this past weekend as the drivers tried to catch Graham in the black 2014 Chevrolet Camaro pace car as the fans cheered for both Graham and the competitors. Graham was back and doing what he loves to do. Finally, we will have a 2014 Awards banquet as always. And as for 2015, you can look forward to many more announcements. We will see you at the races at Houston Motorsports Park in 2015! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engine32ladder Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 Could this mean the return of late models and stock cars full time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer61 Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 Depends on the rules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodneyRodriguez Posted October 28, 2014 Report Share Posted October 28, 2014 great to hear thing keep on keeping on. got to chat with Mr. Baker on Saturday a little bit and certainly send thoughts and prayers to the family for his recovery most importantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiTech Posted October 29, 2014 Report Share Posted October 29, 2014 LOOKS LIKE THIS TRACK IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ...HOPE ALL TRACKS FOLLOW SUIT ......RACING IS NOT DEAD AND TRACKS ALONG WITH TEAMS CAN GET IT BACK IN FULL SWING ...GOING TO TAKE TIME MONEY AND UNDERSTANDING FROM ALL SIDES ....HMP LOOKS TO BE THE LEADER HERE ..ALONG WITH CTS AND SOME DIRT TRACKS ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCloser Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 My question is who's excited for TALMS to return in 2015? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiTech Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 love to go to hmp .but the only way ill ever get the time to go is if tps gets a race there ...those drivers and us are just itching to race there ...and have been for years ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
top_shelf_12 Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Would be nice to bring the pure stock up but schedules just haven't matched up for me personally, I'd even run with AMCAR if I had the time to come up one weekend with all the family I have in Houston, it would be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abel64 Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 I would have to agree with that Mike. But only run pure stocks instead, they would bring a bigger crowd I would think. But either way a good job by all and a great facility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.j.&s.racing Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 talked to mr. baker for awhile the people there made us feel welcome. good job to all involved.we had fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Harris Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 I Wish that they did away with the most Expensive Stock Car / AMCAR that NO-One can Afford and bring back the TRUE ProStocks that the Fans Really Love to watch instead these type cars that someone can tell who's going to Win each or every Race, AMCAR will run every one off but a few and the Class will only have 2 or 3 cars running for car count ! Nice way to Kill a Class Completely, Please use Your Heads and Don't let Drivers and Hi-Dollar Owners Dictate what Classes that Run at Your Track, They will Empty Your Pockets with NO Car Count !!! Something to Think About HMP for 2015 Season ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radracr Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 I Wish that they did away with the most Expensive Stock Car / AMCAR that NO-One can Afford and bring back the TRUE ProStocks that the Fans Really Love to watch instead these type cars that someone can tell who's going to Win each or every Race, AMCAR will run every one off but a few and the Class will only have 2 or 3 cars running for car count ! Nice way to Kill a Class Completely, Please use Your Heads and Don't let Drivers and Hi-Dollar Owners Dictate what Classes that Run at Your Track, They will Empty Your Pockets with NO Car Count !!! Something to Think About HMP for 2015 Season ! Del, it was made clear that the AMCAR class was here to stay…as a racer, it hit me in a big way…I have a car now that for-all-intents-and-purposes is scrap metal…yet it holds the track record…(anyone who was running a metric frame at least has a starting point and already spent some $$) so, I quit sniveling and bought a truck…I don't like the truck but I have to make it work…the truck class, like the modifieds and even the Ecos are mature classes…they have demonstrated that they can pull good car counts and race at other tracks…THAT is the key…the track is a business and since I haven't seen any signs that indicate it is a non-profit organization I'd say it has to sustain itself by making good decisions…unless we're listed on HMPs Board of Directors I'd say that we have to let them put their heads together so that the track stays open and continues to run classes…(from the names I've seen I'd say they have a good starting point) the other side is that they have to be careful not to run too many classes…I think that would be a bad thing…they have to strike that balance… I do believe that this is a good thing…they have sorta hit the reset button... I would have to agree on the cost of the AMCAR. WIth the economy the way it is that may be the single most relevant issue. If things were blowing and going and money was easy to come by it might not be such a big deal. But that's not the case. I for one have never been a 'spec racer'. Unfortunately I was forced into it by buying a truck. (It's what I liked about my car - no 'spec' about it.) Perhaps a couple of 'runwhatchabrung' races might soothe the old school guys. (I used to love watching a '57 Chevy compete heads up with basically an AMCAR - aftermarket body on a highly fabricated stock-appearing frame.) With any luck we'll get a glimpse of what the 'new' HMP is going to look like in the next week or so. When I first started racing we always qualified, ran trophy dashes, heats and mains. If you qualified fast you were guaranteed to start in the back. And sand-baggers were caught. We also ran our 'big' race at the end of year. This allowed you to tune your car all year to get it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.j.&s.racing Posted November 1, 2014 Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 Houston is blowing and going.they have more sponsers at that track then ive seen at any other. sponsers help pay the purse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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