NickHolt Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel and the Lufkin Daily News have been doing some research into the Texas TracGroup and what they have discoved doesn't look good for the Austin-based group. Apparently one of the key players in the Texas TracGroup, Donald Teague, has a troubled criminal and financial past. Accoding to a copyrighted story by Robbie Goodrich in the Lufkin Daily News on Saturday, March 1, 2003, (Lufkin Daily News story by Robbie Goodrich) Teague has two felony convictions, has filed bankruptcy three times, was president of a corporation that filed bankruptcy and owes more than a quarter-million dollars to the IRS. A similar story detailing Teague's previous legal and financail woes was published in the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel on the same day ( Nacogdoches Daily Sentinal story by Robbie Goodrich) Another copyrighted story by Emily Taravella about the Texas TracGroup's woes appeared in the the Sunday, March 2, 2003 edition of the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel (Nacogdoches Daily Sentinal story by Emily Taravella). Tavavella contacted the development officers of Vernon, Sealy and Hillsboro and reported that each was apparently unaware of Teague's previous legal and financial woes and will be proceding in a "cautious" manner. Also in the Sunday (March 2, 2003) edition of the Lufkin Daily News ( Lufkin Daily News story by Robbie Goodrich) Robbie Goodrich reports that "an economic development specialist with the University of North Texas questioned the feasibility of constructing tracks in less-populated rural areas and whether or not the tracks could be successful running races only six days a year, as proposed by Texas TracGroup." Perhaps the strongest worded article about Teague appeared in the Sunday edition of the The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel. (Nacogdoches Daily Sentinal story asking for answers from Texas TracGroup). In this piece the The Sentinel comes right out and says, "To put it mildly, the folks behind Texas TracGroup have some explaining to do. " Until all the fact come out, no one should rush to judgement about this, but things don't look as promising as they once did for the Texas TracGroup. Nick Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 It will be interesting to see how all this plays out. It sure doesn't look real good at this point though. Kathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 After reading these stories I believe this Robbie Goodrich has it out for Teague and/or the rest of the Texas TracGroup. We have been skeptical but still have hope this thing survives. Seeing how much attention this guy and his "newspaper" are paying to this is pretty sad. If they pay this much attention to a guys troubled past I wonder how much attention they pay to a shooting or stabbing in their own area. I think Robbie Goodrich is the "Joe O'Brien" of the Nacogdoches. Those who live in CC should know who this is. He is an old man against any type of development in Corpus Christi and fights everything that will improve the city. Unfortunatly there is a very small group that have same ideas as him so everything good that comes to Corpus is put on a ballot. I bet you SAS and Austin guys have some people like that up there too. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted March 3, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 Daily newspapers are hesitant to print anything too negative about an individual or business. They don't like to end up on the wrong end of lawsuits. So, when a daily newspaper comes out strong, such as the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinal did in their Monday (March 2, 2003) edition, you can be sure there is something to the story. Some quotes from that story(http://www.dailysentinel.com/news/newsfd/a....5911.0649.html): "To put it mildly, the folks behind Texas TracGroup have some explaining to do." "...one of the key players, Donald R. Teague, has a checkered past, with multiple bankruptcies and two felony convictions. " "Also involved is Texas Strategic Consultants, LLC, of which Teague is listed as one of three associates. He and Michael Primrose are also the listed agents for Texas TracGroup. Neither company apparently has a physical location -- just a telephone number and a post office box." "The TSAR brochure (several times in the pamphlet the association is called the TSRA, which does not exactly inspire confidence) lists an Indianapolis firm as being in charge of track design and engineering -- even though a senior project manager for Fink Roberts & Petrie says there is no formal agreement. " "The brochure lists Engen Contracting as being in charge of site evaluation and construction management for $60 million in construction, but the owner says there is no formal contract. The company's primary focus at present is home building and remodeling." "Neither Primrose or Teague will reveal who the investors are in Texas TracGroup, or where the $60 million to build four tracks is going to come from. Given Teague's past, one has to be skeptical that this group has the resources to build much of anything." "Donald Teague calls himself a "strategic business engineer." That appears to be a term he created. He is not a licensed engineer. He apparentlynot (sic) have a college degree. He says his expertise comes from "35 years" of helping businesses grow. Yet, the record shows he has been a miserable failure in both his personal finances and in at least some of the companies he's been associated with. Just ask some of the farmers in Oklahoma and North Carolina who bought into his ostrich farm proposal. You'll get an earful." "Given Teague's past, it is a fair question to ask of Texas TracGroup why we should believe it has the resources to build four $15-million racetracks across Texas, when its "strategic business engineer" seems to have spent much of the past three decades going from one financial disaster to another." Strong stuff. Nick Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KELLY83 Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 Lets just hope TracGroup and Teague and the gang can do this and "show up" the reporters. Teague has already payed for or made arrangements to pay for his crimes. Best of luck to these guys in getting Texas some better tracks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FryarFan Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 The real shame here is that once this all shakes out, (and right now, if this information is correct it does not look as promising as it did last week), then the racing industry gets another black eye. It affects the group trying to put together the planned big track development in Houston, it hurts the credibility of the individuals who have worked so hard to make SAS, THR, CC, etc. tracks afloat and operational over the years(at zero or negative personal gain), and it affects every weekend racer who approaches someone to get a few sponsor dollars. The non-racing public will remember the bad apples, and not the numerous good apples in the racing orchard. Just my $.02 Billy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckLicata Posted March 4, 2003 Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 Hey gang!! Well, as usual, when there's a GOOD idea about racing, there always seems to be bad news that follows.. IN this instance, it's the articles about Donald Teague... Now, allow me my $.02, if you would.. I am doing work with the Texas TracGroup. Allow me to tell you--from PERSONAL experience--that the articles, while being mostly accurate, don't affect the Texas TracGroup. In short: Donald Teague is an independent contractor for the Texas TracGroup. His personal financial situation--of which many were YEARS ago and are either now settled or under settlement--have NOTHING to do with the current track-building set forth by the Texas TracGroup. Donald has no power in the group; he is completely independent from the group. Thus, his problems have no bearing on the present or future of the Texas TracGroup. And, to that end--the TracGroup has issued a statement to the media. If you check the aforementioned newspapers in the next day or so, they should be publishing that statement. In it, the TracGroup acknowledges that Donald was up-front with all his financial problems in the past, and that the TracGroup believes Donald is professional in his work. The TracGroup is keeping Donald on board to go forward with its track-building ventures. The bottom line from me, gang: This is a REAL venture. The articles published are just a speed-bump. There will be racing, via the TexasTracGroup, in 2005. Sincerely, Chuck Licata Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted March 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2003 Chuck, Just like in stock car racing, there's always two sides to every racing incident. Let's hope this is just a minor bump in the road, but I sense that it may be more like a roadblock at this point. One thing that gives me hope that Texas TracGroup is legitimate is that reputable people such as yourself and Wally Dallenbach are involved. I'm sure neither of you would intentionally get involved in something you would regret later. Keep us posted on the Texas TracGroup point of view, Chuck. Nick Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daffynmark Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 As I said before...That was an interesting article to say the least. Working in the PR, Media Relations and marketing area of a non-profit I know that you can present things in a good or bad light, depending on which side you are on. The same goes for surveys. Any survey can have the exact results the solicitor wants. It's all in the way the questions are asked. I think the article was very biased and wish Texas TracGroup the best of luck! I will be at the first race, no matter where in Texas it happens to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 me too daffy lets see 2005 WOW 2005 I will be an old man... Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted March 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Here is Texas TracGroup's response to the recent newspaper stories about Mr. Teague's background: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Austin, March 3rd - The articles regarding Texas TracGroup, LLC and Donald Teague, SBE (a contractor to Texas TracGroup, LLC) have been reviewed by this company. This is our response to those articles. Mr Teague acknowledges his transgression of 1974 in which he wrote 'hot checks' and for which he paid the penalty given him. Mr Teague also acknowledged his personal bankruptcy of 1989 due to his personal financial condition at that time brought about through a business relationship. The Texas TracGroup, LLC and Mr Teague strenuously find the article with regard to the 'farming' enterprise not only inappropriate but demonstrating a lack of research, questioning and informative writing. After doing research and conducting our investigation, we have found that, in every respect, Mr Teague performed his work with integrity, with diligence and with absolute competence - just as he has performed his work for this company. It is that work for which Mr Teague should have been judged - and not the failures of the companies in the performance of their responsibilities and obligations with others, i.e., farmers, the IRS, etc. Mr. Teague has been up front about everything concerning his past with us and we're satisfied that he has been honest with us in every matter. We trust Mr. Teague to the fullest and again state that we have the highest regard for Mr. Teague as a contractor for the Texas TracGroup. His ability to research and study and apply vision to his work is beyond the competence of most people who claim to be planners. This company supports Mr Teague's work and will retain him in the capacity for which he has been contracted. This company intends to move forward with its development of Motor Speedways in the communities which it has identified. As of Monday, March 3, 2003, we consider this matter closed and we will have no further comment to make about this matter. Michael Primrose LLC Member Manager Texas TracGroup, LLC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandit Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Who is Michael Primrose? I don't know much about him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daffynmark Posted March 5, 2003 Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Just got back into town. The Waco Tribune-Herald has picked up the story now. They reprinted the story from the Daily Sentinel. It's a shame people can't think positive. Everyone has a past. And everyone has something they regret doing. At least Mr. Teague admits his faults and doesn't hide them. Again, best of luck to Texas TracGroup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted March 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2003 Bandit, To answer your question, Michael Primrose is listed as an "Associate" with the Texas Strategic Consultants, LLC based in Austin. Their address is listed as a Post Office Box in Austin. The Texas Strategic Consultants website (http://www.texstrat.com/index.htm) says this about Mr. Primrose. "Michael Primrose Michael has held technical and management positions in the high tech industry at Texas Instruments and Motorola. He has worked with local health-benefits administrator, assessing their operations and developing plans to became compliant with the Health Insurance Portobility and Accountability Act. He holds an A.A.S. degree in Electrical Technology, B.A.A.S. degree in General Business, and MBA in Finance." Also listed on the same website as an "Associate" for Texas Strategic Consultants, LLC, is Donald Teague. Mr. Teague is the person who reportedly has a troubled financial and legal history. Here is his bio information from the Texas Strategic Consultants, LLC, website: "Donald Teague Donal (sic) has assessed, planned and engineered small businesses for 35 years. His specialty work has been extensive including services to businesses in the aicraft manufactuting, pharmaceutical and auto racing industry. He is founder of the S.B.E. Certification Program and he is a member of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Small Business United of Texas and the America Mangement Association." Both are also associated with the Texas TracGroup. In his recent news release, Mr. Primrose identified Mr. Teague as "a contractor to Texas TracGroup, LLC." while Mr. Primrose has been identified in news articles as "member manager" of Texas TracGroup. In one news story Mr. Primrose said his duties for Texas TracGroup include writing the checks and making sure everything is in line. You can read a recent story by Robbie Goodrich that attempts to explain who both Mr. Teague and Mr. Primrose are, as well as their releatoinship to each other, in the Lufkin Daily newsLufkin Daily News . Nick Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmracer Posted September 14, 2003 Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 Has anyone ever heard of a group called Texas State Auto Racing? Apparantly they are a group of people trying to simultaneously build four racetracks in Texas and promote their own series. Any info on the principal figures involved? I heard they were actually interviewing job candidates last week too, for a sales postition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted September 14, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2003 Texas State Auto Racing (TSAR), LTD, appears to be the old Texas TracGroup come back to life. They are presenting the same basic plan of operation - build six new "NASCAR quality" race tracks in small Texas towns and form their own racing divisions featuring Busch type cars and ASA type cars - just like the Texas TracGroup did. Unfortunaltely, this new organization, like Texas TracGroup before it, does not reveal who their "investors"are. The TSAR website http://texasstateautoracing.com/ has this listing: "Business Development: Donald Teague, S.B.E.(Austin)." As many of you may recall, Mr. Teague was the "business enigineer" for Texas TracGroup as well and the center of a storm of controversy about his past record. Teague came under fire earlier in the year when a couple of East Texas newspapers did a little digging into the Texas TracGroup proposals as well as Mr. Teague's past. Their reporters found a wealth of questionable information about him including a suit brought against him by the IRS, more than one bankruptcy, a felony conviction, and a string of failed business that allegedly left investors wondering where their money went. All this was pretty well documented in a series of articles appearing in the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinal. Once this negative information surfaced, the town fathers began asking more questions about who the actual Texas TracGroup investors were. Receiving no satisfactory answer, they voted not to continue discussions with the Texas TracGroup. Little or nothing was heard from Texas TracGroup after that and their website was taken down earlier this year. Perhaps our own Chuck Licata, who was the PR guy for the Texas TracGroup before it faded away, has some information about the new TSAR group that appears to be re-organizing around Mr. Teague. Nick Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted September 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2003 Here's an article from the March 5, 2003 edition of the Ardmore, OK, Daily Ardmoreite newspaper that gives an insight into the history of the Texas State Auto Racing / Texas TracGroup. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Editor's note: The following story is from a series of stories written by staff writers Robbie Goodrich, Emily Taravella and Johnny Johnson of The Daily Sentinel in Nacogdoches, Texas. NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Healdton residents are still smarting from a failed business venture Donald Teague brought to their community in 2001, when problems arose after individuals paid between $2,500 and $3,500 to be part of a farming venture that promised a high-yield return. Now, Teague is working with an Austin, Texas, group to build four motor speedways in Texas, according to a series of stories published last weekend in The Daily Sentinel in Nacogdoches, Texas. Teague, who calls himself a strategic business engineer, is listed as an associate of Texas Strategic Consultants, LLC. The company's Web site says it works to implement business growth strategies. The group says it's contracted with Texas TracGroup to help with building the racetracks as part of a new racing series that would be one level below the NASCAR-sanctioned series. An announcement to that effect was made last week in Austin by Teague, Michael Primrose and Texas TracGroup. Texas TracGroup was formed a few months ago to be the development company for several private investors who want to build short-track motor speedways in Texas, including one in Nacogdoches, according to Teague. The group is based in Austin. The other three locations include Hillsboro, Vernon and Sealy. Neither Teague nor Primrose will reveal who the investors are. However, according to reports by The Daily Sentinel, Teague has a long list of legal and financial problems. Those problems include two felony convictions, filing for bankruptcy three times, having served as president of a corporation that filed bankruptcy and owing more than a quarter-million dollars to the IRS. Teague was convicted in 1974 of larceny and forgery in San Antonio and placed on probation, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety Web site. His probation eventually was revoked, and he served four months in prison beginning in February 1977, according to the DPS. Teague also was convicted of driving while intoxicated in 1984 and given two years' probation, according to the DPS. When questioned by The Daily Sentinel about the bankruptcies and tax problems, Teague did not dispute them. He said his financial problems were not a result of personal wrongdoing but came from not getting get paid for services rendered or because a company in which he had financial interest "got in trouble." "My bankruptcies didn't happen because of anything I did wrong," he said. "I live very modestly. But I'm like anyone who doesn't get paid, and I have worked for companies that have gone through Chapter 11. "It is unfortunate that I have been associated with some companies that didn't always do so well, but, hopefully, I have learned from that," he said. "I chose this profession, and those are the risks that come with it. My professional reputation is unblemished. These things happened, and I don't hang my head. But it is not reflected in the competency of my work." One of his bankruptcies, which was filed in 1997, was while Teague was working for Integrated Production System, formerly called Ostrite Ag System, in Oklahoma, the same company involved in the Healdton fiasco. Teague said he had been contracting with the company for about five years. Teague alleged poor management of the company and its financial difficulties led to his own financial problems. In the case of IPS, Teague said the company "didn't have competent management," was "under-capitalized," and that the last few projects of the company "got into serious financial trouble." IPS is no longer in existence. The case was dismissed and then re-filed on the same date. "We thought it had been resolved, but it turned out that it wasn't, so we had to refile for protection," Teague said, "which is why you file for bankruptcy in the first place." Some Healdton residents said that Teague told them the business had the potential of netting a profit of $400,000 over the first five years. City officials also believed the operation held strong potential. The city council even went so far as to approve the sale of 10 acres of land to IPS for a hatchery and brooder facility. The plan included using local farmers and ranchers as contractors to raise ostriches and goats to sell to niche markets that Teague said were swelling across the United States. For a franchise fee of $2,500 and 10 acres of land, farmers would be allowed in at the ground floor of the operation. In an Ardmoreite story published Oct. 11, 2001, Healdton City Manager John King was quoted as saying that "enthusiasm got the best of them." In an interview Friday with The Daily Sentinel, King said the project was going south when the Ardmoreite published the story, "and it kept going further south." "It was an extremely convoluted deal," he said. "Local investors lost money -- all of it. It didn't go well at all, and nothing that was promised or advocated ever came to fruition." Primrose is listed as member manager of Texas TracGroup, which is a limited-liability company whose investors "wish to remain private," Teague said. "Owners in limited liability companies do this in many instances, and that's what they have elected to do," he said. Primrose said he has been working with Teague a little more than a year, and is currently an associate business engineer with Teague in their company, Texas Strategic Consultants, LLC. He said his duties for Texas TracGroup include writing the checks and making sure everything is in line. In the near future, Primrose anticipates hiring a general manager for the TracGroup. Primrose said that he is aware of Teague's bankruptcy status and the fact that Teague owes the IRS about $250,000, but Primrose maintains that Teague's former financial situation has no bearing on the Texas TracGroup's proposed projects. "That is something that happened quite a while ago, and I know the details of that as well," Primrose said of Teague's finances. "But I have no doubt that this project will be completed. It is a viable project." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted September 22, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2003 An anonymous TSZ reader said to check out this website for more information about Mr. Teague. Here it is: Lavaca County Public Records The negative information just seems to keep piling up here. Doesn't anyone have something positive to say about Mr. Teague and his new Texas State Auto Racing group? Nick Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 2, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 Here are the latest stories in the Nacogdoches Daily News about the Texas State Auto Racing organization. Nacogdoches Daily News story Another Nacogdoches Daily News story Nick Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted October 2, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 It looks like the Texas State Auto Racing organization is the old Texas TracGroup with a new name. I don't see how their deal could possibly work without a major backer - and I'm talking really MAJOR money here. It seems like Mr. Teague makes a really good presentation to the various towns and counties or economic development agencies, but when they start asking where the money is coming from they are not getting the answers they want to hear. I understand that TSAR had a help wanted ad in the San Antonio paper a while back.. for sales people in the San Antonio market area. Haven't heard how that turned out... Nick Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildRacer5 Posted October 2, 2003 Report Share Posted October 2, 2003 Teague has all the right the paperwork, forms, maps, and a good line of BS to make any town in need of extra tax revenue to give him him the ok to do a geological and envoironmental study. That is all he needs to open the door and start selling tickets to those that can invision his dream. I have seen all the paperwork and read the website. In a perfect world the TSAR concept should or will work. Make your own track ad your own series an d control it all. But also in a perfect world with all the money on the line I would like to know who the backers are before I bought a single ticket. Also on another note it sounds like that area has been real receptive to the idea of having an asphalt track up in the region. Now if the TSAR things falls through (LOL) then some one with enough deep pockets could spend a little of thier money and put up a track to pull all of that huge DFW market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted June 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Just out of curiosity, I went to the Texas State Auto Racing (formerly TexasTrac Group) web site http://www.texasstateautoracing.com/ and found the following message posted there. The owner of this web address has removed the previous web site. The owner recommends that you have no involvement with Texas State Auto Racing, its affiliates, or its designees. However we would love to hear from you! If you need something from us or would simply like to gather some more information send an email to info@texasstateautoracing.com and we will assist you in whatever way we can. Hmmmmm..... Nick Holt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsowell Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 So many people have hit whois on this domain that it is no longer returning data. Either someone hijacked the site, or the person that owns the url and maintains the website is pi$$ed at the association. Interesting.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daffynmark Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 FYI: You can still google "texas state auto racing" and get to the old pages. You can see the author of the current page by going to the site and clicking on View: Source: then scroll toward the bottom of the page and find the author...(it was published from Word) you can see the author's name. He is listed on some of the old googled pages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 The reason it doesn't have information for the Whois is because when they registered the domain they paid extra to have the information private. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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