Matthew Yates, former driver, flagman returns as new promoter at Boyd Raceway

[NickHolt]

Matthew Yates, former driver, flagman returns as new promoter at Boyd Raceway

BOYD, Texas (Jan. 12) – He’s taken the checkers and he’s thrown the checkers at Boyd Raceway.

Now, Matthew Yates’ next job at the Texas race track will be writing the checks.

The retired driver and former flagman takes over as the promoter at Boyd, where four IMCA divisions run on Friday nights beginning March 24.

“I grew up at race tracks so I’ve been part of this sport for 50 years and I’ve raced in just about every division,” said Yates. “I’ve got a good knowledge of racing and of racers, and I believe this is something I can do until I die. I’ll probably be at the race track when I do die.”

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts will be IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing staples at Boyd through championship night on Sept. 1.

“The competition in IMCA is good and I like the rules. They do the best at keeping the cost of racing at where it should be,” Yates said. “If you lose racers because of cost, you lose fans. If you don’t have people in the stands, you don’t have a show.”

“From my prior experience as a driver and my experiences with other track officials, I have seen how IMCA stands behind their drivers and their promoters,” he added. “I believe IMCA is the best sanctioning body in the business.” 

IMCA STARS Mod Lites and the Texas Sprint Series also make a couple visits to Boyd during the point season. The weekly IMCA divisions fill the cards for the inaugural Richard Snyder Classic, in honor of the retired track owner and promoter, on Oct. 7-8.

“We’ve talked to Richard and he said he’d still help at the track when we needed it,” Yates said. “I told him absolutely, we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The 2023 season will be the 29th consecutive year that IMCA has sanctioned the Modified division at Boyd. IMCA Stock Cars have run there since 1999, Southern SportMods since 2005 and Sport Compacts since 2011.

Reconfiguring turns three and four and adding dirt around the quarter-mile oval are on the new promoter’s plate before the season opener, along with updates to the restrooms and some new coats of paint.

Yates raced IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars and Southern SportMods before turning his final laps with the Texas series for RaceSaver Sprint Cars. 

“I’ve been out to the track a lot and every time I pull in I remember a night I raced or a night I worked here,” he said. “I have a lot of good memories from Boyd Raceway.”