1994 I-94 Speedway Press Conference

By Jason D Searcy

In the Spring of 1994 I-94 Speedway owner Dick Johanneck held a press conference for a small group of media to announce that he will begin a $100,000 project to change the dirt surface of the Sauk Centre (MN) track to Tar.    

Dick Johanneck was a great salesman and successful businessman (PolyDome), he was at his best this day selling his new idea to the assembled media.  He was passionate about the direction of the 3 yr old racetrack and was extremely optimistic about the future of Asphalt racing, "I believe tar is the future of racing" said Johanneck "in the next five years i believe we will see 4-5 other track switch to tar."  

As it turned out, the only other MN track that changed to asphalt was I-94 International Speedway in Fergus Falls (MN), the other track owned by Johanneck.  Officials from the Marshfield (WI) track visited I-94 and then switched their track to tar in for the 1996 season.  

His plan was to race dirt cars on the asphalt surface which he said would take crews about 1 hour to switch their setups from dirt to asphalt with no changes to their shocks and springs.  

A few drivers raced both dirt and asphalt the first couple years, and numerous big dirt track stars raced at I-94 including (Ryan Muzik, Jeff Hinkemeyer, Steve Fegers, Dave Stork, Greg Meyer, Dave Cain etc) but as the years progressed the race cars became asphalt exclusive and the rules eventually reflected that.  In the early asphalt years the Mod 4 division (below) thrived and sported the largest car counts, after a few years the INEX sanctioned Legends cars thrived.

  

Johanneck lauded the benefits an asphalt track would bring to both the racers and the fans, "it's time to progress to better racing" he said.  Fans would benefit from the cleanliness and faster moving program by not having to watch cars packing the track.  In 1993 the track saw numerous rain delays and race programs that lasted late into the night.

Rocks were also a big problem the final year of dirt racing in 1993 with numerous fans getting hit by rocks flying into the stands and even breaking windshields of their cars in the tailgate section.  "I tried my darndest to get those rock out of the track and every week we got new ones," said Johanneck.  He also believed young drivers would benefit from having great opportunities to move up to the popular ASA and ARCA racing series.  

I-94 never did host an ARCA or ASA race but they did host an ARTGO race (below) in 1994, numerous NASCAR Midwest series races, ASA Midwest tour and an ASL race.  

*Scott Searcy - Cricket Prints photo

Dick Johanneck also mentioned that he was only 61 yrs old and was planning on continuing racing.  (Which he did for several more years)  Johanneck was quoted as saying "getting old is mandatory, growing up is optional."   The future of I-94 Speedway was changed in a dramatic way after that press conference in 1994.  Much of what the owner said would happen did not happen the way he thought it would, but he did change the landscape of racing in Minnesota and I-94 did spark the racing career of numerous drivers who went on to have success including; Jesse Klug, Trent Snyder, Blake Bjorklund, Bryan Roach, Rich Snyder, Andy Hanson, Nick Panitzke, Tim Olson, Nate Thiesse and others.

Here is the full audio of the 1994 Press Conference in which Dick Johanneck spoke with new promoter Mary Beth Cripe also talking near the end.  

You will also hear Dean Reller get introduced as the new Media Specialist and future announcer "Jason Dale" Searcy asked numerous questions during the event.

I-94 Switching to Tar Press Conference

*Special thanks to Matt Todd, Dan Plan, Scott Searcy, Doug Jenkins and Madd Artist Photo for photo credits.

Here is an article on the crazy 1994 year at I-94 Speedway, the year it switched to tar.  1994 Year

Here is a link to the 1994 Point standings where you can see numerous big Dirt Track stars who raced at I-94 Speedway including Jeff Hinkemeyer, Steve Fegers, Ryan Muzik, Dave Cain, Dave Stork, Shawn Kirwin, Kenny Bullick, Al Stewart etc.
1994 I-94 Points

Here is a link to the ASL race in 2005 2005 ASL Race

Here is a link to the I-94 OBIT which was written in 2010 I-94 OBIT

Here are some photos of what the track looked like in 2015 2015 Photos

1994 a year of change for I-94 Speedway

There has been much discussion over the years about why did track owner Dick Johanneck change the surface at I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre (MN) from Dirt to Asphalt in 1994.

It is a fact that many fans were pelted with rocks and numerous windshields were broken up in the tailgate section in turns 3 and 4 at I-94 Speedway in 1993.  I think the negativity surrounding the track surface contributed to the decision to do the reported $120,000 project of paving the 3/8th mile oval in Sauk Centre MN.

Here is recap of the 1994 season which includes a recording of the press conference where Dick Johanneck explains his reasons for the switch.  Some of you might be surprised by his perspective at the time.

 https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/1994-season-review-i-94

Also included in this audio recap are soundbites from drivers: Steve Johanneck, Pat Henry, John Leraas, Jeff Hinkemeyer, Eugene Dick, Bryan Roach.

Dean Reller (media) and Jason Searcy (announcer) from Speed Talk on 1360 worked at I-94 from 1991-2008.  Here is an audio recap of the new asphalt years at I-94 on their podcast https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/i-94-speedway-asphalt

Here were the Champions in 1994, the first year of asphalt.
Late Models- Eugene Dick
Modifieds- Dave Stork
Street Stocks- Pat Henry
Super Stocks- Rocky Thompson
4 cyl - John Notch

Here is a link to the final "Top 10" point standings in 1994.. some really big names in dirt track racing made the move to racing at I-94 Speedway, many of them only for a short time including: Shawn Kirwin, Dave Cain, Ryan Muzik, Gary Reents, Al Stewart, Ken Bullick, Chris Groth, Greg Meyer, Jon Hinkemeyer, Dave Stork and others.
http://smokejackson.blogspot.com/2010/11/1994-point-standings.html

Here is another opinion column that focused on the first few years of racing on the asphalt by track announcer 2000-2008 Jason Dale Searcy
 http://smokejackson.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-94-history-part-2-of-4.html

The biggest event of the year was the inaugural Governors Cup ARTGO race on September 11th 1994.  It was a 100 lap race that paid $2500 to the winner.  Steve Carlson won that race, also competing included future NASCAR stars Matt Kenseth and Michael Waltrip also ASA Champion Kevin Cywinski, future owner of I-94 Raceway Tim Olson and many other big names in Late Model racing including Jon Lemke, Jason Schneider, Tim Sauter, Johnny Spaw, Jim Weber, Mark Noble, Larry Schuler, Brad Miller and others.

 Here are the official results from that race  http://www.artgoracinghistory.com/1994_Race_14.html

*Photos courtesy of Scott Searcy-Cricket Prints

Note-  I-94 Speedway was built as a dirt track in 1991, changed to asphalt in 1994, changed back to dirt in 2009 and then was closed.  The track remained standing until 2016 when it was demolished.

Note- Dick Johanneck still owns the I-94 Speedway in Fergus Falls MN where they hold an annual race called the KING OF THE DIRT.

Get more history of I-94 Speedway I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre at www.smokejackson.blogspot.com

The Early Years at I-94

"The first and early years at the track."  A few observations from Steve Domine, track announcer 1991-2000.


Racing in Sauk Centre MN began for me in the summer of 1969.  Our moving truck came up the interstate ramp to see a cloud of dust which turned out to be the Sunday afternoon races taking place at the old fairgrounds track.  If you wanted to win at "Centre Raceway" you had to deal with the stars of the time.  Terry Merten ruled the "B Stock" class (which meant big V8's) driving his familiar green Edsel, while Lee Vogt was the face of the "C Stock" class with his sharp looking 55-56 Chev.  The "fast guy" list at that time included John Terfehr in Jack Korton's Merc, LeRoy Frieler in the Lake Henry Implement #36 (you can still find an Elrosa #36 winning today), Mick Engle in his burnt orange 56 Ford, Emil Polipnick & Don Leonard in the #88 White Knight, and the grand daddy of the sport, Bob Ufkin driving the #26 Mopar.  There were many more, but this group comes to mind quickly.

The birth of I 94 Speedway came in 1991 thanks to Dick Johanneck and his team.  A lot of people drive race cars, but only a few become true racers.  Dick is a true blue "racer", and he built the finest racing facility of it's time that quickly became the place to be if you wanted to race the best.

As I look back, this is what I will remember...
Packed grandstands down the back stretch, thru the 3-4, and down the main straight.   (I always wondered what I was missing up in that 3-4 turn in 1991 and 1992).

The first year with Championship Sprints.  Ron Carlson wins the championship, and we all found a new appreciation for the cars with one speed.   Flat out.

The modified division's 1st year Champion Ryan Muzik dealing with the likes of Jamie Lemke, Shawn Kirwin, Dave Stork, Dann Olson, Terry Merten (same guy), Ricky Kluver, and Gary Reents.

Six heats, 3 qualifier semi's, and a feature of 24 modifieds and Late Models virtually every week.  Remember when we had to worry about getting out of the track before midnight due to the car count?

The introduction of two time late model champion Jim Bruggeman.  The #44 was challenged by names like Hinkemeyer, Fegers, Cryderman, Wildung, Hillig, Legatt, Nesbitt, and Klug.

Multi Champions:  Eugene Dick, Jim Bruggeman, Jamie Lemke, Steve Johanneck, Larry Rossell, Pat Henry, Scott Brandt, Kevin Woeste, Loyal Skuza, Bryan Roach and Dave Stork.  (apologies if I missed anyone)

Doug Clark: His first pit meeting. The wild eyed drivers quickly learned that this guy was in charge.

More Doug Clark:  Remember the night that he sent Dick Johanneck's #7 LM to the pits for what Dick called a "little bump" up in the 3-4?  Try that with the boss a few times.

Even More Doug Clark:  When a 15 yr old  Donny Shatz crashed his primary sprint in practice, rolled out the back up and set fast time:  Doug asked me "what did you say that boy's name was?"  Then he said,
"I will tell you this, if he lives to be 25, he will be winning World of Outlaw Championships."    This should tell you what Doug knows about the game.

The scary crash that point leading Ricky Kluver took in his modified, but even more, the triumphant return to a successful racing career.

The night Terry Merten hung his modified half way up the 1-2 catch fence.  Terry was quite "encouraging" as he sat in that car ten feet off of the ground waiting for the wrecker guys to figure out how to get him down.  I can tell you this, Terry was quite sure that his belts were not coming off until that Modified was on the ground!  I wish I had a tape of what I heard over my headset.

Remember the Sprint specials with the likes of  Doug Wolfgang, Sonny Mack, Chuck Swenson, Gary Wright, Donny Schatz, Shane Carson, Lou Kennedy,Gary DeWall, Harry Johnson, and Craig Dolanski.

The UMP LM Nationals of 1993 starring Charlie Schwartz, Steve Francis, Scott Bloomquist (in photo below), Billy Moyer Jr, Jimmy Mars, Bob Pierce, and John Gill.  (our own Joel Cryderman ran really well that night).

The ARTGO series race of 1994 featuring Michael Waltrip (photo below), Matt Kenseth, Jim Weber, Steve Carlson, and Kevin Cywinski.

Note:  Waltrip flattened his rented car by crushing the wall in the practice session.   (Dick arranged for another car in time for the feature for Mr. Waltrip to drive)

Buzz Cripe's (in Bloomquist photo above) transformation from many time Champion LM driver to one of the best flagman in the business.  (It was tough to fake it with Buzz.  He had already seen it all from the drivers seat.)

The night Harry "the Horsethief" Johnson drove his sprinter into the catch pond.  Completely underwater, wing and all.  He reported that his shield fogged over in the late summer night, and he simply tried to get off of the track.  Unfortunately, he rolled in the pond.   The wrecker guys voted quickly as to who was going swimming with the hook to get him safely out.  Harry was mostly concerned with his engine!

Thanks to Dick Johanneck for allowing me to drive his wicked Late Model on the freshly paved I 94.  After about 10 laps at about as fast as you should drive someone else's racecar, I came in thinking maybe the right front was going flat.  The vision of the smirk on the face of Dick and Buzz is very fresh in my mind as I got out of the car to explain this "tire deal" to them. Buzz explained later that the sensation was "simply the left front lifting off of the ground a little bit."  I cannot help but think that these two veterans must have been thinking get this guy back to the booth where he belongs!

The first time Shawn Kirwin got his modified on the asphalt, his crew chief mentioned "just get a feel for it".  Shawn went out for practice, warmed the engine for a half of lap, and then did what he does best.  Dropped the hammer. He drove that car "dirt style" for about 8 laps as fast as it can be done.  He pulled in.  As he got out, the crewchief walked around to the right rear which was bubbling, hissing air, and just about flat.  Shawn exclaimed "it's perfect!".  The crewchief then explained that "features are 30 laps, and we cannot afford to put tires on every 8 laps or so."  It only took them a week or so to re-work the #10 Genuine Draft Modified to be one of the fastest on the track.

All of those LM and Modified invitationals.  I particularly remember the modifieds.  At the start of one of them, the car count and driver quality was so unmatched that it sparked a line that I still get ribbed about today.  As I finished the introductions, I told the crowd:  "IF YOU LIKE MODIFIEDS, YOU NEED TO GET READY.  THIS IS GOING TO BE LIKE GETTING A DRINK OUT OF A FIRE HYDRANT.   YOU ARE GOING TO GET WAY MORE THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR IN A HURRY"    They did.  We all did.

 I will remember the hard work of all of the track staff.  Special mention to Karla, Mary Beth, and scorers Illa and Rox.

The Saturday mornings listening to Jason and his Pit Talk radio show with all of the great interviews.

Thanks to the drivers, crews, the people that paid the bills on the cars, and those that did all of the work to get those racecars back every week.


The track has gone silent, but the memories will stand for ever as I liked to say "I 94 Style!"

Steve Domine

*photo's courtesy of http://www.cricketprints.com/