before the races last night mike kern announced that "i probably wont be back next year". he said that more details would be announced after the season was over. my buddy and i were trying to figure out who would buy the track if he was going to sell it. i will also say that this caught him and i totally off guard. what does everybody think. i will check back in on your responses tuesday as i am leaving for my racing weekend in ohio.

All I can say is WOW I guess the poor car counts and low attendence Is more than Mike can handle for another year, Too Bad

When I talked to my buddy there in Birch Run in the spring he told me there were some guys out of Bridgeport that were interested in buying Dixie and had made an offer. I will not give their names but this has been in the works for some time. I've kept my pie hole shut on it because it isn't my place to announce anything. Head up to Birch Run and have a cup of coffe with the locals at the Halo Burger or the Exit, they would be more than glad to give you the latest rumours.

the car count has been very good since switching back to Fridays and the crowd has been much larger also. last night i thought the crowd was down, probably because of the holiday.

Rumors are flying this morning, have had many calls, It is a shame that any track would have to close, let alone dixie. Mike has put a lot of time and energy into the place, but as a fan, we all have to be a little kinder to all of these tracks, as none are doing well this year. Owosoo, had a hard time, and many other will be seeing hard time by the end of the season. With the gas prices, cost of insurance, advertising and food, who can stay in business and make a living.Lets hope if someone buys Dixie, they will be able to keep it open and maybe work with other track close to them. Good luck Mike!

Close? I doubt it, new owners maybe. That place is pretty nice.

Rumors in my home town (Birch Run) where the speedway is has a large sum of money being transferred and new ownership of the race track not Dixie closing. Rumors only but mark my words, DMS will be open next season. my final comment on this topic.

I would wait till the official announcement is made. I was made aware of the change early last week but out of respect for a very close friend of mine who talked to me in confidence about the deal, I cannot discuss anymore. ( Sorry folks but I am hard core on maintaining confidentiality ).

I made a mention of changes coming in a thread a few days ago. This was one of those changes. I expect a few more coming over the winter. Just hang on and let these change of events work themselves out.

Chris

LOL

Ive heard that someone who is a friend of Joe Dewitte was in the process of buying it. Maybe we will see some co-operation. lolololololol. I heard this a while ago as well.

all i can say is that is too bad! every time i go to DMS i have been treated like a champion! I hope it all goes over well! Like owosso there will be a tough transition point and from there on it should go well! If these new owners are anything like the ones that bought owosso they will make ago of it and if anything improve it all!

Maybe the people who were *supposed* to be buying Springport decided to purchase Dixie? I heard that Bighaus felt that Dixie was a better option than Owosso....LOL

RZ

Really? You know that never came up when we were talking with either of them! You gotta love it!

yea chad that is pretty funny there, this could be either a very good thing or a very bad thing. i would like to see the same rules at all the local tracks but that never seems to happen. i was down in ohio over the weekend and was talking to some of the people at attica saturday night and they run the identical rules there and at fremont in all the classes. this may explain why they get full fields of cars every night too. it will be interesting to see what happens, hopefully it will be good.

Don't know where people are coming up with the bad car count thing the FS's were light at the start of the season but every other class had good solid car counts all year

I think this is more of a coparison of years past. Fields are small locally due to the lack of co-opertion between tracks. Used to be if you raced AC you raced Dixie. That has been a thing of the past since Jack no longer owns either.

On Dixie's website:
?!?! DIXIE FOR SALE ?!?!

Out of respect to our drivers, sponsors and fans, we made an announcement last Friday concerning the future of the Speedway .

Soon, we will be concluding our 13th season as owners/promoters here at Dixie . Most of you can not even remember what the facility looked like back in 1996 when we first came on board. It is still a work in progress, but with only a few exceptions, and with help from many, the dream we envisioned back then has been realized. Indeed, she has come a long way.

The Dixie racing family, including fans, sponsors, crews, drivers and staff are the only real family we have had over these years and it certainly is the only home our daughter has ever known; she was born just 11 days after we bought the track.

However, we have always said that there are more important things than racing, and that goes for us as well. For a number of years we have been saying that “one day, we’d like to do this” or “one day, we’d like to do that”. Well, one day we’ll run out of chances to do those things, especially with Hannah.

Therefore, after a few years of prayerful consideration, it’s time for us to move on and turn things over to someone else. We do not plan on returning next season, at least not to run a full schedule. The track is “FOR SALE” and we fully expect that next spring, Dixie will be under new ownership/management. Our last event will be September 13th, followed by the Awards Banquet on November 1st.

If any of you have an interest in track ownership, now is the time. The window of opportunity will not be open very long. We know; It took 3 attempts before we were able to purchase Dixie , missing the chance by just one day back in 1990.

It has been our pleasure (most of the time) to be your host and we will long remember our experiences here at Dixie , most of all, the people and the friendships. We have always said “everyone is replaceable, including the owners” and we have every confidence that Dixie will be around for the next generation. Whoever follows us will bring a fresh perspective and will take Dixie to the next level of Family Entertainment.

Thanks and God Bless all of you,

Mike, Krista and Hannah Kern

Dixie Motor Speedway

I just hope the new owners put the time and effort into the track as Mike and Krista do.

I worked at Dixie this summer doing track maintanence and lawn work doing the week. I will tell you that Mike and Krista are there every day early and stay there every day late. Most days went from 9 to 7 for them, if not later or earlier. Mike does a lot of work himself; fixing bathrooms, lights, painting lines in the parking lot, mowing the lawn, fixing concession stand fryers, the list goes on and on. Krista is constantly on the phone or updating the website (do you notice that the results are up that night or the next morning, most other tracks are not that quick), or picking up food for that weekends races, or setting up the skybox and pavilion for special events.

Whether you like the Kern's or not, you have to admire the amount of time, effort, and money they put into Dixie Motor Speedway. Just a few weeks ago they took a 3-day vacation during the week, which was the first time they took a vacation during the racing season since they bought the track 13 years ago. They are very dedicated to what they do.

Yes, they have made decisions that we do not all agree with. But I wish them well in whatever they decide to do and thank them for making Dixie a great place to race.

Very nice post Kyle and I agree with your thoughts! I have raced at many track and for many people and they rank near the top.

It is no secret that Mike and I took each other off our Christmas Card list years ago. He cannot stand me and I surely do not like him either.
I have had little to no respect for him as a promoter over the years and I know he wouldn't piss in my ear if my brains were on fire. Such is life.................

BUT

Despite how I feel about him as a promoter I do have a great deal of respect for him as a track owner. He has, as Kyle pointed out, put a great deal of time, effort and money into Dixie over the years and has made the track one of the nicest in the Mid West. His upgrades to the racing surface, lights, etc. are all accomplishments he can be proud of. Both him and Krista have poured a great deal of time, money and sweat equity into the track.

Whether you like Mike or not, you still have to respect him for his hard work ethic and improvements at Dixie. I can remember the days that place was an absolute S*^t hole something he will admit to as well. It is an amazing race track now thanks to his insight and hard work.

I wish him and his family the very best in the future. It's a smart move for him as life is short and this time with their child will occur only once in their lifetime.

Best of luck,

Chris

Wow, why was that first part even necessary? I've only known Mike to be a great guy. I don't care and I'll bet a lot of others don't care that you don't like Mike. He's never mentioned anything about the mutual feelings you have for one another at any of the drivers meetings, so I don't think it is appropriate for you to bring that little known fact in a public posting. This posting is mostly about thanking Mike for what he's done for the sport.

I am sure you could begin a Bash Mike Kern post elsewhere, have 100 replies agreeing with you and the difference is that a lot of people would have bypassed it completely.

I understand the meaning of a smiley face, but what you said can't be fixed by a smiley face.

Furthermore, I've been going to Dixie since the late 70's and I've never considered it a S*^t hole. I've always thought of it as a pretty decent place, even back then. Sure the pits were dusty, but which track wasn't dusty then? I think Owosso and Auto-City had the dustiest pits I've ever been in. I've always thought that Dixie had the best track food around...

I could have lived the rest of my life without knowing how you feel about Mike and still been a happy person....

RZ

Him explaining his feelings towards Mike Kern kinda highlights how deserving Mike Kern is for the respect he has gained for turning Dixie into what it is today. He was making a point, plain and simple, and that is: Mike Kern has earned a TON of respect for all he has put into that track.

You know, I fully capable of understanding that. Mike Kern has earned a ton of respect from many people for just buying, owning and promoting a race track. The spiteful, venom filled initial remarks just weren't necessary in this posting, PLAIN & SIMPLE. Just say the good things and leave the disrespectful remarks for a later date or a posting with the proper heading.........

RZ

Then why are you ranting against what Chris said? It HELPED make his point and overall was positive to Kern.

he has friends? where?

Forget it Chris...........lol

Some will understand it others wont. I appreciate you understanding the full meaning behind my words and you were right on track with your thoughts.

There has been a lot of history between Mike and I that I wont even get into here. Most still do not know all the stories and never will.
I just as soon keep it private and let it go to that. It's in the past and its history.

I meant what I said, I have a great deal of respect for him for all he has done to Dixie to improve its condition. He inherited a complete POS track and turned it into an awesome speed plant.

Let the rest go and take the compliment as I gave it. Chris was right when he said it was meant to highlight a positive for Mike and nothing more.

Chris

I don't know where you get your twisted thinking from, but, it doesn't help make his point and it never will....

Wait..........Know what? You guys are entirely correct and I am totally in the wrong here.

It *IS* perfectly acceptable to skewer someone into the ground and then make up some pitiful excuse to justify your actions...

Spare me.....

dude take a prozac

yeah, dude....lighten up.....geez...........................

Trust me, if I wanted to skewer Mike into the ground, I easily could have.

Your taking this way to personal. Now if my comments upset you, I apologize, but I did compliment him on all that he has done with that track.
Take the good and let the bad go.

I will give credit where credit is due and I did give him credit, but my paycheck doesn't come from Mike so I have no plans on bowing down on one knee and kissing his rear end and telling the world I think he is an angel.

I complimented him on what he has done and I meant every word of it. End of subject for me.

Chris

I would characterize what Mr Hayden said as right on the money.

Mike and Krista both worked very hard at making Dixie what it is today.

I hope they get what they want for the facility and the new people keep going what has been developed.

Good luck to the Kerns and new Owners if they get a deal done.

?!?! DIXIE FOR SALE ?!?!

Out of respect to our drivers, sponsors and fans, we made an announcement last Friday concerning the future of the Speedway .

Soon, we will be concluding our 13th season as owners/promoters here at Dixie . Most of you can not even remember what the facility looked like back in 1996 when we first came on board. It is still a work in progress, but with only a few exceptions, and with help from many, the dream we envisioned back then has been realized. Indeed, she has come a long way.

The Dixie racing family, including fans, sponsors, crews, drivers and staff are the only real family we have had over these years and it certainly is the only home our daughter has ever known; she was born just 11 days after we bought the track.

However, we have always said that there are more important things than racing, and that goes for us as well. For a number of years we have been saying that “one day, we’d like to do this” or “one day, we’d like to do that”. Well, one day we’ll run out of chances to do those things, especially with Hannah.

Therefore, after a few years of prayerful consideration, it’s time for us to move on and turn things over to someone else. We do not plan on returning next season, at least not to run a full schedule. The track is “FOR SALE” and we fully expect that next spring, Dixie will be under new ownership/management. Our last event will be September 13th, followed by the Awards Banquet on November 1st.

If any of you have an interest in track ownership, now is the time. The window of opportunity will not be open very long. We know; It took 3 attempts before we were able to purchase Dixie , missing the chance by just one day back in 1990.

It has been our pleasure (most of the time) to be your host and we will long remember our experiences here at Dixie , most of all, the people and the friendships. We have always said “everyone is replaceable, including the owners” and we have every confidence that Dixie will be around for the next generation. Whoever follows us will bring a fresh perspective and will take Dixie to the next level of Family Entertainment.

Thanks and God Bless all of you,

Mike, Krista and Hannah Kern

Dixie Motor Speedway

Well it is a rumor!

Well I agree with Chris's comment wholeheartedly. I feel exactly the same way. I really dont care what anyone thinks about it. It is his opinion and he stated it. Now can we move on.

I hope the next owner of Dixie continues to move the old track forward. I guess "old track" may not really describe Dixie as Kern has reinvented the ol' girl. How many other 4/10 mile track have been built in the last 20 years?

Mike, Krista and the family deserve heaps of praise for what they have done. They will be missed. Hopefully they will still be part of the racing community in some capacity next year and the years following.

Dale

Dixie Speedway was not a sh!thole when Mike bought it. it was just as nice as any other track in the area (which isn't saying much). the track was one lane and tough to drive but I worked my butt off every week cleaning the grandstands, parking lot, pits, painting sometimes etc. sure there is a new one lane race track there that is no better than the one it replaced. they have made improvements YES but Dixie was facility wise every bit as good as any track in mid Michigan before which ain't saying much, it's just nicer than every other facility now. Sometimes the amount of know it all ness on this site makes me want to completely abandon it not that most of you would miss me. just like a whole mess of folks aren't gonna miss Mister Kern.

I would like to wish Mike and Krista success in whatever they choose to do after Dixie.

I miss the "Alligator Pit" but the work that they have put into making the big track and adding all the ammenities they have show their dedication to auto racing.

That was a unique part of old Dixie wasnt it

Yes it was. I remeber the announcers always telling the kids to watch the cars tires for teeth marks when they were pulled outta the pit.

Wasn't Don Williamson interested in building a race track? He's also life long friends with Jack D.............Food for thought.

no the don is too busy building new drag strips in downtown flint to worry about a racetrack.

You have to give Mike and Krista a lott of credit for what they have done to the track and they usually put on a very good show i wish them the best in what ever they choose to do. If Williamson ever got a hold of Dixie we would all need a lawyer just to risk going ther and have him bring a law suit against you for existing in the world thats what he dose for a living right now