Ive been going to Husets since the mid seventies when I lived in Minnesota (about 50 miles from the track.) and before I moved to Iowa, (im now 85 miles away) My first date with my wife of now 42 years was there. Ive provided a push truck for 9 years, and we were also the pace truck for Husets for the last 3 years it was in existence..We're currently 2 years into the 4 year process of retiring to South Dakota 9 miles from the speedway.. We're also building a new shop, and own a residential building lot, and a month ago purchased a acreage, so the move is getting real now. Husets/ Badlands is one piece of the puzzle, why I chose south east South Dakota to retire . The speedway means alot to me and thousands of other race fans in the Sioux Falls and surrounding area. SIoux Falls is a sprint car community. When Brennan purchased Husets, it was very tired and in need of major repairs to the infrastructure, and the seating. Many times I would contact the Husets owners about deficiencies in the steps, or the seating that could were a hazard and lead to a liability lawsuit should they fail on race night. Many times, those notices went unfixed. Everything Brennan did to the speedway, needed to be done, and much much more. It truly is a beautiful facility, and is in race ready condition. I drive by it dreaming of days past a couple times a week and will visit it again today. I dont feel there is anyone locally that can afford it at the 6 + million required to purchase and make a payback. We had a chance at the 3.15 m starting point at the auction, until it was revealed that was only a starting point and the actual reserve was twice that. Its going to take someone with FU money that loves racing and doesnt care about a payback. The thing about Husets, is that everything needed to be fixed there...... EXCEPT the racing. Terry McCarl will tell you that if you can race at Husets, you can race anywhere in the country. Kyle Larson in his interview on his first night there, said Husets was his favorite track to race on in video games. Kasey Kahne won there his first night ever, passing track champion Terry McCarl for the win. There are few racier joints in the country. It has always been a favorite among the World Of Outlaws on their stops on the 4th of July annually, and the racing always delivers, even on a weekly basis. Its going to take someone like Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson, Kasey Kahne, David Abreu, or a combination of all of them as a joint venture to get this place up and running again in the future,(In my opinion)
Between Knoxville, Badlands/ Husets, and the new Jackson Motorplex, (90) mile from Badlands we have three of the finest racing facilities in the country within 4 hours of each other, with Knoxville being the furthest. Talk of a 3 night 3 track championship is a real option, if we get Badlands up and running again.
I hope someone buys it, but Im not holding my breathe..