STEEL VALLEY NATIONALS Show will take off in '06 at Quaker City Raceway

The raceway is more suitable than the Canfield Fairgrounds, says a promoter.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- The Steel Valley Nationals, a three-day car and motorcycle event that has been at the Canfield Fairgrounds since the late 1980s, will move next year to Quaker City Raceway near Salem.
Area promoters Corey Ward and Brian Caiazza of Core Promotions bought the Nationals from Dave & amp; Ed's Auto Events and are planning the 2006 event for June 23-25.
On Dave & amp; Ed's Web site, a notice is posted that the 2006 event at the Canfield Fairgrounds is canceled because of economic reasons. No one was available to comment Monday at the company's offices.
Ward said Monday that he knew Dave & amp; Ed's had canceled next year's event at the fairgrounds, and he decided to hold it at the raceway because he has had other events there.
"I had a great relationship with Quaker City, and from a budgeting standpoint, it seems like a better fit," he said.
He added that the raceway is better suited than the fairgrounds for the Nationals.
Drag racing
Drag racing, which Core Promotions will add to next year's event, can be done at the raceway but not at the fairgrounds because the fairgrounds track is circular, Ward said.
"There's only so many things you can do at the fairgrounds," he said.
Canfield city manager Chuck Tieche said the Nationals was beneficial to the community.
"Anytime you have an attraction to the community, that's a positive thing," he said. "Just the fact that it was a Canfield event was a plus."
He said that at least the event is still close by.
The raceway is less than 10 miles south of Canfield, on state Route 165 west of U.S. Route 62.
Tieche said the Nationals didn't cause traffic problems for Canfield.
Costly for Boardman
Boardman trustee chairwoman Elaine Mancini said, however, that while the township appreciates the Nationals' business, it also costs the township a lot of money.
While the event was at the fairgrounds, spectators often lined U.S. Route 224 in Boardman to watch participants cruise by.
"It costs us a lot of money in overtime for our safety forces," Mancini said. "I think it's only fair that we get a break and let other communities experience that."
She said she wishes the new owners success in Salem.
Salem Mayor Larry DeJane said he believes the Nationals will be a boost to area businesses. "I certainly welcome it," he said.
He said he doesn't foresee traffic problems, with the raceway three miles from Salem.
Ward said the Nationals is a family-oriented event where people can show off their cars and motorcycles. There are also vendors and people selling cars there, he said, adding that the event attracts around 19,000 people during its three days.
XContributor: Denise Dick, Vindicator staff writer.