Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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UNHAPPY: Corey Ward, left, and his business partner, Brian Caiazza, express their displeasure about the nonrenewal of their popular Steel Valley Super Nationals at Quaker City Raceway, north of Salem. The pair learned through an announcement over the weekend that their contract was not being renewed.
The operators of the racing event said they apparently won’t be back next year.
SALEM — The future of a summer event offering racing, vintage cars and food in Salem is undetermined.
Corey Ward and partner Brian Caiazza had a press conference Tuesday at the Stadium GM Superstore to give their side of the story.
The men ran the Steel Valley Super Nationals for four years and wanted to sign a new pact for five years with Dan Swindell, owner of Quaker City Raceway north of the city.
Swindell and Mayor Jerry Wolford last Friday announced a new alliance in which Swindell plans to offer the “Quaker City Super Nats” starting in 2010 at his racetrack.
City officials said they would handle some parts of the event, such as vendor locations and power connections, instead of leaving it to the merchants who were running events.
Ward said Tuesday, “We will not have the opportunity to bring the Super Nationals event back to Salem.”
Barbara Weikart-Kuder said, “It’s very underhanded.”
She was the coordinator of the “After Party,” the name given to activities in Salem during and after events at the track.
The party is not officially tied to events at the track. But she said she gathered $10,000 from local merchants to have the Super Nats “After Party” promoted at the racetrack.
Caiazza said of the sudden change, “It’s not an honorable way to do business.”
The promoters pointed out that organizing the racing events takes a great deal of work.
Ward said he will be looking at protecting his intellectual property for the various names for the event.
Swindell recently obtained the trade name of “Quaker City Super Nats” from the state.
Neither Swindell nor Wolford could be reached after the press conference.
wilkinson@vindy.com