Pletcher takes promotional post at Britt,adds IMCA Modified and Stock sanctions

BRITT, Iowa (Dec. 15, 2006) – After helping build the place, John Pletcher inked his name in the record book back in 1995 as the winner of the first IMCA Stock Car feature at Hancock County Speedway. Come next season, he’ll be the man in charge of Friday night race programs at the 4/10 mile track in Britt.
“Promoting is an idea I kind of kicked around the last few years,” said Pletcher, a veteran of nearly 30 seasons on the track. “This opportunity came up, I sold my race car and now I’m getting on the other side of the program as the promoter.”Both IMCA sanctioned Modifieds and Stock Cars will return to Hancock County, ending a three year hiatus.

“Car counts dropped here so dramatically, especially in the Modifieds, so sanc­tioning just made sense, especially with the number of tracks in the area where drivers can race for points on Saturdays and Sundays,” Pletcher said. “I’m pretty confident we’ll have good car counts every night.” The season opener is set for April 6, with points races continuing through Aug. 24. Special events will be an­nounced.

Pletcher’s significant other Darlene Weber will handle much of the paper­work and other behind the scenes chores while he’ll be in charge of track prepara­tion.
“I made a lot of trips around this track with the road grader and packer before I ever raced on it,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to be done on the racing surface and fixing fence before the first race, but a lot of people have already volunteered to help next spring.”

The Hancock County Fair Board has had im­provements made to lighting in the corners and back­stretch. Pletcher hopes to have better illumination in place for the opener in April.

Both IMCA classes ran at Britt from 1995 through 2002.