Stuart steps up to Quad City promoter’s post

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (Jan. 10, 2007) – Brian Stuart grew up watching the Sunday night races at Quad City Speedway, He’ll be back at the ¼ mile dirt oval in East Moline in an entirely different capacity this season.

“I enjoy the challenge of being a promoter, of getting drivers and fans to the track, putting on a good show and having everybody want to come back,” said Stuart, who cut his promotional teeth at Aledo Raceway Park in 2006. “The biggest change we’re going to make here for next year is the track itself. We’re bringing in a lot of new dirt to reshape the racing surface.”

The owner of three Milan businesses with heavy racing tie-ins, Stuart has sponsored drivers and special events at area tracks for several seasons. His father Harry worked at the former East Moline Speedway, writing race stories for Hawkeye Racing News and other publications.

“I’ve been coming here since I was about three years old,” Stuart said. “I went there Sundays pretty faithfully.”

IMCA Sunoco Late Models will headline weekly programs at East Moline for the fourth straight year. The Deery Brothers Summer Series comes to town on April 22 for the final race in a weekend tripleheader that segues into the regular Late Model point season.

“We’re excited about bringing the Late Models back and are really looking forward to having the Deery Series here again,” Stuart said. “It should be a great weekend, with races at Davenport and Maquoketa the first two nights.”

Opening night for the modifieds, B modifieds, street stocks and a new four cylinder class is April 15, with points races for all divisions continuing through Aug. 26.

The final race is the Oct. 14 Fall Bash.