Racetrack Spotlight – 34 Raceway

race track

SPOTLIGHT

Photo: Dennis Krieger

By Ashley Zimmerman

34 RACEWAY

THE STATE OF IOWA has blessed race fans for decades with some of the fastest racing surfaces, biggest purses and most passionate promoters. Nestled outside of Burlington, Iowa, 34 Raceway fails to fall short in satisfying race fans by checking all of those boxes. Behind the scenes, the team of Brad Stevens and Jessi Mynatt work diligently year round balancing day jobs and the goals of 34 Raceway to make the dreams of drivers and race fans come true right before their eyes. With race season in full swing, we stole some of Mynatt’s minimal free time to get the low down on southeast Iowa’s grassroots gem, as well as details about her second role in motorsports – the Sprint Invaders Association. Checking the box of passionate racetrack promoter, Jessi Mynatt pours every available ounce into 34 Raceway and the role it plays in the future of dirt track racing.

Dirt Empire: Let’s take a minute to start from the very beginning. What was your background in racing prior to purchasing 34?

Jessi Mynatt: I grew up going to the races at 34 Raceway with my family and my uncle Rex wrenched on Gary Russell’s late model. My brother did mini-tractor pulling when he was young and then started Figure 8 racing in high school and as a family we were all involved in some way. After Brent Slocum passed away in 2005, Brad and I founded the Slocum 50 and subsequently the Brent Slocum Foundation and promoted that for nine years prior to Brad’s purchase of 34 Raceway.

DE: Iowa is blessed with many unique dirt track facilities. 34 Raceway is unique, not only in its racing, but also in that it is a private, non-fair board owned and operated racetrack. What other traits about 34 Raceway make it stand out among other grassroots race tracks and makes it a must see experience for race fans?

JM: For grassroots tracks, we truly are “The Premier Place to Race”. Nestled on 40 acres along scenic Highway 34, we have permanent restroom facilities, aluminum grandstands that seat nearly 4,000 people, permanent concessions and offer FREE camping week in and week out to our guests. Brad and myself purchased 34 Raceway in our 30s - I was 34 and Brad was 38. Most track owners are in their 40s-50s+ in age, making us some of the youngest owners of a privately owned racetrack in the US.

DE: What is your favorite event you host every year at 34 Raceway?

JM: High 5 for Kids Night in August. In conjunction with the Brent Slocum Foundation, we give out over 100 bikes, 400+ bags of school supplies and other prizes to kids throughout the area.

DE: What are some of the events in 2021 on the 34 Raceway schedule that you are looking forward to?

JM: Of course, our major specials but also the Truck War on 34 presented by Randall’s Performance [Gladstone, IL] in September. With the new track modifications to accommodate dual lane pulling, it should be a tremendous event!

DE: What are some off season improvements that fans and race teams will notice at 34 Raceway in 2021?

JM: 6,000 yards of new dirt added last fall and 300 yards added this spring to the racing surface, all overhead electrical from the infield has been removed, more paint, our brand new advertising wall and a baby changing table added in the men’s room.

DE: I know every track owner has a list of things that they would love to see their track accomplish or upgrade. What are your bucket list goals for 34 Raceway as far as events or track upgrades?

JM: Owning a race track is a constant cycle of reinvestment in to the facility. We would love to continue to host new multi-day events that bring people to 34 Raceway and Southeast Iowa. We want to add Whelen on track safety lighting next. We want to continue upgrades in the way of Suite 34 and personal suite upgrades / replacements. We would like to install a permanent restroom and concessions in the pits with a wash bay for cars staying at our facility.

DE: If by chance by this point in our interview fans aren’t convinced they need to make 34 Raceway a stop on their racing schedule this summer; in four sentences or less, sell an upcoming event at 34 to a new or beginning race fan?

JM: I do this every week in radio commercials. [she smiles] “Join us this Saturday night at 34 Raceway in West Burlington for side by side, dirt in your drink, chest rumbling racing action. We’re southeast Iowa’s premier place to race and will sell you the whole seat but you will only need the edge for our events. Come alone or bring a friend to check out our top notch facilities, competitive racing, excellent food, and cold drinks.”

DE: Grassroots racing is the foundation of the future of dirt track super stars and major events. It is essential that as fans we do our

Brad Stevens, Seth Bergman and Jessi Mynatt celebrating bergman’s Fall Hall victory in 2018.

part to keep the future of our sport thriving and that starts by supporting the foundation – grassroots racing. How can race fans best support their local racetrack?

JM: Come out, buy a ticket and eat and drink at your local track. The drivers don’t pay their own purses so it’s important to have the fans in the stands each and every week to help cheer on those drivers and eat a locally-sourced tenderloin from a small, non-chain owned grocer.

DE: Name one thing as a promoter you wished race fans understood more easily?

JM: We are human! We make mistakes but we do learn from them and try to improve every night we are open. Oh, and we do see what you’re saying about us on social media, too. We would rather you just say it to our faces but that’s the world we live in now.

DE: What would you consider the biggest reward associated with being a track promoter?

JM: Having a platform to do good things in our community and give back.

DE: If you could make one change or lasting impact in the world of dirt track racing, what would it be?

JM: Opening doors and providing opportunities to kids who want to be involved in racing. From working in the concession to being an on track official, from a promoter to a driver, opening doors to keep kids involved is something we are going to strive for.

DE: The Midwest is lucky enough to be host to some of the best winged Sprint Car racing associations, one of them being the Sprint Invaders Association, of which you are a member of the Board of Directors. What drew you to becoming involved with the Sprint Invaders?

JM: I have always enjoyed the series and knew they needed a little extra help reviving the series brand so I jumped on board.

DE: Being as involved in the racing community as you are, what would you consider a highlight of being involved with dirt track racing?

JM: The passion and drive for drivers from all classes and levels to win whether they’re racing for a trophy or racing for $10,000.

Photo: Dennis Krieger