ARTS Truck State on Waterford Speedbowl Finale
Its a sad day in the AllStar Race Truck Series camp. For the first time in over 12 years, since the ARTS trucks started racing in that area, we will not be racing at the Waterford Speedbowl’s season finale. After having a long conversation with Jerry Robinson today by phone, a deal could not be reached on the past due payment of a race we ran at the Bowl on 7-19-08. He also stated he could not guarantee it would ever be paid. To top that off he then said we were more than welcome to come to this weekend’s event. He suggested that the ARTS racers pay to get in the back gate but race for free with no purse or possibly a smaller purse. He again promptly said he did not know if he would be able to pay for this weekend’s event as well as the 100 lap event which we ran on 7-19-08. Jerry claimed that the TIS Modified division that is on their website as replacing us was also running for free, no purse.
ARTS did everything in its power to maintain a good relationship with the track. It has always been two to three weeks after running a race at the Bowl before the check comes. It was never a big deal. But after three weeks went by and we did not receive a check we made several attempts to contact Jerry concerning the bill. When I finally got to talk to Jerry days later, he said he was not going to pay the amount that we were contracted to receive. We agreed on a payment of a lesser amount. Jerry said that we could pick up a check for the 100 lap event when we came back to race in two weeks time. Trusting that things would be ok, the ARTS trucks returned to the Bowl 5 weeks after the 100 lap event, which we were not paid for. When we went to the office to find Jerry we found out Jerry was not there and Bill could not give us a check because Jerry hadn’t left one with him for ARTS. He said we had to talk to Jerry. Once again, in good faith, the ARTS truck raced hoping that things would work out. Again, I resumed my daily phone calls to try and get some kind of answer from the track. Some times calling the track, Bill’s cell, and Jerry’s cell and still no one would return a phone call. On Thursday, 9/18/08, I again spoke with Jerry. I wanted to set up a meeting to work something out, to remain racing at the Bowl. At this point they now owed ARTS for the 100 lap event which was run 7-19-08 as well as the race ran on 8-23-08. Jerry said he could not meet with me but did agree to pay off the 8-23-08 race. We did receive that check and are waiting to hear if it has cleared. Also Jerry said I could call him back on the following Monday, 9-22-08 to settle the remaining balance. But it was back to the same old thing, leave a message and no one will call you back.
ARTS received many phone calls over the weekend concerning the Waterford website and all of the tracks other problems that are posted all over the internet. We did everything we could to try and work something out with Jerry and the Waterford Speedbowl. But with Jerry admitting he was not able to pay the past balance and was guaranteeing me he would not pay if we raced this weekend’s upcoming season finale, we will have to pass on the final race of the bowl.
Sources: ARTS PR