Bradbury Memorialized At Warsaw Motorsports Complex
Bradbury Memorialized At Warsaw Motorsports Complex
Posted
Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
Bradbury Memorialized At Warsaw Motorsports ComplexIn nearly 50 years of service to the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds – both the fair and the race track – Roy Bradbury wore many hats.
Bradbury, 81, passed away Monday morning, the opening day of this week’s 101st annual fair.
Prior to the start of Wednesday evening’s third-annual Roy Bradbury Classic micro sprint car race at the Warsaw Motorsports Complex, current fair board president Randy Shepherd spoke glowingly of Bradbury.
“Roy had a great history with the fairgrounds,” said Shepherd. “You could say he was the father of the fairgrounds.
“It’s been a pretty rough week for most of us. Most of us looked up to Roy as a father figure. We want people to realize what he’s done for the fairgrounds. He’s been here for about 50 years, and he’s a very important part of this race. He’s still here ... part of him is still on these grounds.”
Opening ceremonies Wednesday evening included the posting of the colors, a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps, as Bradbury – a veteran – was honored by American Legion Post 49 and Sons of the American Legion Squadron 49.
“Roy has a big history here on the grounds ... there wasn’t a race that ran without Roy,” said Shepherd. “He was always here. He would count cars, he’d be in the announcer’s stand, he’d be here helping get the track ready. He was a father to the fairgrounds ... that’s really all I can say about him.”
Bradbury’s son, John Bradbury, was the honorary flagman and waved the green flag to start Wednesday’s racing program.
The racing program included 600cc winged and non-winged micro sprints, junior sprints and a restrictor class.
Joe Leek won the 30-lap winged feature, while his grandson, Parker Leek, won the restrictor class feature.
Bradley Jameson took the checkered flag in the non-winged feature, while Brodie Wendel was the junior sprints winner.
Dylan Woodling, whose father Randy Woodling was a fan favorite at Warsaw Speedway years ago, won the first heat race of the evening.
“It was one of my dreams to race in Warsaw,” said Dylan Woodling. “When they opened the track a couple years ago we came and ran it, and then we got lucky enough to win this race last year. It was cool to win and stand on the frontstretch where my dad cut his teeth racing.”
Shepherd said he wants the fans that loved the Warsaw Speedway, which closed in 1990, to embrace the Warsaw Motorsports Complex.
“We want people who knew it before as Warsaw Speedway to embrace it as the Warsaw Motorsports Complex,” said Shepherd. “It’s not just a racing facility, but we have drag racing, truck and tractor pulls, and other things. We want it to be a family-oriented, multi-event area. We want it to be something that’s family-friendly, a place that people can bring the family out to.”
The rest of this week’s events at the complex include KOI drag racing tonight, a demolition derby Friday and truck and tractor pulls Saturday.
There will be micro sprint racing again on August 25 and September 8.
In the final racing event of the season, the 2017 class of the Warsaw Speedway Hall of Fame will be inducted.
Included in the class is multi-time USAC champion Dave Darland, commonly known as “The People’s Champ.”
Darland is slated to racing a micro sprint that evening.
