The Golden Spike Speedway is going to be a very busy place this coming weekend, with hundreds of go- karts coming to race in the AJC Mid America Series on May 3-4. Action from a race from last year, above.

“The storm is coming.”

Those are the words Adam Johnson, promoter of the AJC Mid America Series, uses to talk about the racing coming to the Golden Spike Speedway, in Blue Earth, on May 3-4.

“Adam Johnson is a well-known promoter,” Golden Spike Speedway promoter Bret Osborn says. “He raced here last year and we feel fortunate that he reached out and told us he wanted to put a show on at our track.”

The Golden Spike Speedway is now in its third year of operation and they have seen considerable growth in the number of racers coming to Blue Earth to compete on the local track.

“Our first year of operation the largest race had 94 karts,” Osborn comments. “Last year we had 168 karts for one race. For the event on May 3 and 4, we are expecting 500 to 600 entries with 300 to 400 karts at the track. Some karts are entered in more than one race which is why there are more entries than karts.”

Just how big of an event is the AJC Mid America Series?

“Well, the motels/hotels in Blue Earth, Fairmont and Albert Lea are supposedly all booked up and some people are staying in Mankato,” Osborn reports. “And, that does not include the people who sleep in their trailers. We are also bringing in more seating to the track to handle the larger-than-normal crowd.”

The Trinity Food Stand at the Faribault County Fairgrounds will be open to serve breakfast on the morning of May 4 and Farmer’s Daughters Kitchen will be serving food in the Veteran’s building at the fairgrounds. In addition, the track will have their own concession stand open.

There may also be relatives of racing royalty at the track that weekend.

“I cannot guarantee anything,” Osborn says. “However, there is a good possibility that professional stock car driver Kyle Busch’s kids might be here to race, possibly Dale Earnhardt’s grandkids along with grandchildren of other well-known race-car drivers.”

According to Osborn, there will be close to $10,000 of total prize money awarded at the event being held the first weekend in May.

While the AJC Mid America Series races will feature both flat and winged karts, another big event, the Maxx Daddy, will come to Blue Earth on July 19-20 with only flat karts participating in the races.

“Maxx Daddy is based out of Williamston, South Carolina,” Osborn says. “They put on 20 shows across the United States which are used to qualify for the Maxx Nationals later in the year.”

Osborn explains that Maxx Daddy operations manager, Patti Owens, heard about the track and was interested in putting on an event in Blue Earth.

“Her only concern was if there was enough parking for all the pickups and trailers of the people who would be bringing their karts to town,” Osborn comments. “So I sent her an aerial picture of the fairgrounds and she said it would be no problem.”

Osborn notes he is expecting 400 to 500 carts for that race.

Both races, the AJC Mid America Series and the Maxx Daddy, will provide their own crew and officials to run the events.

There are many reasons for the track’s success, Osborn shares.

“There are three important parts to our philosophy,” Osborn says referring to himself and the other people who are involved with the track. “First, you have to have a good track surface. Second, start events on time. Third, make the fairest call you can every time.”

But, according to Osborn, there is another reason for the Golden Spike Speedway’s success.

“The track surface keeps people coming back,” he says. “But, it is the town, the facilities, the support we receive from the community, that people notice when they come to Blue Earth to race.”

He offers this example.

“When we are at Brookings, South Dakota to race, you look around their track and you see maybe six banners hanging on their track fence of businesses who are helping sponsor the races,” Osborn comments. “Keep in mind that Brookings is a much larger town than Blue Earth. Now, look at all of the banners of local businesses we have at our track. And we are adding more this year.”

He also has praise for the Faribault County Fair Board and the Blue Earth City Council.

“Both of those organizations have been supportive and they encouraged us,” Osborn adds. “They have done whatever they could to help us be successful.”

For Osborn, what makes it all worthwhile is the look on the faces of the participants.

“To see them competing, growing and having fun is what it is all about,” he concludes. “It’s all about the kids.”