Page 17 - osmer_saugusspeedwayscrapbook

Saugus Speedway Scrapbook

Ray WILKINGS Under the new leader's direction, a fresh
chapter was written as Saugus Speedway
1988 Far West Promoter of the Year
became a NASCAR-sanctioned racing
facility in 1986.
ay Wilkings, Saugus Speedway
Saugus Speedway hosted the inaugural
R Promoter and General Manager, has
race of the newly formed NASCAR South-
been named the 1988 Far West Region
west Tour on March 29, 1986. The Tour,
Promoter of the Year and is a nominee for
now in its fourth successful season, will
the 13th Auto Racing Promoter of the Year again choose Saugus Speedway for its
(ARPY) Award.*
initial race of 1989.
According to Stew Reamer of Racing
Wilkings, born in Glendale, is a graduate of
Promotion Monthly, sponsor of the ARPY
Eagle Rock High School and has a BA
awards, "Ray Wilkings' nomination is long
degree from Cal State Long Beach. He
overdue. He is a fitting heir to his late father
resides in Glendale with his wife Darlene
Marshall's fine operation of Saugus Speed-
and two children.
way, now under NASCAR sanction. Ray
has imaginatively guided the track to its He is continuing the legend of his father
best seasons." and Saugus Speedway.
The 1988 ARPY will be presented at the -Lyn Pherigo, 1988
RPM's Fourth Annual Insurance Industry
Awards banquet in Daytona Beach, Florida.
*Ray Wilkings won the national ARPY award in 1990
Wilkings' association with the speedway
began in 1966, working with his father who
was track concessionaire at the time. He
continued his apprenticeship when Marshall
became promoter and General Manager in
1973. His father immediately instituted a
continuing program of facility improvements
and himself earned Far West Region
Promoter of the Year honors in 1980.
The younger Wilkings took the reigns of
Saugus Speedway began racing under
Saugus Speedway in 1985. Marshall was
the NASCAR banner in 1986.
then in the final stages of a 15-year battle
with cancer, to which he succumbed in
June of that year.

13