This year’s big Prairie Dirt Classic race in Fairbury had just shy of 7,500 people.
“It was another fantastic Prairie Dirt Classic Week,” Matt Curl said Tuesday while addressing the Fairbury Rotary Club.
Curl reported his team was “battle tested” to rise above rain and heat and have a successful week in late July. A record 600 campers were in town that weekend and the streaming networks that cover the races had over 20,000 subscriptions that Saturday night which equals around 80,000 people.
“Everybody loves what Fairbury has to offer,” observed Curl.
Just over 40 states were represented at the Prairie Dirt Classic, living up to its nickname of “America’s Dirt Track.” Based on fuel, lodging and food, it is estimated the event generated $7.5 million, although not all of that money is in Fairbury.
“We issued 200 golf cart permits this year which is an all-time high.”
There were no major catastrophes or serious injuries although ambulance personnel from SELCAS attended to some heat-related issues.
The track did have a bump in cell service this year so it wasn’t as bad as previous years. FALS employed 103 people that week allowing the crew to be hands-on with a lot of the fans.
“We are super happy with the results we had,” added Curl.
While a few things are being polished-up for the future, Curl and his crew want to keep the race a must-see event. It was the first time they experienced the adversity of both rain and heat but made it through.
One race is left for the year, the FALS Frenzy, on Oct. 7.
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