Speed Talk hosts and Elko Speedway announcers Jason Searcy and Dean Reller talk about the change of ownership at Elko Speedway as well as the Opening Night news and notes.
Speed Talk episode #2 of 2025
Covering Motorsports in the North since 2009 on KRWC radio Buffalo MN
Speed Talk hosts and Elko Speedway announcers Jason Searcy and Dean Reller talk about the change of ownership at Elko Speedway as well as the Opening Night news and notes.
Speed Talk episode #2 of 2025
Just before the 60th season of racing at Elko Speedway long-time owner Tom Ryan has sold the ELKO racetrack to MEGA corp (Make Elko Great Again).
The new management and ownership includes 2009 Elko Speedway Great North Legends Champion driver Jaycen Brockhouse (son of Great North Legends owner Tim Brockhouse), Pat Flynn the owner of Eternity Homes (grandfather of Bando driver Christopher Flynn), and former ELKO driver Wade from Rack Shack Barbecue (his two kids will be racing in the Bando's in 2025). Tim Brockhouse (owner of Tomah WI Speedway) (photo below) will be heavily involved with management and Robin Anderson will continue her role as facility manager.
The 2025 race schedule has been set and will not change. It includes 10 Eve of Destruction nights, 1 ARCA race June 21st and 1 ASA Midwest Tour race night Thunderstruck on September 20th.
Fans can expect some improvements including updated signage, added food options featuring Rack Shack Barbecue, a video and pinball arcade inside the Champions lounge on the West side, new carpet and Wainscoting, updated TV monitors and updates to the Luxury Suites above the grandstand.
New management said they are open to listening to the racers ideas on improving the racing, increasing car count and adding more purse money in the near future and adding more events in 2026. Pit Pay is the new mobile pit pass app used at the track. My Race Pass will also be used for lineups.
It was mentioned that the Eve of Destruction entertainment would continue including School Bus races, Monster Trucks, ATV Big air jumps, petting zoo's, drifters, spectator drags, LIVE music etc.
Other idea's they brought up include: Enduro's, Flag pole races, figure 8 events, music concerts, a rodeo, snowmobile racing in the winter, a drifter event etc. Overnight camping returning was also discussed also Classic car shows at the track.
The idea of racing both heat races and feature events on a nightly basis was discussed (instead of just double features) and moving up the Opening Ceremony to 6pm. The importance of keeping the "Little Elko" quarter midget program strong was emphasized. On-track interviews will return in some fashion and an End of the year Championship banquet will be held. Thursday night practice will return in 2025.
Here is the audio of the full drivers meeting 2025 Drivers meeting
Here are some photos from the 2025 Opening Day practice
If you have interest in being an Automobile Race Track Public Address Announcer, here is some advice. By Jason D Searcy
#1 - Don't be annoying, Don't be the reason that people dislike a race track. Remember the show is not about you, your job is to enhance the race fans experience, not take away from it.
#2- Preparation is the key, do your homework on the drivers and their stats before arriving at the track, then walk the pits when you get to the track, make yourself available in case a race team has something special that they want communicated to the audience. Also make sure you know how to pronounce each drivers name properly, if you don't know, just ask them.
#3- Don't mess up the starting lineups. Clearly state the car number, drivers name and hometown BEFORE EACH RACE. Not every driver will be mentioned during the race call but every drivers name should be heard by the crowd before the race. For a Mom, a fan, or a sponsor, that moment might be the only opportunity they have the entire night to cheer for their favorite driver.
#4- Do a majority of your talking when the crowd can actually hear you. Inflection means a lot and talking when loud cars are screaming past the crowd is just pointless, timing is important, talk between the races more than during the races.
#5 Be authentic with your enthusiasm. Faking excitement is insulting to the audience. Race fans don't like to be fooled or tricked and they can see through being fake. If you say "this is the greatest thing that has ever happened in the history of Motorsports" and it is clearly not, they won't trust anything you say from that point onward.
#6 The Opening Ceremony is very important. This is the only time the entire evening where you have everyone's attention. This CAN BE an emotionally shared memorable experience for the crowd if it is done right. So be concise and intentional with your wording and respectfulness of the flag and the anthem. Encourage the audience to be proud of our nation without being heavy handed, preachy or long winded, that alone might ruin an otherwise special moment.
#7 Sometimes less words are better, if your thoughts are not organized it is less impactful to be wandering. A dramatic pause can be just as impactful as an inflection change.
#8 Separate your personal opinion from the decisions made by race control. Questioning track personnel decisions looks bad for the track, so just state the facts and more forward, even if you don't personally agree with the decision. You have enough to keep track of, don't try to also do their job.
#9 Try to help the audience anticipate upcoming drama, if you can focus the race fans attention on the building drama of a situation that they might not be aware of, then when that drama finally does happen, it becomes more of a shared experience and might become that memorable LIVE moment that we all strive for.
#10 Have Fun, enjoy the show. There is nothing more cool than the sound of race cars at the track, so add your voice to that atmosphere with relevant information and entertainment. Don't let your voice take away from that awesome atmosphere.
Just my 2 cents, I hope that gives you some insight into how to do the job of a Race Track Announcer. It can be a very rewarding and fun occupation.
Jason D Searcy. Over 30 years experience announcing at various tracks in Minnesota, the last 14 at Elko Speedway in Elko but also at I-94 Raceway Sauk Centre, I-94 Speedway Fergus Falls and Viking Speedway in Alexandria.
NOTE- This article was shared on social media and numerous announcers commented on it and added their own interesting insight, here are a few examples
We do this for fun, so don't forget to HAVE FUN!Eric Huenefeld
William Sawalich wins an epic race in the ARCA Menards series at Elko Speedway, he won an exciting 3 way battle for the top spot. The margin of victory was 0.011 seconds, the second closest race in ARCA History.
Jason and Dean did a new episode of Speed Talk discussing this race and adding some insider info, also included local racing at ELKO and IndyCar racing at Iowa Speedway.
Here is the audio of the Race Call of the last 6 laps of this exciting race done by Jason and Dean https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/arca2024finish
Here is the Speed Talk show on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5wZRIzLamU
Here is the audio only version of the Speed Talk show https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/speed-talk-3-2024
Here are the interviews done at Elko Speedway MN during the 2024 Race Season by Track Announcer Jason Searcy.
Ryan Varner Late Model winner
https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/ryan-varner31-m4a
Tristan Swanson Legends division winner interview
https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/tristan-swanson66-m4a
Taylor Goldman (rollergirl) with her first win of 2024 in the Thunder Car division
Link to Taylor Goldman interview https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/rollergirl-m4a
14 year old Legends division winner at Elko Speedway and Young Lions INEX National Champion Ayrton Brockhouse https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/ayrtonbrockhouse
Race Announcers Jason Searcy and Dean Reller have worked together doing a Motor Sports themed radio show since 2001, they now have returned with an on-line version of their classic show Speed Talk.
Here is Episode 3 of the Speed Talk show as we discuss the exciting ARCA race at ELKO
Audio-only version of Speed Talk 3 https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/speed-talk-3-2024
Here is Episode 2 of our Speed Talk show, lots of Elko Speedway talk!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L4invyDcU0&list=PL9OGU1bhhPLrmJcruoBTFNLeo8Zgj2uj5&index=2
Here is the Audio only version of Episode 2 - https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/2024-speed-talk-episode-2?
You can watch Episode 1 HERE on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8wrytJ6hxw
Click HERE for the audio only version of episode 1 https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/speed-talk-the-return
You can expect more of these episodes as we continue through the 2024 racing season. Check back here often for updates.
Interviews with Elko Speedway drivers in advance of the 2024 Memorial weekend opener with Jason Searcy Elko Speedway track announcer:
Owner of Great North Legends Tim Brockhouse #13 - https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/timbrockhouse24-m4a
Chad Walen Late Model driver #52 https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/chad-walen-m4a
Jeremy Wolff #32 Late Model driver https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/jeremy-wolff-m4a
Conrad Jorgenson #83 former Thunder Car Champion and father to Julie and Jimmie Jorgenson
https://soundcloud.com/speedtalkon1360/conrad-jorgenson-m4a
Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com
The racers organized an awards banquet celebrating the 2023 race season, the 58th year of racing at Elko Speedway. It took place at Turtles bar and grill in Shakopee (MN) on Feb 17th, 2024 with 11 year veteran track announcer Jason Searcy as the MC, Jess and Ryan Rose hosted the party.
The big news of the evening came from Jacob Goede #72 Late Model, he announced that he will not be racing full-time in 2024. He has been the premier division Champion at Elko Speedway for 10 consecutive years. Here is the video of his speech.
Dillon Sellner #07 was a first-time Champion in the Thunder Cars division, he announced that his race team will be moving up to the Late Model division in 2024. Here is his speech.
Julie Jorgenson #83 won her first Power Stock Championship at Elko Speedway, she also won the Women in Motorsports North America Championship. Here is her speech where she announced she will be racing full-time in the Thunder Car division in 2024 at Elko Speedway.
Colin Stocker #8 won his second Legends division Championship, his speech was short and sweet but it was heard that his race team is also moving up to the Late Model division next year.
Jackson Kottschade #07 was a first-time Bandolero Champion at Elko Speedway. Here is his speech.
An award was given out to former Power Stock Champion and current Thunder Car driver Taylor Goldman. Here is the presentation of the Inspiration award.
The 2024 Race season begins at Elko Speedway Saturday night of Memorial weekend. Get more information at ElkoSpeedway.com
By Jason D Searcy
After a pandemic induced hiatus, Jason and Dean have reunited for a possible return of the long time Motorsports show Speed Talk. Here is a recently posted video on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stKg-isw4Is
Speed Talk on 1360 Radio was a fixture Saturday mornings on KRWC AM 1360 in Buffalo MN from 2009-2019. 50+ drivers and motorsports personalities were interviewed each year by Jason and Dean, Dan Plan from the Midwest Racing Connection and Jordan Bianchi who is now employed as a National NASCAR reporter on the Athletic joined the show weekly.
Previously Jason and Dean also co-hosted a radio and TV show from I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre (MN) from 2001-2009 on various stations including KASM, KMSR and 1390 "the Fan" in St Cloud (MN).
Before that Jason hosted the Speedway Show on KMSR radio from 1991-1997.
Detail will be released soon, as they say, Stay Tuned!