Brasstown –Tri-County Race Track is set to reopen this spring with Phil Evans as the new promoter. Evans – alongside owners Jann, Nan and Sheila Wimpy – are making major improvements to the facilities.
Evans said he hopes to have the track ready to go by April, but it depends on how the repairs to the facilities go. They are completely redoing the restrooms and concession stand, as well as painting the facility.
They will be adding new signs and a new PA system to the track. The Wimpys are overseeing all of the repairs to the track, said Evans, who will work with them to get the track kicked off in the spring.
Jann Wimpy said they will improve the bleachers, concession stand and overall safety of the race track.
Evans said fans coming to the track can expect “good racing.”
“There are a lot of good drivers in the area. They really put on a good show. They always have at Tri-County. Hat’s off to the drivers,” Evans said.
Previous promoter Ray Cook said in a Facebook post that he will not be opening the track to kickoff this year’s season, which marked the end of Ray Cook Promotions being the promoter for the track.
“It has been a great experience and we’ve learned so many things to do and not to do during this time that we can’t list them all. Hopefully, this will be a very short period of time and racing will resume at Tri-County Racetrack very soon.”
Tri-County founder Jack Wimpy passed away last year and left the race track to his daughters. Jann Wimpy said they never intended to close the track despite it being for lease; Evans now leases the track from the Wimpys.
Evans has been racing most of his life. Evans started by building a go-kart track in Nantahala, then began doing various things at racetracks, including flagging at Tri-County Race Track before partnering with Jack Wimpy. Evans and Jack ran the track together for a few years, then Jack leased the track.
While Evans has not been involved with Tri-County Race Track in many years, he has returned and intends to promote the track to the best of his ability, including making repairs and improvements to the track.