CORNING, Iowa - Gail Hampel, president of Hampel Racing, Inc. and promoter at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa announced on Tuesday that he plans to retire from the race promotion business at the end of the 2008 racing season.

Hampel’s promoting career began with fellow fairboard member Bill Bemis when they promoted special events for the speedway in 1982. When the fairboard struggled at the beginning of the 1983 season, Hampel stepped up to take over the weekly promotions.

NASCAR was signed on in 1984 and with the progressive approach of the Adams County Fair and Racing Association, the facility was gradually upgraded into one of the most successful weekly event programs in the nation.

Since reaching ‘retirement’ age over a decade ago, Hampel has said he would eventually slow down to only running one business, the Nodaway Elevator, which he has operated for 51 years.

“I would like to thank the fairboard for all their help over the years, because without their commitment over the last 26 years the facility would not have been built to what it is today,” Hampel said.

He feels it will continue to be successful and grow even through tough economic times because of the vision of today’s board of directors of the Adams County Fair and Racing Association.

“Also, the fans, drivers and sponsors who have supported Hampel Racing and the Adams County Speedway deserve a huge thank you.”

Director of Operations for Hampel Racing, Greg Hampel has stated, “I will evaluate whether or not I will be able to continue to operate Hampel Racing without the assistance of my dad. I already feel spread too thin to properly do the job of promoting the speedway, and that is not fair to the great fans and drivers who have supported the speedway. I will definitely look at the possibility of a new type of relationship with the Adams County Fair and Racing Association where we can share more of the duties that I currently have. At the very least, if I do not feel I can do an adequate job of promoting the facility, I will assist in the transition to a new promoter and am confident that there are people on the fairboard capable of filling my role.”

Clifford Baldwin, president of the association, injected “The Adams County Speedway wouldn’t be where it is today without the progressive, forward thinking leadership that the Hampels have brought to the racing community for the past twenty-six years. Gail and Karen will be sorely missed and we can’t thank them enough for their dedication to the track, the community, and the sport of stock-car racing.”

The Adams County Speedway has been a regular fixture on the O'Reilly USMTS National Tour, competing nine times at the half-mile oval since 2004. With three wins there, Kelly Shryock is the only multi-time winner at the facility.

Past winners at Adams County Speedway:

June 7, 2004 - Jon Tesch, Watertown, S.D.
Sept. 16, 2004 - Jason Hughes, Colcord, Okla.
June 6, 2005 - Tony Fraise, Donnellson, Iowa
Sept. 15, 2005 - Al Hejna, Clear Lake, Iowa
June 22, 2006 - Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa
Oct. 6, 2006 - Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa
Oct. 7, 2006 - Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa
June 5, 2007 - Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa
July 22, 2008 - Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa

The staff of the United States Modified Touring Series wishes Gail Hampel a long, happy and healthy retirement, and we look forward to returning to Corning, Iowa in 2009.