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The Silver Bullet Speedway in Owendale. Owner Matt Hoonhout explains what happens during a typical race week. (Robert Creenan/Huron Daily Tribune)

Owendale Silver Bullet Speedway owner Matt Hoonhout and his dog, Rottie.

Races are held each Saturday except Aug. 20 at the Silver Bullet Speedway in Owendale.

While fans show up every Saturday night in the Summer to Silver Bullet Speedway in Owendale, the work to put on that Saturday night show starts well before the gates open for fans. 

Speedway Owner Matt Hoonhout said other than at the start of the week, the process of a race night runs all week.

"I work a salary job outside the area on Tuesdays and Wednesdays," he said. "On Thursday, I'll stop at Sam's Club in Saginaw or Gordon's Food Service of Bay City to get all the food, and all the stuff we need for the concessions. When I get it up here, Patty Soldan and Pam Wooters make all the hamburgers. They also make French onion soup, and the burgers are pressed fresh."

"I try to have one of everything at the concessions, as that's how I'd like it personally," he added. "I spend a little extra to have a better product. We also do all-beef hot dogs."

Hoonhout also credits Ron Vincent for his help throughout the week. Hoonhout commutes from the St. Clair area each week for races.

"After I'm done with (ordering and setting up concessions), I get on the grader on the track and grade it from the top to bottom," he said. "That's actually backwards. The idea is to move the dirt and clay back to where it started before race night. The cars push it backwards as they're racing."

"After that, I grade it again the way the cars go," he added. "That will help make it smooth. At that point, we water the track and pack it. We use the road grader to do that, since the wheels are so heavy. We pack it each way, all the way up the track. At that point, we get on our sheepsfoot roller. That will create dimples in the track."

Hoonhout said when he waters the track, the water will sit in the track dimples.

"That will allow water to penetrate into the track, not just on the surface," he said. "We do that, both ways on the track. We get the grader back on it, we pack it from the bottom to the top one way, then we flip and do the same thing in-between. Every time we do that, we water in-between to keep the moisture in the track. That helps keep everything in."

"We keep the track watered to keep the dust down," he added. "If the fans can't see the races due to the dust, they may not be able to see the action. It's a dirt track, so dust is inevitable. But, I want my fans to have a pleasurable experience."

Hoonhout said there are over 25 employees that work on race night. There is even more work that happens behind the scenes.

"Patty (Soldan) works the pit booth for me," he said. "She picks rocks off the track, so it's safe for the fans and drivers. It takes a whole bunch of us. Pam, who works the front concessions does other stuff to help during the week. She helps from cleaning, to weed-whacking, and whatever else needs to be done. It takes a whole crew to help during race night. They are all fantastic."

"'Big Jim' does security in the pits during the races," he added. "He puts in over 50 hours a week from cleaning up after storms to power-washing, checking oil and equipment. He also fixes bleacher boards, picnic tables, almost anything and everything I may need, he gives me a hand with. He's been a fantastic help when he's up here and I'm away. It takes all of us to help get things ready."