The Lafayette County Fair Committee unanimously approved a new contract for the 2012 race season.
Just more than 24 hours after denying the claim for damages of the Darlington Stock Car Association, the fair committee opened bids and selected a new company to run the races for the 2012 season.
The motion, made by supervisor Ted Wiegel and committee chairman Bill Moody, was stated, “Based on the events of the last few months and hearing opinions from racers, fans and taxpayers, we believe for racing to survive in Lafayette County a change must be made.” Wiegel included his selection of Jay E. Promotions of the Freeport area as promoter of the 2012 race season.
Moody said there were three bids that were opened in closed session and the committee chose the highest bid in open session. Jay E. Promotions bid to pay Lafayette County $250 a night per race. Moody said the county hopes to have 20 races every year but generally only has 16 because of rain.
Following the action, Moody said the committee will have to work out details within the contract for the 2012 racing season.
Moody said the Darlington Stock Car Association submitted a bid that reflected the former contract with the county: $1 a year for five years.
The Darlington Stock Car Association filed a claim against Lafayette County on Nov. 21, 2011, for damages that could be caused by nullifying the contract between the county and the association. Corporation counsel for Lafayette County, Steve Elmer, said at the Monday, Dec. 12, county board meeting that since the contract was never signed by the Darlington Stock Car Association, the county was free to seek other promoters for the race season.