Neither rain, nor wind could stop the November Open Wheel Showdown at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from being a success.
During Tuesday’s Race Industry Week session, which aired live on SPEED SPORT’s YouTube channel, promoter Davey Hamilton Jr. described the rollercoaster-ride of presenting this year’s second annual event after a “perfect and smooth” program during the inaugural running.
“Unfortunately this year we had some hiccups throughout the year,” Hamilton began.
“And this year we had to deal with rain and wind and stuff. Vegas doesn’t see rain often. It delayed our program a little bit.”
Despite turmoil, the event that aired live on SPEED SPORT.tv, was completed in its entirety, headlined by USAC Silver Crown champion Kody Swanson claiming the $50,000-to-win winged sprint car race.
Two other divisions — supermodifieds and modifieds — were also on the showdown card the last two years.
While the OWS has been contested twice, Hamilton’s goals are major — “building this event up to be a crown jewel.”
“Little 500, Dirt December Dome race, the old Copper World Classic, Turkey Night,” Hamilton said. “I want people to think that when they go to the Open Wheel Showdown it’s on their list of winning in their lifetime.”
Diving deeper into his vision for the showdown, Hamilton’s inspiration to have a Copper World Classic atmosphere stems from his father, Davey Hamilton’s career in supermodifieds.
Of his accomplishments, the elder Hamilton scored three straight Northwest Supermodified Racing Ass’n championships from 1987-’89.
Supermodifieds were among the many divisions that contested the Copper World Classic at Phoenix Raceway.
“Just seeing what it’s turning into and what it’s becoming, it’s pretty incredible,” Hamilton said. “Really, the Copper World Classic-type image of what I’m trying to do here is… it’s really because of my dad.
“He was a supermodified legend and I think the supermodified world, in today’s world anyway, it’s kind of a Northeast-heavy sport. The west coast supermodifieds are starting to get rebuilt. I think my event is helping draw teams from all over the country.
“Hopefully we can keep building on to that.”
With two years under his belt as a promotor, Hamilton Jr. has been a sponge on the business side. While he wasn’t on-board with having help at first, the 27-year-old believes that the aid from others will boost the event for years to come.
“I built this event kinda on my own from day one,” Hamilton said. “I was so just stubborn about how I want it to be, how I want it to look, how I want it to feel. It’s kinda helped it grow to what it is. But now, it is what it is. I need to be able to take advice and opinions from other people.
“Luckily now, I have a partner on the Open Wheel Showdown, his name’s Stuart Young. It’s cool to have him on board and helping me learn the business side of it so that way this business and this event can happen for years to come.”