PERRIS, Calif. – Mike Grosswendt has publicly addressed rumors regarding this year’s reduction in purse for the three-day Budweiser Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway.
Grosswendt’s All Coast Construction Company has been the presenting sponsor of the Oval Nationals for nearly a decade, and rumors were swirling that Grosswendt cut a portion of the purse due to USAC moving the last race of the year to Arizona.
He said this week that the rumors of that were untrue.
“Last year we put a lot of money into the event and it was spectacular,” Grosswendt said. “This year I had to cut back. Anybody that knows me or that knows me on social media knows that my wife was diagnosed with cancer. We decided to cut back expenses to see how it played out. Fortunately, it turned out very well. She is cancer-free now. It took a year of aggressive treatment and her remarkable attitude.
“In that time, it came to my attention that a lot of people think that I cut the purse because USAC moved the crowning of the champions (the final race) to Arizona and the Western World,” Grosswendt continued. “I have to tell you, I was hugely disappointed, as was Don (Kazarian, Perris promoter). We put a lot of money and time into making the Oval Nationals a natural crowning of the champions. To read about it in the news that it was being yanked away and sent to Arizona was extremely hard to swallow, but cutting the purse had nothing to do with that.
“It was strictly a family decision based on what we were going through.”
While disappointed, Grosswendt understands and accepts USAC’s decision.
“I get it,” the longtime sponsor said. “I am just one of thousands of sponsors in racing. The average race car owner throws more money into the sport than I do every year. I am over it. I respect USAC and the guys I deal with like Richie Murray, Rich Forman, Levi Jones and the late Dick Jordan … all of the guys back east. It was their business decision (moving the last race to Arizona).
“I am looking forward to the Oval Nationals and it looks like it is shaping up to be another great event.”