ROCK SPRINGS — An estimated $5,000 worth of damage was reported after two vehicles at the Sweetwater Speedway were recently vandalized. Some of the damage included broken headlights, windows, and a windshield.
Sometime between Saturday, April 17, and Thursday, April 22, two vehicles at the Sweetwater Speedway were vandalized, according to Kara Beech, manager and promoter for Sweetwater Speedway.
Some individuals gained access to the back portion of the track and drove their dirt bikes around on the race track even though the majority of the track is fenced off. Beech said the vandals drove their bikes on the track and also used a hammer to vandalize two mud trucks and a water truck parked near the track.
She also said all the windows and headlights were knocked out of the Jeep Grand Cherokee while the headlights were knocked out of a Ford Bronco. Beech added that it appears something was done to the water truck’s electrical equipment.
What really angers Beech is both of these vehicles were donated to Sweetwater Speedway for their use.
“I feel horrible,” Beech said. “It’s donated equipment that people have given us to use.”
“Sean Miller is our flagger and it was his Jeep that they broke all the windows out of,” Beech said. “The other mud truck is from Cory Wilder Racing out of Powell. He comes and races here, but we have personally known him for over 20 years. He wanted his truck somewhere it would get used and benefit a race track.”
The mud trucks are used to help prepare the track’s dirt surface for the race cars. They help pack the track surface so it is not slimy to race on, she said.
“If we’d repair everything, it would be over $5,000,” Beech said.
Burns Towing is a Speedway sponsor and is helping to locate replacement parts to repair the damage.
Even though Beech and the racing community is upset with all of the damages that were done, they know it could have been worse and are thankful it wasn’t.
Beech said the Rock Springs Police Department (RSPD) has already visited the scene and has taken items for evidence. She’s hoping the RSPD will discover who vandalized the vehicles, and anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the department.
Beech is encouraging those who were involved to come forward and admit they made a mistake. She said they can help make it right.
While this puts another obstacle in front of the team when preparing to start the racing season, they will still be ready for their opening weekend on May 28-29, Beech said.
