DON McDERMOTT MORE COLUMNS DON McDERMOTT / PVT The IMCA modifieds blast through the fourth turn on the one-third mile dirt oval at Death Valley Raceway; that's Jason Pike in the yellow-orange No. 23, who won the heat race. DON McDERMOTT / PVT Pike said he and dad Jim Pike have some major plans for the new motorsports facility in Amargosa Valley. Advertisement

AMARGOSA VALLEY -- There were some motorsports fans in southern Nevada wringing their hands over the possibility that the 2008 season would be a dreary time.

The Pahrump Valley Speedway, a quarter-mile dirt track that operated at its Basin Street location for more than 20 years, closed. Sometime this year, if plans proceed, the land will be turned into a site for an auto repair center and a restaurant complex.

So fans were thinking that they could always to go Mohave Speedway at Bullhead City, Ariz., or to the Bullring and dirt track at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway to satisfy their need for short-track adventures.

Yes, there was talk that the Pike family -- Jim, wife Phyllis, son Jason and his wife Tanya -- along with Rick VanBuytene, were involved in a plan to construct a dirt track in Amargosa Valley, a couple miles from the Longstreet Casino-Hotel. Whether it would be ready for the 2008 season was the concern.

Not to worry, actually. Fred White helped the Pikes obtain a 20-acre tract just off the Ash Meadows access road between U.S. 95 and the Longstreet.

Construction progressed at a rapid rate and six weeks ago, Death Valley Raceway was ready to satisfy motorsports fans' need for speed.

The one-third mile dirt oval that was carved out of the desert, the grand stands that were erected, pit areas that were designated, and concession stands that were placed at areas convenient to the fans were finished. The only major work remaining for the 2008 season is the completion of the lighting system. The first night race is scheduled April 5.

"We had thought about building a track in Pahrump, but there was no land zoned for such a project, and BLM land was out of the question," said Jason Pike, as he rode around the track on a golf cart, tending to business that needed to be done to get last Saturday's show underway. "Fred White's grandfather found us this land ... 20 acres... a couple years ago."

Pike, who was driving his No. 23 yellow-and-orange IMCA modified, took time to answer some other questions as he continued his tour.

"One third mile ... that's as big as this track will be because of the property lines," said the veteran driver, who won more than 100 feature races at the old Pahrump Valley Speedway and who knows how many other tracks in the southwestern United States. "We do want to get some major races here, like the West Coast Nationals for modifieds and maybe some events for late models. We're also thinking about getting the 410 sprints here as well."

So far this season, the modified, Dwarf cars, mini stocks, street stocks, 360 sprints, micro sprints, factory stocks and bombers drivers have tested the track in all kinds of weather that was not even close to being as comfortable as last Saturday's.

And, there is the knowledge that in a few weeks, Death Valley weather will creep across the twisted peaks that surround the lowest point in the continental United States and will adversely affect drivers, fans and cars. The threat of 100-plus degree temperatures and debilitating and dehydrating humidity are reasons why there will be a mid-summer hiatus.

Whatever plans the Pike family and all of the people who help have will be carefully considered. That they have already acted in the best interests of the drivers and the fans is quite obvious. Another point in the fans' favor: in the backstretch is an elevated piece of ground within the property limits. An area where RVs can park, where tailgate parties can be celebrated and where fans can congregate before, during and after the races.

Another positive note: The Longstreet Hotel, Casino and Restaurant are just down the road, which means people involved in racing have someplace to take a break before heading home.

We have covered short-track racing at two of the premiere facilities in the U.S. -- Eldora Speedway in western Ohio and Winchester Speedway in eastern Indiana -- so can say with a certainty that the Pike family (and friends) are doing things the right way for everybody concerned.