OSHKOSH, WI -- Tempers were flaring at a Winnebago County Board meeting Tuesday night, where supporters of a popular race track were told they couldn't speak at the meeting.
The future of the Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway is up in the air, as contract negotiations have stalled.
Race track supporters were told they couldn't make their case tonight because it wasn't added to the agenda in time. That was reinforced by some County leaders who threatened to leave if the group was allowed to speak.
The crowd poured in to the packed Co. Board room minutes before the hearing was to begin.
"I think our hope was to show them this isn't a dead, moot issue for us," says track supporter Jonathan Braden, "and we are going to fight for what we believe in."
"I was hoping that they'd see that we're a strong community, and a good racing family, and we're here to fight this," says racer Lexii Ashcraft, "and we're not going to allow them to take down our track, because this is what we enjoy doing. It's our life."
Many insisted on sticking around, some signs in hand, even after it was clear that rules are rules, and the race track wouldn't be discussed tonight.
"I don't understand it. It just does not make any sense," says Braden. "Why take something away from the people who love to drive? This is their passion."
Ashcraft says this battle is "not only for me, but for the younger generation. This is their future."
She says imagining Oshkosh without the decade-old dirt race track is unthinkable.
"For them to want to take the track down, I don't agree with it," says Ashcraft. "You're going to take away a lot of kids' dreams."
But county leaders insist nothing is set in stone yet.
The Parks Director says Impact Motorsports rejected a final offer for a contract extension, which put talks about the future of the annual event Lifest--held at the track's location--at the forefront.
Supporters of the track fear that the County will decide to approve a request from Lifest to construct a permanent stage at the site, thus removing the dirt track in the process.
"They're going to listen to what we've got to say," adds Braden, after the meeting.
Racetrack supporters say they'll keep speaking with county and state lawmakers in the meantime.
Supporters we spoke with say they'll be back in numbers for July's meeting, when the discussion is on the agenda.
County leaders say the Oshkosh SpeedZone Raceway will remain open for the rest of the 2016 season, regardless of what happens with future negotiations.
