Despite the gates opening at 4 p.m. Sunday at Windy Hollow Speedway for its 50th season, track owner Evelyn “Rooster” Miller looked out of the window of the announcer’s booth at 6:30 p.m. to still see patrons pouring into the establishment to which she’s given many years of her life.
She said seeing the people back at the track was a good feeling.
“It really makes all the hard work worth it,” she said. “That’s why you do it. We do it for our fans and we do it for our racers. They’ve been pretty good to us today.”
Miller not only remembers the first race at Windy Hollow — which was opened by her father — she remembers the fairgrounds that were on the grounds before the track was in place.
She said a lot of has changed, including women not being allowed in the pit area for some time, but 19 years after that Miller took over the track for the first time at 23 years old.
“I grew up here so I fell in as one of the gang,” she said. “It was one of those things that felt right.”
Miller said the track has had some updates along the way, like the pond in the infield or the progression of no longer needing latrines but the shape of the track and the people are still the same.
“We’ve done a lot of work, we’ve moved a lot of dirt,” she said. “We have replaced a lot of boards and you just want all of that to stay in place. You want it to be what everybody expects it to be. I think that’s the nerves … The race cars will show up, the fans will show up. You just want it to be smooth sailing program and you want everyone to be safe and make it home to work tomorrow.”
Miller said she was talking to someone a few weeks ago and they said something that’s resonated with her.
“There is a love for this racetrack and this facility that people don’t have for other places,” the person told Miller.
She pondered that as she walked the grounds Sunday and saw a shirt that said “I love you more than a Windy Hollow Sunset.”
“That’s the kind of love that people feel for this place and I was glad that all the people that have had it all these years leased it to keep it going,” Miller said. “I’m glad I was able and in a position at this point and time in my life to do it again, just to keep it open.
“This is dad’s legacy, this is mom’s legacy, this is my legacy. I spent a lot of years here too. I ran the drag strip for 17 years. I’m not a rookie and I don’t have rookie day jitters but there is a little bit of nervousness coursing through the blood.”
State Representative Suzanne Miles was also a part of the opening ceremonies, as she has ties to the track as well.
“To me, it’s amazing to have a gem and I know some people might not call it a gem but it’s a dirty gem in Daviess County,” she said. “Our family, it goes way back on tractor pulling. The boys have dirt track raced out here and things like that so we’ve got quite a legacy. I raced out here once in a charity event.”
Miles said dirt runs in their veins, whether it be from the tractor pulls or the race track, and it’s done that for five decades.
“It’s a generational thing,” she said. “Some things you just have to keep the generations going and that’s what it is about — bringing your kids out. Especially this time, during the pandemic, it’s an amazing crowd out here tonight. This just goes to show people are just desperate to get outside, see people, have human contact. People are trying to keep a distance from each other, trying to be safe but at the end of the day, we all need that human connection and you see it right here.”
Miller said she’s thrilled that they were able to start their season Sunday and to see so many familiar faces despite what’s going on in the world.
“It’s just great that they trust us enough to be here,” she said. “It’s all about trust for everything that we do. It makes me happy.”
Racing continues for the season Sunday at Windy Hollow Speedway.
Results from Aug. 10
Rusty Bolt
1. Mike Boone (#4)
2. James Embry (#74)
3. James Dockery (#8)
Mini Stocks
1. Caleb Casey (#911)
2. Trevor Hutchins (#40)
3. Aaron West (#69)
Bomber
1. Bill Moorman (# XXV)
2. Cody Burden (#31)
3. Evan Cline (#19)
Cruiser
1. Jeff Maysey (#357)
2. Carson Brooks (#75)
3. Chad Boone (#19)
