Farm & Home Shoppers get close up looks of MOWA Sprints and Dirt Track cars on Friday before the big race

 

[August 19, 2023] 

On Friday afternoon visitors to the Farm & Home Supply in Lincoln got a special treat.

A selection of race cars destined for the Lincoln Speedway track later in the evening were on display for shoppers to see up close and personal.

The sprints, winged springs and one dirt track stock car were on display at the request of the store’s assistant manager Bob Rankin.

According to Rankin, Farm & Home, for the first time in history, will be sponsoring a race event. Rankin is in no small way responsible for the corporate offices of the franchise making that decision.

He had written letters to the corporate office and to the Lincoln City Council. In his letters he noted to corporate how the race weekends are having a positive impact on the foot traffic of the Lincoln store. He told his superiors as well as the city council that the track is indeed valuable to the local economy. He noted that the racetrack draws in people from out of town and those people do business in town. The increased foot traffic and sales on racing weekends was his proof positive that the track is having such an impact.

He encouraged the corporate office to support the efforts of Lincoln Speedway and in turn, company executives decided to sponsor a race.

Rankin also shared with the city council that the track has value to the community and to local businesses. He thanked the city for supporting the track and noted recent curfew amendments and other actions of the council, saying that it was a good thing to see the city support the track.

Jake Neuman, driver of the Brandt Winged Sprint
with Farm & Home Assistant Manager Bob Rankin

Rankin on Friday said that he was excited about having the opportunity to sponsor the Friday night races that would include MOWA sprints in a big race weekend for the series.

Diane Rankin checks out the number 7
MARA Midget

Bob and Diane Rankin

He and wife Diane will be attending the Friday night race and will have pit passes so they can get closer exposure to the cars and their drivers.

The event is all part of a huge weekend of racing that began Friday night at Lincoln Speedway featuring MOWA Sprint Cars, Saturday afternoon, August 19 with USAC Silver Crown and Sportsman at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Saturday night at Macon Speedway with USAC National Midgets, and Sunday afternoon, August 20 with the ARCA Dutch Boy 100, and the Sportsman Nationals at the Illinois State Fair.

While the cars that would race on Friday night in Lincoln were lined up next to the store, in the front was the 2023 Toyota Camry that will be the Pace Car for the weekend of races at the Illinois State Fair.

Farm and Home Supply has been in Lincoln since early 2022 taking over the location formerly known as the Lincoln Big R Store. Since moving into the community, Farm and Home has demonstrated its interest in supporting the community, participating in fundraisers for Toys for Tots, Humane Society of Logan County, American Cancer Society, and many others.

Adding a race to the line-up of events the store participates in is just another way of being a part of the community it serves.

[Nila Smith]