Running one racetrack is hard enough. Running two is even harder. Stepping in to run both tracks following the departure of two popular promoters adds to the pressure.
Karen Tunnell is handling that pressure quite well.
Tunnell, 47, from Wise, Virginia is the promoter and general manager at both Kingsport Speedway (Kingsport, Tennessee) and Lonesome Pine Raceway (Coeburn, Virginia). She took over at both tracks in 2014, succeeding former NASCAR driver Robert Pressley, who ran Kingsport, and Harold Crook, who ran Lonesome Pine.
Pressley’s tenure at Kingsport Speedway saw the resurgence of the 3/8-mile racetrack. Car counts swelled at the track affectionately known as “The Concrete Jungle” and the racing thrilled in a time where short track racing was seemingly in a perpetual state of decline. When Pressley left at the end of 2013, it seemed like nobody would be able to accomplish what he had done.
When Tunnell took over the following spring, she knew she had big shoes to fill.
“I had some big shoes to fill and, when I took the job at Kingsport with Robert, I had worked at Kingsport previously before the track was shut down,” Tunnell said. “There had been a lot of people that recommended me to Robert because of my background between Bull’s Gap, Lonesome Pine and Kingsport. Robert had told me from the get go that, I want you to hang on to my shirttail.
“So I did that, learned a lot, watched a lot of problems that he would have, he’d discuss with me. He involved me. I feel like Robert helped me transition into this role.”
Tunnell, who has been in racing much of her life, took to her responsibilities naturally. She has become one of the hardest working promoters in short track racing, doing everything from working with area businesses to pulling weeds and painting walls.
In spite of all that, one question seems to always linger over both Kingsport and Lonesome Pine every offseason… the question about both track’s futures. Following the 2013 season, rumors swirled that both tracks would close down, but they both opened in 2014 and under NASCAR sanctioning which allowed the two tracks to work together with Kingsport racing on its traditional Friday nights and Lonesome Pine on Saturday nights.
“I’ve been in this all my life, around and involved,” Tunnell explained. “My family races. It makes 16 years I’ve been involved working at a racetrack. Seems like every year, there’s always rumors. You know the truth but there’s people, I hear they’re closing. We’re going strong. [Keith and Ervin Stiltner], their love for the sport keeps Lonesome Pine and Kingsport open. They’re great people to work for. I ask their input, they let me do my job and we’ve accomplished a lot. We’ve got more to accomplish.”
Promoting involves more than just keeping things going, but looking to the future as well. Tunnell has set her sights on the growth of the track by attracting fans and racers of all ages. She is working on reopening a go-kart track that sits on the same property as Kingsport Speedway, adjacent to turn four, and is also planning to host R/C races.
“We’re fixing to open the 1/8-mile asphalt go-kart track at Kingsport,” Tunnell remarked. “We’ve started working on that. It hasn’t been run since 2002. Tremendous response there. We’re going WKA. We’re also going to do some R/C racing on pit road on Wednesdays. We’re going to do something for all ages. Whatever we can do to make it family oriented.”
On Saturday, Tunnell watched as 2013 Kingsport Speedway (and 2014 Lonesome Pine Raceway) track champion Chad Finchum solidified his name as one of NASCAR’s rising stars. Finchum scored his first career victory in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Bristol Motor Speedway, which is located within a half mile of Kingsport, racing for Martin McClure Motorsports.
“Chad brings a lot of exposure to both tracks,” Tunnell stated enthusiastically. “When he first started racing at Kingsport, he just took to the surface quite well and not a lot of drivers do that. You either love it or hate it. It’s bringing attention to both of our tracks. I have a long standing relationship with Eric McClure because he used to race at Lonesome Pine back in the day. Caleb Holman raced with us. As far as those drivers, I posted earlier on Facebook that I’m a proud promoter to have that whole Martin McClure Racing deal going on.”
Despite his recent K&N success, Finchum still makes time to compete at Kingsport.
“With Chad, he showed up to the opener last year and won. He raced the last race and won. He came back this year and won the first race so he’s just a tremendous young man with a tremendous amount of talent. I want to sit back and watch him move up the ranks.”
Kingsport Speedway was once a dirt track but, in 1996, track owner Joe Loven decided to pave it with concrete, thus resulting in the track earning the title “The Concrete Jungle”.
“This is our 20th year on concrete,” Tunnell remarked. “We’ve got a little deal with Joe Loven, he still owns the facility. He turned the track into concrete in 1996. He was actually pouring concrete at Bristol and got the idea that he wanted to concrete Kingsport. It was dirt and he decided he wanted it to be concrete.”
This Saturday, Lonesome Pine Raceway, which is located about 45 minutes away from Kingsport Speedway, will open its gates for its 2016 season opener. For fans and racers alike, Lonesome Pine Raceway is a hidden gem nestled in the scenic Appalachian Mountains in Virignia.
“Lonesome Pine is where I grew up,” Tunnell commented. “My heart’s there as well. I live 10 minutes from there now. When it was built in 1972, it was way ahead of its time. It’s an awesome place with a lot of history. Stacy Compton is supposed to be there Saturday. We haven’t seen him at The Pine since the early ‘90s. Danny O’Quinn, I used to spot for him, I’ve got a lot of ties to him as well. I don’t think he’ll make the season opener but he will race with us some. He can throw a rock from his business and hit the speedway.
“Just a lot of history and good people. The Stiltners lease it as well. Keith’s son and daughter, Ryan and Emma, race there. It’s a hidden gem.”
Tunnell has answered the challenge of running both tracks and has sustained solid car counts at both tracks. Kingsport Speedway continues to be one of the top draws in Late Model Stock Car racing in terms of car count and excitement.
Both Kingsport and Lonesome Pine will be in action this weekend, with Kingsport racing on Friday night and Lonesome Pine racing on Saturday night.
