Wide Open Sports

In the Kansas City area, there are three major dirt tracks currently operating. Lakeside Speedway is located in the neighborhood of Wolcott, KS and sits just half a mile South of the Missouri River which borders Kansas and Missouri, but it did not always operate there.

According to Lakeside Speedway’s track history, the track originally opened on April 17, 1955, but closed a year later due to three unfortunate on-track deaths. The track re-opened five years later under new management and operated at their 92nd and Leavenworth road location until 1988 when it was purchased and developed into a greyhound and horse racing track. Renamed “The Woodlands” race track, it experienced years of moderate success but ceased operations in 2008 and was sold off to build an Amazon fulfillment warehouse in 2015.

In 1989, management for Lakeside Speedway established a new track facility at their present Wolcott Drive location. For ten years, the track operated as a 0.5 mile asphalt track until it was purchased by new management in 2000 and was converted into a semi-banked 0.4 mile dirt track. The track has hosted events for multiple prestigious racing series, such as the NASCAR Midwest Series in 1999, the World of Outlaws, and the Kubota High Limit Sprint Car Series to name a few. During that time, races have been won by notable drivers such as NASCAR’s Tony Stewart, Sprint Car legend Brad Sweet, and former track champion Clint Bowyer, who grew up racing in the Kansas City area.

On the evening of August 7th, I had the chance to visit Lakeside Speedway. It rained overnight, so the clay track was damp. I was asked if I would like to hop in one of local car owner Paul Carter’s two race cars to help pack the track- a pre-race practice used to ensure an even racing surface. I politely declined. However, I took the opportunity to get to know a little more about Paul Carter. Paul has been racing in the Kansas City area since 1993, more than 33 years. He has raced against many notable drivers during that time, such as the aforementioned Clint Bowyer, Ken Schrader, and brothers Kenny and Mike Wallace. In the year 2000, while racing on asphalt, he won a track championship at I-70 Speedway located in Odessa, Missouri. More than 24 years later, Paul Carter would again win a track championship, this time on dirt at Lakeside Speedway, driving his #47 E-Modified.

Despite all his accomplishments, Paul Carter maintains a very rational approach to racing. He has not been as active at the track this season. He noted that his E-mod isn’t as dialed-in as he would like, and his B-mod is still a work-in-progress. During the pre-race driver meeting, Paul drew the number 4, meaning he would start fourth of five drivers in his heat race. He maintained his position during the heat and started 8th in the main. Before the main began, Paul was asked about his expectations for the race. “I doubt I get into the top five. We’ll see.”

Paul’s good friend and neighbor Jeff Goepferich was also racing in this event and starting second. A few laps in into the race, two cars spun ahead of the #47, moving him up to sixth. With 7 laps left, Jeff Goepferich was also collected in a wreck and could not continue. Paul Carter would momentarily get up to fourth but end up in fifth at the end of the race. Later, Paul would discover that his right rear tire had been knicked during the race and went flat during post-race inspection. It was all the convincing he needed. Paul decided not to enter his B-Mod into the main event. When asked about his decision not to enter the B-Mod Main, Paul gave an answer highlighting the highs and lows that come with local short track racing. “I want to go home happy. Right now I’m happy.”