BETHEL — Bethel Motor Speedway is already gearing up for the 2019 season and recently went before the Bethel Town Board on February 13 to discuss the upcoming schedule and possible changes to the new season.

The speedway is currently in talks with the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) to have the track become a NASCAR home track and be involved in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

To do that, they would need to expand their operating hours to include race car repair and have the track more available to drivers, according to Bethel Motor Speedway General Manager George Van Arsdall.

The speedway is asking the board to extend the hours of the track to include Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 5.p.m, for race car repair and car testing.

According to Arsdall, the cars will need to be tested once they are repaired and no more than one car at a time will be allowed on the track.

Moreover, Arsdall said if the speedway becomes a NASCAR home track, drivers would expect access to the track before race day to test our their cars and to prepare.

“Being a NASCAR sanctioned body and on the home track program provides more insurance for the drivers and added money,” said Arsdall.

According to Arsdall, the same modified cars that raced in the past will still be running this year and will not be the “big” cars seen on at Daytona 500.

“This will put Bethel out there in the nation as a destination spot [for racing] and will bring in additional revenue and drivers from across North America,” said Arsdall.

“This revenue [from NASCAR and spectators] is important to us to help pay our taxes and bills,” said Arsdall. “In 2018, due to the rain and unforeseen incidents, we took a massive loss of tens of thousands of dollars. We had to turn away money due to the past permits.”

Furthermore, Arsdall spoke about the prestige the track will have after it is sanctioned as a NASCAR home track.

“It [NASCAR] gives the track a lot of clout. With everything else going on in the area, Resorts World and Bethel Woods. Why not us? There are people who want to see racing,” said Arsdall.

The town board was not too pleased with extending the hours of the speedway and wanted the track to come up with a different solution for their path to NASCAR.

“Last year we had only a few complaints,” said Bethel Town Supervisor Dan Sturm. “But with the Tuesday to Friday schedule, we're not sure we are going in the right direction. We need to work something out.”

A similar feeling was felt by Bethel Councilwoman Vicky Simpson, “We want to work with you because people enjoy it, but you have to work on that [extended hours].”

“It won't be the right thing to suppress business,” said Bethel Councilman Bernard Cohen. “But you have to think about the residents.”

“I think it's an awesome family place that people can afford to go to. We all love you but…,” said Bethel Councilwoman Dawn Ryder shaking her head in skepticism about the extended hours.

Arsdall said he is open to ideas, but the NASCAR home track status can hinge on whether or not the speedway can get those extra days.

The Bethel Town Board decided to schedule a public hearing on February 27 at 7:30 p.m. to hear residents concerns on the new proposition on the 2019 speedway schedule.