Races Friday and Saturday at Fairgrounds Speedway in Cortez will be dedicated to JD Minor, the Dolores High School student who was killed in a rollover crash on Colorado Highway 184 on June 25.
According to Fairgrounds Speedway promoter Julian Garcia, Jr., JD Minor and his father, Jesse Minor volunteered at the track together before his death. JD’s mother, Shandra Minor, is a track photographer.
Before the start of the races, the track’s staging lane will be named after JD Minor, a reminder that “will forever stay at the Fairgrounds Speedway.” A sign will be put in place in memory of JD.
“It will always stay dedicated to him,” Garcia said.
Jesse Minor will race this weekend “for the first time in a while,” and before the first heat kicks off, drivers will conduct a prerace ceremony to honor JD with missing man formation laps around the track. About 80 cars are expected to be racing.
“It’s going to be a very emotional weekend for all of us, especially the Minor family,” racetrack representatives said.
Attendees are asked to wear purple, JD’s favorite color, and racers are asked to adorn their cars in purple of some fashion.
“Anybody that comes to the track and watches the races are asked to wear purple, and we’re asking drivers to put purple on their car because purple was JD’s color,” Garcia said.
Stickers honoring JD will be for sale, and there will be opportunities to donate to the Minor family, the families of the other two students injured in the crash and for the Hurst family.
On Sunday, married couple Derick, Shay and their infant daughter, Skylar Hurst, were killed in a car crash outside of Moab, leaving five other children behind.
“We have some other families that have been affected with accidents, and we will set up collections for all of them both nights and give whatever collection money we get for each family to a designated member,” track organizers said.
Garcia added that the track is also inviting all certified Montezuma County, Cortez, Mancos and Dolores law enforcement to attend the races this weekend for free. Those who attend with a law ID will get free admission for each night, as well as one free child ticket.
“It’s about honoring the Minor family and taking as many donations as we can for these other families that have been impacted by all of this stuff and just give them what we can. That’s what matters and what counts,” Garcia said.
The track also posted on Facebook about honoring JD and his family at the event.
“This is Fairgrounds Speedway’s way of supporting our families and community and helping out where we can. This racetrack is about family and community bond over everything,” the track said on Facebook. “We hope you all will join us in honoring JD and his memory, a wonderful young man and family member gone way too soon. We will all miss him dearly. Rest in peace, JD.”
The pit gate will open at 3:30 p.m., and grandstands will open at 5:30 p.m. The track is opening its doors early to make food for drivers before the races. They are smoking meat and making other sides, and other food vendors will be present for racers and attendees as well.
Food vendors include Chuckwagon Eats and Treats, The Gettin’ Place and Dos Locos Snack Shack.
The track roll-in will take place at 6:30 p.m., followed by the demonstration with Jesse Minor in honor of JD.
The first heats will commence at 6:45 p.m., followed by intermission and main event races.
