12/22/2004

SOMERS AND LANCASTER SEPARATE FOR '05

Lancaster, NY: A familiar face is moving on for the 2005 season at Lancaster. Fred Somers, the General Manager of Lancaster Raceway Park, is leaving to pursue other opportunities after a nine-season tenure at the track. 

Somers began in 1996, serving as an office assistant. With the untimely death of promoter Alex Friesen, Somers traveled weekly to Fulton and Utica-Rome Speedways in the 1997 season to serve as Event Comptroller for the Syracuse area dirt tracks for the Friesen family while continuing to handle operational duties at Lancaster. He returned to LRP full time in 1998. Somers was promoted to General Manager in 2002, and took over the Race Director's duties in 2003. Somers introduced the one-way radio system that is now in use for weekly competition at Lancaster with much success. 

"After nine years, it's time to move on in my career. I'm fortunate enough to have the right opportunities to make a move at this point in my life, before I have a family of my own to worry about," Somers said. He continued, "I leave Lancaster with great memories and even greater friends. It has truly been a pleasure to call Lancaster home for so long. I have to thank Stan, Alex and the entire Friesen family for the opportunities and support they've extended me over the years, they're like a second family to me, and also to Jennifer Fidanza whom I worked alongside for so many years and taught me a great deal." 

Somers urged friends to keep in touch via email at fsomers1@aol.com. 

Source:  Lancaster Raceway Park PR
Posted:  December 22, 2004