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Times are tough.  Headlines in all forms of the news media are bleak. The economy is faltering, and here in Michigan, we're in deeper than most of the rest of the country.  I know, "tell us something we didn't know Sherlock!"

What the rest of the country doesn't know, however, is how resilient and determined we are in Michigan.

Our new President is supposed to be providing "change."  But as we Michiganians know, if you truly want "Change," you don't wait around for it to happen - you make it happen for yourself.

Here in the Great Lakes State, we don't wait for others to come to our rescue.  If we did, blizzards in the Upper Peninsula would result in calls to the National Guard to dig out our northern neighbors and water-logged farmers fields would be posterized for disaster relief status following our normal spring rains.  No FEMA to the rescue here.  We'll do it ourselves - Thank you very much.

Under the most of the rest of the country's "take care of me" attitude, when people cut back on their recreational activities (like going to the race track here in Michigan), they'd wait for the Feds to come in and bail 'em out.  Well, fortunately, Michigan Short Track owners aren't as ignorant (or greedy) as Wall Street Investment Bankers.

They've recognized an opportunity which has come out of our negative economic situation, and they're doing something about it.

The opportunity is to provide affordable entertainment appealing to the masses.  They're pulling out all the stops with unique promotions and attractions targeted to audiences who previously may not have considered going to the race track.  In fact, some tracks are providing Church Youth Group nights and even Speed Dating opportunities.  Yet others are offering free admission to Military personnel.  Yes, we still respect the Red White and Blue and those who fight for her here in Michigan.

Kudos to our race track promoters for pulling themselves up by the bootstraps and introducing their own economic stimulus.

Now it's time for us as fans to do our part.  Maybe you and your family don't have the means to go to the local short track every weekend, but you can dedicate a few excursions this season.  You can also support the area businesses that advertise with and sponsor your favorite drivers or tracks.  These sponsors haven't backed down - neither should we.

No, here in Michigan, we won't wait for Washington, D.C. to come to our rescue.  From Dixie to Berlin, M-40 to Kinross, and all green flags in between, we're doing our best on our own.