From IMCA
VINTON, Iowa (Jan. 31) – Drivers in eight IMCA divisions will get an
extra week to chase national, regional, state and local track points.
The 2008 point season will now run through Sunday, Sept. 28 for
Modifieds, Sprint Cars, Northern and Southern SportMods, Stock Cars,
Hobby Stocks, Crate Models and Sport Compacts. The final weekend of
September had originally been designated for tracks to make up season
championship night programs that had been rained out or to hold
season-ending special events.
“We have adjusted our season-ending date for point races each of the
last two seasons to accommodate tracks with late-season specials and
to allow promoters and IMCA to resolve any year-end final point
standing discrepancies,” explained IMCA Vice President of Operations
Brett Root. “While a number of specials will still be on the schedule
in late September, the vast majority of the tracks still racing then
are doing so to fulfill their weekly point schedules.”
“That, combined with the terrible weather many tracks experienced
last season, justified us taking a long hard look at the season
length and making the final decision to extend it one more week,” he
added.
No changes were made for the upcoming Late Model point season, which
runs from April 25 through Aug. 24.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Ochs Brothers Honored with Steve King Sportsmanship Award
Wichita, Kan. (Jan 28, 2008) - Four brothers were honored as the second
recipients of the Steve King Sportsmanship Award at the National
Championship Racing Association (NCRA) banquet here last Saturday, January
26, 2008. Mike, Jim, Dave and Tom Ochs, all of Jetmore, Kan., were on hand
to receive the award. The award is sponsored by ICM, Inc. in honor of the
late two-time NCRA champion and presented by Dave Vander Griend, president
and CEO of ICM, Inc, and the King family.
recipients of the Steve King Sportsmanship Award at the National
Championship Racing Association (NCRA) banquet here last Saturday, January
26, 2008. Mike, Jim, Dave and Tom Ochs, all of Jetmore, Kan., were on hand
to receive the award. The award is sponsored by ICM, Inc. in honor of the
late two-time NCRA champion and presented by Dave Vander Griend, president
and CEO of ICM, Inc, and the King family.
"Steve was always known for providing a helping hand when it was needed,
"said Vander Griend, "This award is one way we honor him and the
sportsmanship of other fine individuals involved in sprint car racing."
The Ochs brothers have been involved in sprint car racing since childhood
when they followed their father, Charlie, around the track. Charlie was
known for his mechanical prowess and the brothers picked up many of his
talents. As a team they own the #1x sprint car driven by Don Droud, Jr.
"The Ochs boys are known for the smiles that are always on each of their
faces," said C. Ray Hall, president NCRA. "They show up at the track and
give it their all. I have never seen them do anything but try their best to
be competitive and offer help to fellow racers who need it."
"This is a real honor for our entire family," said Mike Ochs, speaking on
behalf of the family. "We grew up with Steve, we raced with Steve and this
award means a lot to all of us."
On the Ochs' behalf, ICM has donated $2,500 to the Steve King Foundation.
The foundation was established after King's death at the 2006 Knoxville
Nationals. The foundation, a 501(c)3, not-for-profit organization, was
formed to provide financial assistance to racing families when dealing with
a severe illness, injury or death of a driver, crew member, track official
or their families.
For more information, please visit http://www.stevekingfoundation.org/.
About ICM: ICM, Inc.is a Colwich, Kan.-based engineering and construction
management company specializing in ethanol fuel plants. ICM is also a
sponsor of the NCRA Sprint Car Series.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
2008 wish list
While we're waiting for the start of the 2008 season (which, I feel is the USMTS show at JMS on March 7), here's some wishes I have for the New (Racing) Year:
1. Someone (IMCA, NASCAR, tracks, etc.) with the cojones to delcare a five-year moratorium on the creation of new classes.
(Nobody said these wishes had to be realistic)
We don't need SUV races, or yet further limited version of what was supposed to be a limited class, or whatever concoction some back-gate promoter, sanctioning body or guy who isn't winning every week comes up with. We have too many classes now and none of them are filling the pits at tracks giving us boring, empty A features and diluted talent pools. It amazed me to see results with 2, 3 or 4 cars in a class. Nobody likes it. The fans don't like it and heck, I've talked to drivers that don't like it. FIX the classes you have or sh*tcan 'em. It's OK if you don't run the same classes everyone else does.
2. I hope that my favorite trend, moving the show along continues. It's nice to see series race directors, traveling shows and such demand that things keep moving. There's a reason ball games and movies are 3 hours MAX.
News Flash to promoters who drag things out - beer sales drop off after intermission and dragging the show out an extra hour doesn't make you that much more money - and considering the cost of help, you actually start to lose. What it does do is get the fans grumpier, the drunks angrier and the track drier. Any track that can't get a show finished in 4 hours is running too long.
3. It's time for some tracks to step up their Public Relations. A post on a message board is not advertising (talk about preaching to the choir), and poorly-written announcements which often lack date, time, etc. aren't going to get picked up by the press.
I can't believe in this day and age some tracks don't have a website. Can't afford one? You can get one for FREE! And if you want to add all those neato graphics, most tracks could be served by a site that costs less than $100 per year. Don't know how to build a site? Get over to google and get their site builder - it's FREE! Go buy some cheap web authoring software. Get some kid to http://www.nvu.com/ and download a full fledged site creator for FREE. Hell, write something in MS Word and save it as an HTML format file and post that.
Go to http://www.blogger.com/ use their FREE tool to post your announcements onto your website which they'll host for FREE. Log in, type your message in the box and click "publish." Done! If you use Yahoo or Hotmail for mail well, Blogger is easier to use than that.
Wanna get fancy? Pay 10 bucks to http://www.godaddy.com/ and you can even get your own custom name (like http://www.whatever-the-name-of-my-racetrack-is.com/)! For the price of a case of Old Mil you get an internet site. You want to jazz it up? Give someone who knows a free pass to the races and have them put up a graphic for your track at the top. Have a high school or community college make your homepage as a class project (and maybe get a few new fans in the process)!
Can't write? Don't! You need to answer 5 questions:
- Who (that's easy, your track),
- what (the classes and if it's a special show or weekly show),
- where (give your track's address and directions),
- when (the time),
- how - as in how much are tickets.
That's IT. If you really feel up to it, throw in a why (point chase, extra purse, etc.). Oh, and any time you want to say "I" or "we," replace that with your track's name and you're good to go.
What...you say you're too old for "them computers?" Well, your current AND FUTURE customers aren't and they expect you to be on the Web. 75% of Americans have internet access and by proportion, the percentage of internet users using a high-speed (not dial-up) connection is HIGHER among rural Americans. GET IT?
It's estimated that of the group of "serious" race fans (more than 3 shows per month), 85% get track information via the track's website. If you can't even hit your own customers, who the hell else will know?
OK, take a deep breath....
Part two later....
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Four Dates Added to USMTS Schedule
From the USMTS Desk of Jeff Nun
Monday, January 28, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Jan. 28) - Officials from the United States Modified
Touring Series have announced that four more dates have been added to the
2008 schedule. Three of these are part of the O'Reilly USMTS National Tour
while one has been added to the O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series slate.
Two of the dates will find the O'Reilly USMTS National Tour making annual
holiday visits to the Steele County Speedway in Owatonna, Minn. The rugged
road warriors will invade the big half-mile oval on Memorial Day (Monday,
May 26) then again on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 1). The newly-confirmed dates
makes for three shows at Owatonna, with the previously scheduled event on
Thursday, Aug. 14, joining the Labor Day event as races in The Hunt for the
O'Reilly USMTS National Championship.
Freshman promoter Jeff Herrig has signed on to host the O'Reilly USMTS
National Tour at the Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, Iowa. The event will mark
the first time in five years that the USMTS has tackled the tricky 3/8-mile
semi-banked clay oval, and will also feature NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace in
competition at the Wednesday, June 18, event.
Adding to the mid-summer Speedweek for the O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series,
new promoter Tim Adams has scheduled a date for Tuesday, June 3, at the
popular Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla. (just across the State Line from
Fort Smith, Ark.), which will kick off five straight days of racing, June
3-7. The series travels to I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Ark., on Wednesday;
Ark-La-Tex Speedway in Vivian, La., on Thursday; Monticello (Ark.) Speedway
on Friday; and Fast Trax Speedway in Chatham, La., on Friday. Each of the
first four events will pay $2,000 to win while the week's curtain closer at
Chatham will carry a $2,500 top prize.
For the fifth straight year, the O'Reilly USMTS National Events campaign
will kick off with a doubleheader at the state-of-the-art Junction Motor
Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb. The 5th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw is
slated for Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, 2008. Friday's event will pay
$2,000 to win while the victor in Saturday's main event will pocket $3,000.
More than 70 entries are once again expected for the annual lidlifter at the
3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.
The 2008 season for the O'Reilly USMTS Southern Series will start on Friday,
April 18, at Golden Triangle Raceway Park (formerly Motorama Speedway) in
Beaumont, Texas, and move over to the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas, on
Saturday night, April 19.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Passing of Gary "Smitty" Smith
Many remember "Smitty" as the Wavelink Raceway Park flagman as well as his
time atop the stand at Eagle and I-80.
time atop the stand at Eagle and I-80.
Gary Edward Smith 71, Lincoln, died peacefully at home Friday (01/25/08).
Owner Geier's Bakery 1961-1995; Lincoln High School Graduate; Lincoln High
School Athletic Hall of Fame; Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame (Team
football), 1954; Minor League Chicago Cubs, 1956-1958; Los Angeles Dodgers,
1958-1961; coached Leon's Midget Football, American Legion Baseball, and
Little Fry Basketball; flagged car races at Eagle Raceway & Waverly Raceway
Park; loved playing golf & flying radio controlled airplanes. Gary's
grandchildren were the greatest joys of his life.
Survived by: wife, Diane P.; son, Gary Kevin & wife, Julie, Lincoln;
grandchildren, Ryan Smith & Sarah Smith; daughter, Kimberly Brown & husband,
Stephen, Phoenix; daughter-in-law, Jonna Smith, Lincoln; brothers-in-law &
spouses, Richard & Rae Geier; David & Sherri Geier, all of Lincoln; Donald
Geier & Barbara Johnson, Overland Park, Kan.; nieces & nephews. Preceeded in
death by his son, Randy; and parents, Edward & Helen.
Memorial Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday (01/30/08), Butherus, Maser & Love
Funeral Home, Lincoln. Burial: Lincoln Memorial Park. Visitation: 9 a.m. - 9
p.m. Sunday through Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers,
memorials suggested to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation); HoriSun
Hospice; or Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center. Condolences may be left @
http://www.bmlfh.com/. Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home is in charge of
arrangements.
Midwest Autograph Day Website Facelift
Midwest Motorsports Promotions have released their 2008 update of the Midwest Racers Autograph Day website. Check it out here: http://autographday.homestead.com/
Saturday, January 26, 2008
I guess it's cheaper than buses
Saw this while flipping through the rules section on www.eagleraceway.com
Part C, Conduct:
6. Any fighting in the pit area will subject the offender, and the car they are associated with, to suspension or fine. The driver/owner of every car is responsible for their pit crew and their conduct. Fighting will only be allowed in infield area after the races, with proper notification to track management.
Part C, Conduct:
6. Any fighting in the pit area will subject the offender, and the car they are associated with, to suspension or fine. The driver/owner of every car is responsible for their pit crew and their conduct. Fighting will only be allowed in infield area after the races, with proper notification to track management.
Eagle Raceway Icebreaker Challenge March 29 & 30
From Eagle Raceway
Ice Breaker Challenge -March 29th & 30th
The racing at Eagle Raceway will start with a bang with the most eventful Ice Breaker Challenge ever! A two day kick off to the 2008 season is in store with the Deery Brothers Late Model Summer Series and the Budweiser 360 Sprints racing for $1000 to win on Saturday and $2000 to win on Sunday. The Monster IMCA Modifieds will also compete for $1000 to win both days. This two day format is sure to draw top competition to the 1/3 mile highbanks that has now earned the reputation for being America's Home Track.
Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks will be racing for $200 to win on Saturday and the Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts will be racing for $60 to win on Sunday. A huge purse of over $40,000 will be up for grabs throughout the opening weekend.
All IMCA classes will be racing for Regional and National points on both nights and qualifying for the fast shafts race of champions is also on the line. The early opener will allow competitors from around the country to show off their talent before the treacherous points battles begin at their home tracks for the 2008 season.
Eagle Raceway is pleased to be one of the finest facilities in the nation and to be able to offer a prestigious race to kick off the 2008 season.
We hope to see you all at the Open House practice night on Friday, March 28th from 7:00pm-10:00pm. The pit gates open at 5:00pm with a $10 pit pass. Grandstands are free admission with limited concessions available.
PIT PARTY -Chili Feed! Following practice in the pits. $5-Chili & Beverage (Free for anyone with a pit band)
Saturday, March 29th-
Front Gate Admission Adults $15, Youth $7, Children 5 & under Free
Front gate opens at 3:30pm, Racing at 5:00pm
Pit gate opens at 1:00pm, Pit Pass $25
Sunday, March 30th-
Front Gate Admission Adults $15, Youth $7, Children 5 & under Free
Front gate opens at 3:30pm, Racing at 5:00pm
Pit gate opens at 1:00pm, Pit Pass $25
Ice Breaker Challenge Front gate 2-day Discount Available if purchased by Saturday, 29th:
Adult 2-Day Pass $25
Youth 2-Day Pass $10
Registration:
360 Sprints, Deery Bros Late Models and IMCA Modifieds -$50 entry fee (covers both days) Must register by March 22nd, 2008 (Late entry fee -$75)
No entry fee for IMCA Hobbys or Sport Compacts.
Rules and Regulations:
360 Sprints -See www.eagleraceway.com Sprint rules
IMCA Deery Bros Late Models, Modifieds, Hobbys and Sport Compacts -See www.imca.com
All Eagle Raceway general rules apply.
All entries must have registration form, Terms of Agreement form and Entry form(with W-9 info on it) to office personal before competing. Make sure you have your IMCA License.
*All Minors that want to enter pit area must have a Minor's parental consent and release form signed in front of a notary and a copy of their birth certificate to the office before they can enter pit area. You may call our office to have this form sent to you at 402-238-2595. New for 2008, ALL minors will be issued a 2008 Minor's Card that they will need to present when entering the pit gate. You will not get a card until we have the notarized form and copy of your birth certificate on file. Please try to get this form signed and turned in before the first race so that entry into the pit area runs smooth.
Rain Date: April 4th, 5th and 6th
Thanks for supporting Eagle Raceway...America's Home Track!
Ice Breaker Challenge -March 29th & 30th
The racing at Eagle Raceway will start with a bang with the most eventful Ice Breaker Challenge ever! A two day kick off to the 2008 season is in store with the Deery Brothers Late Model Summer Series and the Budweiser 360 Sprints racing for $1000 to win on Saturday and $2000 to win on Sunday. The Monster IMCA Modifieds will also compete for $1000 to win both days. This two day format is sure to draw top competition to the 1/3 mile highbanks that has now earned the reputation for being America's Home Track.
Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks will be racing for $200 to win on Saturday and the Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts will be racing for $60 to win on Sunday. A huge purse of over $40,000 will be up for grabs throughout the opening weekend.
All IMCA classes will be racing for Regional and National points on both nights and qualifying for the fast shafts race of champions is also on the line. The early opener will allow competitors from around the country to show off their talent before the treacherous points battles begin at their home tracks for the 2008 season.
Eagle Raceway is pleased to be one of the finest facilities in the nation and to be able to offer a prestigious race to kick off the 2008 season.
We hope to see you all at the Open House practice night on Friday, March 28th from 7:00pm-10:00pm. The pit gates open at 5:00pm with a $10 pit pass. Grandstands are free admission with limited concessions available.
PIT PARTY -Chili Feed! Following practice in the pits. $5-Chili & Beverage (Free for anyone with a pit band)
Saturday, March 29th-
Front Gate Admission Adults $15, Youth $7, Children 5 & under Free
Front gate opens at 3:30pm, Racing at 5:00pm
Pit gate opens at 1:00pm, Pit Pass $25
Sunday, March 30th-
Front Gate Admission Adults $15, Youth $7, Children 5 & under Free
Front gate opens at 3:30pm, Racing at 5:00pm
Pit gate opens at 1:00pm, Pit Pass $25
Ice Breaker Challenge Front gate 2-day Discount Available if purchased by Saturday, 29th:
Adult 2-Day Pass $25
Youth 2-Day Pass $10
Registration:
360 Sprints, Deery Bros Late Models and IMCA Modifieds -$50 entry fee (covers both days) Must register by March 22nd, 2008 (Late entry fee -$75)
No entry fee for IMCA Hobbys or Sport Compacts.
Rules and Regulations:
360 Sprints -See www.eagleraceway.com Sprint rules
IMCA Deery Bros Late Models, Modifieds, Hobbys and Sport Compacts -See www.imca.com
All Eagle Raceway general rules apply.
All entries must have registration form, Terms of Agreement form and Entry form(with W-9 info on it) to office personal before competing. Make sure you have your IMCA License.
*All Minors that want to enter pit area must have a Minor's parental consent and release form signed in front of a notary and a copy of their birth certificate to the office before they can enter pit area. You may call our office to have this form sent to you at 402-238-2595. New for 2008, ALL minors will be issued a 2008 Minor's Card that they will need to present when entering the pit gate. You will not get a card until we have the notarized form and copy of your birth certificate on file. Please try to get this form signed and turned in before the first race so that entry into the pit area runs smooth.
Rain Date: April 4th, 5th and 6th
Thanks for supporting Eagle Raceway...America's Home Track!
Thayer County to Carry IMCA Sanction in 2008
Thayer Co. Speedway will be sanctioned by IMCA on Friday nights for 2008.The four classes that will be sanctioned will be Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Sport Compacts also the Stock Cars will run a limited schedule. Races will start at 7:30 on Friday May 2 season championships will be on Friday Aug. 22.
2008 Thayer Co. Speedway Schedule
May 2 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts
May 9 - No Racing
May 16 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
May 23 - No Racing
May 30 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts,Outlaw Vintage Lites
June 6 - No Racing (Possible rain out make up date)
June 13 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
June 20 - No Racing
June 27 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts,Cruisers
July 4 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
July 11 - No Racing ( Possible rain out make up date)
July 18 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts,Outlaw Vintage Lites
July 25 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
Aug. 1 - No Racing
Aug. 8 - No Racing
Aug. 9 - URSS Sprint Cars, G.O.T.R.A
Aug. 15 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts
Aug. 22 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
There will be a meeting at the Thayer Co. Fairgrounds on Sunday Feb. 3, 2008 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. so drivers can get registered and buy a pit stall if they choose.Alan Langdale from IMCA will be there to answer questions also.
Grandstand prices will be Adults $7 Kids 6-13 $3 with kids 5 & under free pit passes will be $20.If anybody has a question please call 402-300-1962 or e-mail me at tdenton60@yahoo.com.
2008 Thayer Co. Speedway Schedule
May 2 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts
May 9 - No Racing
May 16 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
May 23 - No Racing
May 30 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts,Outlaw Vintage Lites
June 6 - No Racing (Possible rain out make up date)
June 13 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
June 20 - No Racing
June 27 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts,Cruisers
July 4 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
July 11 - No Racing ( Possible rain out make up date)
July 18 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts,Outlaw Vintage Lites
July 25 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
Aug. 1 - No Racing
Aug. 8 - No Racing
Aug. 9 - URSS Sprint Cars, G.O.T.R.A
Aug. 15 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Compacts
Aug. 22 - Modifieds,Hobby Stocks,Stock Cars,Compacts
There will be a meeting at the Thayer Co. Fairgrounds on Sunday Feb. 3, 2008 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. so drivers can get registered and buy a pit stall if they choose.Alan Langdale from IMCA will be there to answer questions also.
Grandstand prices will be Adults $7 Kids 6-13 $3 with kids 5 & under free pit passes will be $20.If anybody has a question please call 402-300-1962 or e-mail me at tdenton60@yahoo.com.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Most influential survey – follow-up
In addition to the people I mentioned in my opinion of the most influential (Roger Hadan, Land Developers, Inc. (NE Raceway Park), Greg Sanford, Dave and Kathy Cook, Johnny Saathoff, Del Friesen, Gary Dominguez), here’s a summary of other nominations for most influential in local racing.
One thing I REALLY, REALLY want to mention first:
The order I present people in this article is in NO WAY a reflection of any kind of “voting” results, which I didn’t keep since it wasn’t a contest, or how I feel about them, or anything. It is just how they fit into the flow of the article. I’m not making any judgment about the people here by presenting them first, last, in the middle, etc.
What it wasn’t intended to be: I didn’t really think this up looking to make a “Hall of Fame,” a “nicest guy” list, and it wasn’t meant to be a place for “shout-outs” or a popularity contest either. In fact, I admit that in my initial list of people/groups, there are things they do that I DON’T like but still have undeniable influence.
I do confess a few nominations wishing there was some more “why” included but I included them here regardless because they may be worth mentioning. As you’ll see next, there are a couple of people I didn’t know anything about but certainly deserve mention.
The best part of this survey was that I was enlightened by some of the suggestions not realizing what kind of impact they made. A few mentioned (in no particular order):
* Kevin “Littleman” Snyder – his car building knowledge was a key to the Jet Mods success, and built many of the cars that won championship across the country. This is underscored by the fact that Kevin was successful behind the wheel. I received a very long, heartfelt eulogy of Kevin which I may publish separately, as I know this brief paragraph isn’t doing justice to his memory.
* Travis Roth – a top Late Model competitor, owner of Roth Racing and part of a family spanning 53 years of racing involvement. Travis is an adviser to the Late Model community and short track promoters as well as a championship driver. He’s also branching out and getting kids involved in the sport through efforts in Kart racing.
I was reminded of a few people who, though their most active time in the sport was years ago their legacy still has impact on the way things are done.
Again in no special order:
* The Kelley Family – of course Craig and Mike are still influential in the racing community though not full time promoters/competitors. And Sunset Speedway’s legacy STILL presides over every track that runs weekly late model shows in the area as a benchmark for performance.
* Lawrence Ideus – who drove efforts in the early 1980s that many feel saved the fledgling (at the time) 360 Sprint class at Eagle.
* Lonnie Jensen, Jim Schuman, Larry Sinner, Pete Leikam, Don Droud, Sam Briscoe and others for the foundation of the 360 Sprint class, known then as “Modified” sprints
Some of the names sent in gave me a V-8, smack me in the forehead-moment asking myself, “why didn’t I think of that?” A few:
* Jeff Joldersma – Builder of Sport Compacts, and a big influence on the direction of the class. He was a guiding force behind the IMCA Sport Compact division and is a winning driver. In addition, he has stressed the importance of safety both in advice and in his own product and is a huge advocate for the fastest growing class of dirt track racing.
* Wayne Dake – whose Speed Secrets program brings local racing’s faces to the public and is one of the most prominent and recognized personalities at ANY track he visits.
* Brett Root – as the IMCA Vice President of Operations, the indirect influence is obvious, but with IMCA rules guiding all but a handful of classes what happens in Vinton, IA affects nearly every track directly.
There were many others brought to light. First I’ll list the ones where comments were provided. I’ll give the list here and a brief summary of the comments given by the nominator (in alphabetical order):
• Charlotte Bivens and Butler County Speedway for being one of the few Friday night tracks
• Brad Brown – whose IBRACN.com was the first of the fan sites in the area
• Rhonda and Bernie Bryan – their efforts with Kid’s Night at Eagle are not just a huge fan draw, but the goodwill passed with the bikes makes them ambassadors of the sport
• Mark Burch – sprint car owner, whose cars are a threat at any 360 race. He was also cited for his help making other teams faster through advice and services.
• Craig Cormack – though not actively a part of Eagle, the changes he made to Eagle are still a model for tracks to follow. As one person noted, “Craig’s influential because he still owns Eagle Raceway!”
• Tom Denton for bringing Thayer County Speedway back to regular racing
• Doug Deterding – long time competitor and known as a promoter of modified racing at Eagle
• Rodney Droud – as a longtime racer and promotes a positive message
• Jay Eckley – Eckley Racing Engines – whose power is in many of the cars you see locally
• The race fans – without them there wouldn’t be any racing
• Rik Gropp – longtime modified racer and big on getting kids involved with his team
• Emmet Hahn and Lanny Edwards for their growth of the ASCS and the numerous shows now in the area
• “Speedy” Hill – for his efforts in promoting racer safety
• Darrick Klima – modified builder and driver, bringing a low cost, competitive car to the racer
• Joe, Steve, and Ed Kosiski each received separate nominations for their on track accomplishments and their off-track influence, through parts, car building, etc. As one described them, the “First Family” of dirt late model racing. (Note: I considered all this as reason for the inclusion of the LDI group in my initial list).
• Toby Kruse, new Beatrice Speedway Promoter
• Randy Lawrence – media director for Team Dover as well as article writer for ASCS, etc.
• Jeff Lowery – for trying to bring wingless sprint car racing back to Eagle
• Bob Mays – Photographer and writer. Historian, author, and current columnist for Flat Out magazine.
• Mike Meyer – Six-time Eagle Modified Champ who got a lot of modified guys started
• Ron Meyer – writer for Dirt Late Model and other magazines
• Chris Moses – whose Oval Operations blog is becoming popular in the sprint car community
• Jason Orth – for the Heartland RaceNews.com site and writing for the Turn Three section in the Lincoln Journal Star (I didn’t want to put myself in, but one of the nominators insisted)
• Joe Orth – Nationally known sprint car photographer, as well as the producer and keeper of a huge repository of visual history, especially Eagle/Midwest Speedway
• Val Perkins of whowon.com – whowon’s message boards were THE hot place for local racing smack talk, not to mention the huge news/track info databank.
• Tyler Phelps – modified builder and driver, a positive influence on other competitors
• Dan Rhiley – supporter of much of the sport compact field at Eagle Raceway
• Bill Smith – the famous “Speedy Bill” of Speedway Motors. Nominated for the influence Speedway Motors has had on the grass-roots level racing parts industry and his support of IMCA.
• Support class teams who are “floating tracks with back gate money”
• Gary Swenson – the most dominant car owner in Eagle history is still fielding competitive cars that are at the front of most 360 shows still.
Where comments weren’t given (again, in alphabetical order):
• Chris Alcorn
• Billy Alley
• Kyle Berck
• Ed Bowes
• Marty Boyer
• Frank Brennfoerder
• Stan Cisar, Jr
• Larry Danhauer
• Tom Deery of DIRT Motorsports / World of Outlaws
• Todd Devenich
• Jack Dover
• Marc and Lori Dover
• Trish Dover
• Don Droud, Jr
• Phil Durst
• John Gerloff
• Tony Glenn
• Tom Grasso
• Tom Gutowski
• Ray Haase
• John Hart – Eagle Raceway Pit Steward
• Todd Henrichs – Lincoln Journal Star sports editor
• Wayne House
• Willie “The Welder” Ideen
• Ray Lipsey
• Charlie Martin
• Terry Klatt
• Don Maxwell
• Curt McKeever of the Lincoln Journal Star
• Randy Palmer
• Joe Proctor
• Bob Richardson
• George Roseland
• Chuck Spanel
• Bruce Steenson
• Ivan Tracy
• Dave Trauernicht
• SLS Promotions (fyi: the co-promoters of the June 2007 WoO show at Eagle)
• Greg Soukup – AKA “Eagle Pit Shack Guy”
• Nick Rubek of the Omaha World Herald
• Ray Valasek
• Wavelink Raceway Park
• Larry White – flagman at Eagle and I-80
To conclude: this is a pretty wide list, but by no means comprehensive. And, there is a lot of Eagle-centrism here, but that’s what I got from the public – it wasn’t intended. If anyone got left off the list, it wasn’t intentional.
There are a LOT of people who do a lot of things at many tracks to make local racing what it is today. Just looking at this list alone shows you how wide the scope of the sport is.
Thanks to everyone who participated!
One thing I REALLY, REALLY want to mention first:
The order I present people in this article is in NO WAY a reflection of any kind of “voting” results, which I didn’t keep since it wasn’t a contest, or how I feel about them, or anything. It is just how they fit into the flow of the article. I’m not making any judgment about the people here by presenting them first, last, in the middle, etc.
What it wasn’t intended to be: I didn’t really think this up looking to make a “Hall of Fame,” a “nicest guy” list, and it wasn’t meant to be a place for “shout-outs” or a popularity contest either. In fact, I admit that in my initial list of people/groups, there are things they do that I DON’T like but still have undeniable influence.
I do confess a few nominations wishing there was some more “why” included but I included them here regardless because they may be worth mentioning. As you’ll see next, there are a couple of people I didn’t know anything about but certainly deserve mention.
The best part of this survey was that I was enlightened by some of the suggestions not realizing what kind of impact they made. A few mentioned (in no particular order):
* Kevin “Littleman” Snyder – his car building knowledge was a key to the Jet Mods success, and built many of the cars that won championship across the country. This is underscored by the fact that Kevin was successful behind the wheel. I received a very long, heartfelt eulogy of Kevin which I may publish separately, as I know this brief paragraph isn’t doing justice to his memory.
* Travis Roth – a top Late Model competitor, owner of Roth Racing and part of a family spanning 53 years of racing involvement. Travis is an adviser to the Late Model community and short track promoters as well as a championship driver. He’s also branching out and getting kids involved in the sport through efforts in Kart racing.
I was reminded of a few people who, though their most active time in the sport was years ago their legacy still has impact on the way things are done.
Again in no special order:
* The Kelley Family – of course Craig and Mike are still influential in the racing community though not full time promoters/competitors. And Sunset Speedway’s legacy STILL presides over every track that runs weekly late model shows in the area as a benchmark for performance.
* Lawrence Ideus – who drove efforts in the early 1980s that many feel saved the fledgling (at the time) 360 Sprint class at Eagle.
* Lonnie Jensen, Jim Schuman, Larry Sinner, Pete Leikam, Don Droud, Sam Briscoe and others for the foundation of the 360 Sprint class, known then as “Modified” sprints
Some of the names sent in gave me a V-8, smack me in the forehead-moment asking myself, “why didn’t I think of that?” A few:
* Jeff Joldersma – Builder of Sport Compacts, and a big influence on the direction of the class. He was a guiding force behind the IMCA Sport Compact division and is a winning driver. In addition, he has stressed the importance of safety both in advice and in his own product and is a huge advocate for the fastest growing class of dirt track racing.
* Wayne Dake – whose Speed Secrets program brings local racing’s faces to the public and is one of the most prominent and recognized personalities at ANY track he visits.
* Brett Root – as the IMCA Vice President of Operations, the indirect influence is obvious, but with IMCA rules guiding all but a handful of classes what happens in Vinton, IA affects nearly every track directly.
There were many others brought to light. First I’ll list the ones where comments were provided. I’ll give the list here and a brief summary of the comments given by the nominator (in alphabetical order):
• Charlotte Bivens and Butler County Speedway for being one of the few Friday night tracks
• Brad Brown – whose IBRACN.com was the first of the fan sites in the area
• Rhonda and Bernie Bryan – their efforts with Kid’s Night at Eagle are not just a huge fan draw, but the goodwill passed with the bikes makes them ambassadors of the sport
• Mark Burch – sprint car owner, whose cars are a threat at any 360 race. He was also cited for his help making other teams faster through advice and services.
• Craig Cormack – though not actively a part of Eagle, the changes he made to Eagle are still a model for tracks to follow. As one person noted, “Craig’s influential because he still owns Eagle Raceway!”
• Tom Denton for bringing Thayer County Speedway back to regular racing
• Doug Deterding – long time competitor and known as a promoter of modified racing at Eagle
• Rodney Droud – as a longtime racer and promotes a positive message
• Jay Eckley – Eckley Racing Engines – whose power is in many of the cars you see locally
• The race fans – without them there wouldn’t be any racing
• Rik Gropp – longtime modified racer and big on getting kids involved with his team
• Emmet Hahn and Lanny Edwards for their growth of the ASCS and the numerous shows now in the area
• “Speedy” Hill – for his efforts in promoting racer safety
• Darrick Klima – modified builder and driver, bringing a low cost, competitive car to the racer
• Joe, Steve, and Ed Kosiski each received separate nominations for their on track accomplishments and their off-track influence, through parts, car building, etc. As one described them, the “First Family” of dirt late model racing. (Note: I considered all this as reason for the inclusion of the LDI group in my initial list).
• Toby Kruse, new Beatrice Speedway Promoter
• Randy Lawrence – media director for Team Dover as well as article writer for ASCS, etc.
• Jeff Lowery – for trying to bring wingless sprint car racing back to Eagle
• Bob Mays – Photographer and writer. Historian, author, and current columnist for Flat Out magazine.
• Mike Meyer – Six-time Eagle Modified Champ who got a lot of modified guys started
• Ron Meyer – writer for Dirt Late Model and other magazines
• Chris Moses – whose Oval Operations blog is becoming popular in the sprint car community
• Jason Orth – for the Heartland RaceNews.com site and writing for the Turn Three section in the Lincoln Journal Star (I didn’t want to put myself in, but one of the nominators insisted)
• Joe Orth – Nationally known sprint car photographer, as well as the producer and keeper of a huge repository of visual history, especially Eagle/Midwest Speedway
• Val Perkins of whowon.com – whowon’s message boards were THE hot place for local racing smack talk, not to mention the huge news/track info databank.
• Tyler Phelps – modified builder and driver, a positive influence on other competitors
• Dan Rhiley – supporter of much of the sport compact field at Eagle Raceway
• Bill Smith – the famous “Speedy Bill” of Speedway Motors. Nominated for the influence Speedway Motors has had on the grass-roots level racing parts industry and his support of IMCA.
• Support class teams who are “floating tracks with back gate money”
• Gary Swenson – the most dominant car owner in Eagle history is still fielding competitive cars that are at the front of most 360 shows still.
Where comments weren’t given (again, in alphabetical order):
• Chris Alcorn
• Billy Alley
• Kyle Berck
• Ed Bowes
• Marty Boyer
• Frank Brennfoerder
• Stan Cisar, Jr
• Larry Danhauer
• Tom Deery of DIRT Motorsports / World of Outlaws
• Todd Devenich
• Jack Dover
• Marc and Lori Dover
• Trish Dover
• Don Droud, Jr
• Phil Durst
• John Gerloff
• Tony Glenn
• Tom Grasso
• Tom Gutowski
• Ray Haase
• John Hart – Eagle Raceway Pit Steward
• Todd Henrichs – Lincoln Journal Star sports editor
• Wayne House
• Willie “The Welder” Ideen
• Ray Lipsey
• Charlie Martin
• Terry Klatt
• Don Maxwell
• Curt McKeever of the Lincoln Journal Star
• Randy Palmer
• Joe Proctor
• Bob Richardson
• George Roseland
• Chuck Spanel
• Bruce Steenson
• Ivan Tracy
• Dave Trauernicht
• SLS Promotions (fyi: the co-promoters of the June 2007 WoO show at Eagle)
• Greg Soukup – AKA “Eagle Pit Shack Guy”
• Nick Rubek of the Omaha World Herald
• Ray Valasek
• Wavelink Raceway Park
• Larry White – flagman at Eagle and I-80
To conclude: this is a pretty wide list, but by no means comprehensive. And, there is a lot of Eagle-centrism here, but that’s what I got from the public – it wasn’t intended. If anyone got left off the list, it wasn’t intentional.
There are a LOT of people who do a lot of things at many tracks to make local racing what it is today. Just looking at this list alone shows you how wide the scope of the sport is.
Thanks to everyone who participated!
IMCA to name national Sport Compact rookie of the year
VINTON, Iowa (Jan. 24) - IMCA will name a national rookie of the year
in the Sport Compact class beginning this season.
in the Sport Compact class beginning this season.
Introduced in 2006, the division crowned its first national champion
last year. Rookie of the year candidates must have four or fewer
sanctioned starts in their career and will be required to fill out
and mail or email an application form to the IMCA home office by Aug. 1.
Rookie standings will be based on driver's 30 best feature finishes
out of their first 55 starts. The top freshman driver of 2008 will
receive a plaque and jacket during the IMCA national awards banquet
Nov. 28 in Lincoln, Neb.
"The growth in the number of sanctions last year, as well as the
number of new drivers, was very encouraging," said IMCA Vice
President of Operations Brett Root. "Our Sport Compacts are extremely
economical and I expect another solid influx of drivers to the class
in 2008."
National rookies of the year will be crowned again in the Modified,
Late Model, Sprint Car, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod, Southern
SportMod, Stock Car and Hobby Stock divisions. Regional awards are
given for the Modifieds, Stocks and Hobbies.
The Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models also recognizes a
rookie of the year.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
JMS 2007 Awards Banquet Feb. 2
The York Holiday Inn & Convention Center cordially invites you to the 2007
Junction Motor Speedway Awards Banquet on Saturday-February 2nd. The evening
will start with a cash bar for Happy Hour from 5PM to 6PM. The cash bar will
be held open the entire night. The meal will be held in the Holiday Inn Ball
Room followed by a DVD presentation and digital photo review of '07 racing
action at JMS by Tim Passmore and Jake Miller, then the awards portion of
the evening will commence. Cost per person is $20.00 for dinner and banquet
attendance. There will be no tickets sold at the door. Banquet tickets can
be reserved by calling Barb at 402-773-5538 ext. 539 or by sending an e-mail
request to; barb@junctionmotorspeedway.com
Junction Motor Speedway Awards Banquet on Saturday-February 2nd. The evening
will start with a cash bar for Happy Hour from 5PM to 6PM. The cash bar will
be held open the entire night. The meal will be held in the Holiday Inn Ball
Room followed by a DVD presentation and digital photo review of '07 racing
action at JMS by Tim Passmore and Jake Miller, then the awards portion of
the evening will commence. Cost per person is $20.00 for dinner and banquet
attendance. There will be no tickets sold at the door. Banquet tickets can
be reserved by calling Barb at 402-773-5538 ext. 539 or by sending an e-mail
request to; barb@junctionmotorspeedway.com
Trophies well be awarded to the top ten in each class and monetary awards
will be to the top ten in each class attending 80% of races held. You must
be present to receive your award, or specify representative to receive your
award before the date of the banquet.
The cut-off date to order tickets is Wednesday-January 23rd. Checks and mail
reservations can be sent to:
JMS Banquet Tickets
Junction Motor Speedway
PO Box 524
Sutton, NE 68979
Who: First 250 reservations
What: JMS Awards Banquet
When: Saturday-February 2nd
Where: York Holiday Inn and Convention Center
Why: Fun, Friends, Food, Door Prizes and Awards
Time: 5:00 Happy Hour
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Awards
Proper attire please. For those attending the banquet and wish to stay over
for the night, the Holiday Inn is extending the JMS Racer rate. For room
reservations, call the York Holiday Inn at 1-800-934-5495.
Monday, January 21, 2008
I-80 Office Hours and Season Pit Passes
Greenwood, NE (January 21, 2008) - Effective immediately, the I-80 Speedway
office will be open only on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. As the
season approaches, the office hours will gradually be increased.
office will be open only on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. As the
season approaches, the office hours will gradually be increased.
If you need immediate assistance regarding rules, sanctioning questions or
the schedule, please contact Ed Kosiski at (402) 490-3535 after 5:30 p.m.
during the week. Kosiski is available all day Saturday and Sunday to take
your calls. You may email him at anytime at ed@kosiski.com
If you have questions regarding sponsorship or marketing, please call
Danielle Jensen at (402)659-3301, or email at Danielle@neracewaypark.com
The 2008 season is right around the corner and season pit passes for I-80
Speedway are now available for purchase. Grandstand Pit passes and deck
prices will be announced later.
Our first practice of the year will be Friday, April 4 and pit passes will
be $10 for everyone, with grandstand admission free. Our first race of the
year will be Saturday, April 5th with a "Spec Late Model Racing $2000 to
win" race, and our season will conclude on Sunday, September 21st with the
Cornhusker Classic.
The full updated schedule and price listing is available on the website at
www.neracewaypark.com
Sunday, January 20, 2008
ASCS Midwest Region Tentative 2008 Schedule
April 11 I-80 Nebraska Raceway Park - Greenwood, Ne - Northern Plains / Midwest / Kansas
April 12 I-80 Nebraska Raceway Park - Greenwood, Ne - Northern Plains / Midwest / Kansas
May 23 Junction Motor Speedway - Mccool Junction, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
June 6 Tba - Midwest / Kansas
June 7 Tba - Midwest / Kansas
June 13 Eagle Raceway - Eagle, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
June 27 Junction Motor Speedway - Mccool Junction, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
July 4 Lakeside Speedway - Kansas City, Ks - Ascot National Series / Midwest Pts
July 18 Crawford County Speedway - Denison, Ia - Northern Plains / Midwest / Kansas
July 19 Eagle Raceway - Eagle, Ne - Northern Plains / Midwest / Kansas
July 31 Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, Ia - Ascs 360 Nationals (non Points Race)
Aug 1 Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, Ia - Ascs 360 Nationals (non Points Race)
Aug 2 Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, Ia - Ascs 360 Nationals (non Points Race)
Aug 3 Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, Ia - Tournament Of Champions (non Ascs Sanctioned)
Sept 5 Butler County Motorplex - Rising City, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
Sept 6 Minneapolis Raceway - Minneapolis, Ks - Midwest / Kansas
Sept 7 Eagle Raceway - Eagle, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
April 12 I-80 Nebraska Raceway Park - Greenwood, Ne - Northern Plains / Midwest / Kansas
May 23 Junction Motor Speedway - Mccool Junction, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
June 6 Tba - Midwest / Kansas
June 7 Tba - Midwest / Kansas
June 13 Eagle Raceway - Eagle, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
June 27 Junction Motor Speedway - Mccool Junction, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
July 4 Lakeside Speedway - Kansas City, Ks - Ascot National Series / Midwest Pts
July 18 Crawford County Speedway - Denison, Ia - Northern Plains / Midwest / Kansas
July 19 Eagle Raceway - Eagle, Ne - Northern Plains / Midwest / Kansas
July 31 Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, Ia - Ascs 360 Nationals (non Points Race)
Aug 1 Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, Ia - Ascs 360 Nationals (non Points Race)
Aug 2 Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, Ia - Ascs 360 Nationals (non Points Race)
Aug 3 Knoxville Raceway - Knoxville, Ia - Tournament Of Champions (non Ascs Sanctioned)
Sept 5 Butler County Motorplex - Rising City, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
Sept 6 Minneapolis Raceway - Minneapolis, Ks - Midwest / Kansas
Sept 7 Eagle Raceway - Eagle, Ne - Midwest / Kansas
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Butler County Motorplex 2008 Schedule
Butler County Motorplex outside of Rising City, NE is back to a full schedule after an abbreviated 2007 season. They will race IMCA Sanctioned Modfieds, Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts on Friday nights.
APRIL
April 6th - Practice
April 11th - Opening Night
April 18th - Regular Night
April 25th - Regular Night
MAY
May 2nd - Regular Night
May 9th - Regular Night
May 16th - Regular Night
May 23rd - Fan Appreciation Night
May 30th - Kids Night
JUNE
June 6th - Regular Night
June 13th - "The UpRising" with Added Purse
June 20th - Autograph Night
June - 27th - Regular Night
JULY
July 4th - "Friday Night Fireworks"
July 11th - Regular Night
July 18th - Fan Appreciation Night
July 25th - Regular Night
AUGUST
August 1st - Regular Night
August 8th - Kids Night
August 15th - Regular Night
August 22nd - Championship Night
SEPTEMBER
September 5th - ASCS 360 SPRINT CARS
APRIL
April 6th - Practice
April 11th - Opening Night
April 18th - Regular Night
April 25th - Regular Night
MAY
May 2nd - Regular Night
May 9th - Regular Night
May 16th - Regular Night
May 23rd - Fan Appreciation Night
May 30th - Kids Night
JUNE
June 6th - Regular Night
June 13th - "The UpRising" with Added Purse
June 20th - Autograph Night
June - 27th - Regular Night
JULY
July 4th - "Friday Night Fireworks"
July 11th - Regular Night
July 18th - Fan Appreciation Night
July 25th - Regular Night
AUGUST
August 1st - Regular Night
August 8th - Kids Night
August 15th - Regular Night
August 22nd - Championship Night
SEPTEMBER
September 5th - ASCS 360 SPRINT CARS
2008 I-80 Speedway Schedule
The 2008 I-80 Speedway Tentative Schedule (SLMR= Spec Late Model Racing):
Fri. 4/4 PRACTICE NIGHT ALL CLASSES
Sat. 4/5 *SLMR Special, Support Classes TBD
Fri. 4/11 ASCS Midwest v. Northern Plains Region, Points for NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams and Modifieds
Sat. 4/12 Sprint Car Special, Points for NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams and Modifieds
Fri. 4/18 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams and Modifieds
Sun. 4/20 SLMR, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Fri. 4/25 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams and Modifieds
Sun. 4/27 SLMR, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Sun. 5/4 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, IMCA Crate Models and Sport Compacts
Sun. 5/11 SLMR, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 5/18 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Sun. 5/25 Alphabet Soup Race-Plus Modifieds (Non Points), IMCA Crate Late Models and Hobby Stocks
Sun. 6/1 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Northern Sport Mods and Sport Compacts
Sun. 6/8 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, IMCA Crate Late Models, Hobby Stocks
Sun. 6/15 SLMR, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 6/22 **NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 6/29 **Double NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 7/6 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Northern Sport Mods, Sport Compacts
Sun. 7/13 ***SLMR, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 7/20 ***NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Sun. 7/27 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Sun. 8/3 SLMR, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 8/10 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Northern Sport Mods, Sport Compacts
Tues. 8/12 Tour n’ Topless Husker Nationals plus SLMR and Crate Models
Sun. 8/17 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 8/24 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Northern Sport Mods, Sport Compacts
Sun. 8/31 Champions Night-SLMR, NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, IMCA Crate Late Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Fri. 9/5 Hornet Nationals, Late Models, Hobby Stocks
Sat. 9/6 Hornet Nationals, Pro Ams, B Mods
Fri. 9/19-9/21 Cornhusker Classic
*TENTATIVE, may be removed.
Fri. 4/4 PRACTICE NIGHT ALL CLASSES
Sat. 4/5 *SLMR Special, Support Classes TBD
Fri. 4/11 ASCS Midwest v. Northern Plains Region, Points for NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams and Modifieds
Sat. 4/12 Sprint Car Special, Points for NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams and Modifieds
Fri. 4/18 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams and Modifieds
Sun. 4/20 SLMR, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Fri. 4/25 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams and Modifieds
Sun. 4/27 SLMR, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Sun. 5/4 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, IMCA Crate Models and Sport Compacts
Sun. 5/11 SLMR, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 5/18 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Sun. 5/25 Alphabet Soup Race-Plus Modifieds (Non Points), IMCA Crate Late Models and Hobby Stocks
Sun. 6/1 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Northern Sport Mods and Sport Compacts
Sun. 6/8 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, IMCA Crate Late Models, Hobby Stocks
Sun. 6/15 SLMR, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 6/22 **NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 6/29 **Double NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 7/6 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Northern Sport Mods, Sport Compacts
Sun. 7/13 ***SLMR, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 7/20 ***NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Sun. 7/27 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Sun. 8/3 SLMR, IMCA Crate Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 8/10 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Northern Sport Mods, Sport Compacts
Tues. 8/12 Tour n’ Topless Husker Nationals plus SLMR and Crate Models
Sun. 8/17 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts
Sun. 8/24 NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, Northern Sport Mods, Sport Compacts
Sun. 8/31 Champions Night-SLMR, NASCAR Late Models, Pro Ams, Modifieds, IMCA Crate Late Models, Northern Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts
Fri. 9/5 Hornet Nationals, Late Models, Hobby Stocks
Sat. 9/6 Hornet Nationals, Pro Ams, B Mods
Fri. 9/19-9/21 Cornhusker Classic
*TENTATIVE, may be removed.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Today's money
I was flipping through some financial stuff and found how to convert the value the dollar had in 19-whatever to "today's dollars." Example: if say, a bag of fertilizer or something cost $1.50 in 1965, what would that be in 2007 money? Answer: $9.87. The tool is the consumer price index.
So, I was looking at some old race results and noticed the days when the Chadd brothers (Mike and Dean) dominated the 360 sprint class at Knoxville back in the late 80's.
Mike won last season at Eagle Raceway, paying $1000. The one day I found an actual payoff amount was for Mike's win on 5/29/87. He won $450 according to the article. What's $450 in 2007 dollars?
$817.21.
While there's a LOT of other factors in the cost of racing...seeing what the pay was then converted to today's money is an interesting start in the discussion.
So, I was looking at some old race results and noticed the days when the Chadd brothers (Mike and Dean) dominated the 360 sprint class at Knoxville back in the late 80's.
Mike won last season at Eagle Raceway, paying $1000. The one day I found an actual payoff amount was for Mike's win on 5/29/87. He won $450 according to the article. What's $450 in 2007 dollars?
$817.21.
While there's a LOT of other factors in the cost of racing...seeing what the pay was then converted to today's money is an interesting start in the discussion.
Happy Anniversary to me...
It's been a little over two years since Heartland RaceNews.com got started. The hits and visits continue to grow and I'm looking for an even bigger 2008. Last year saw over 2 million "hits" to the site - double the traffic of 2006.
Some plans for 2008 include
- FINALLY getting some stickers out. Last year with the hectic summer, the move to Omaha (and then back to Lincoln) kind of put a damper in that plan. This year I plan on getting stickers ready before the season. I MAY even think of having a third-party (such as cafepress.com) do HRN-related merchandise (tees, sweatshirts, etc).
- Ads - I'm going to start selling ad space on the website. The goal: pay a little bit of internet bills, fund some newer ideas I have for the site, and yeah - maybe a little gas money for some of the races. I haven't quite figured out pricing.
- More driver/owner/promoter/etc. interviews. At the very least, I may do a "10 questions with so-and-so email." Give each person the same 10 questions and see how they answer. I think it would be a fun way to get to know the people involved in racing. If you're interested in participating, let me know with an email
- Video? Maybe, but I'm not sure about how to implement that. Those who know me personally know I'm a huge photography buff and I'm partial to still photos. Plus, I'm not sure I'll have time to do much video editing. What I may do is shoot the victory lane interviews and post them to the site for starters. On the subject of of photos...
- Online photo ordering - no more emails/delivery at track/etc. I'm looking to set up with an online ordering system where the billing is handled externally and the pics are shipped to you. Continuing with photos...
- Shooting more candids/people shots - Action stuff is fun, and there will be plenty of it but I'd like to get more shots of people in the pits doing the things they do to keep the show going. There may have nights were the action stuff is thin and I may take the camera up to the pits/stands and do some shooting there. Drivers: you may see me wandering around your pit area a little more this year - but I'll keep out of your way!
- Changes to the look/feel of the site. These will be implemented slowly though. I MAY think about providing a "mobile" version of the site formatted for cell phone/PDA, if it can be done easily.
- Creating something along the lines of Chris Moses "Oval Operators." The plan is that anyone running a Heartland Race News sticker on their car would get a link to their driver home page/dirtdrivers driver page/and if the driver has neither, a brief "blog post about the driver" that would have a link on the "links" section of the website.
Of course, if you have ideas for things you want to see - let me know by sending me an email
And finally THANK YOU to the readers, the drivers and tracks for making this whole thing possible and one of the most enjoyable things I've done.
-Jason
Monday, January 14, 2008
Survey - Most Influential in Local Racing
Preface: one thing I want to mention after receiving many suggestions, is that I'm not looking to make this a competition, but to give an idea of who the "movers and shakers" in local racing are, or even their legacy - whose opinions, actions, businesses, etc. are shaping the future of racing at this time. It's not necessarily a greatest driver, most charitable, nicest guy list - although those could be qualifiers. We'll save those categories for later...
Each year, national media often do a poll/survey/article on who is the most influential in that form of racing. Guys like Bruton Smith are near the top of a NASCAR list, Tony George atop Open Wheel, etc.
What I'm looking for is who do you think is most influential in the Eastern Nebraska / Western Iowa / Northern Kansas area.
It can be a promoter, driver, owner, pit crew member, media member, fan or race personality, sanctioning body head...ANYONE who you think influences the programs run in this area.
I'm not looking for a top __ list, but I think limiting the choices to 5-ish is a good place to start.
I'd like to know who you think they are and if you want, a brief explanation of why.
Since I get so much spam in my email, use the word "survey" in the subject so I can pick 'em out. I'd love to hear from you and if you want your name used please include it and let me know.
I'll compile a list of people's selections later.
Thanks,
Jason
To give an example of what I'm talking about, here's my picks (in alphabetical order)
Dave and Kathy Cook - dirtdrivers.com. This has become the de facto place to pass racing news/gossip/information in the area. There are few places which can kick off more of a reaction without being on the track itself.
Gary Dominguez and the Midwest Racers Autograph Day committee. There are very few groups capable of bringing that kind of display each year from a variety of different tracks/sanctions, visited by that many people.
Delmar Friesen - owner/promoter Junction Motor Speedway. The USMTS spring opener along with the annual USAC Cornhusker challenge have become solid fixtures for this facility. The quality of the facility is a benchmark for new tracks - or any track for that matter.
Roger Hadan - promoter, Eagle Raceway. Roger is pushing the envelope in fan entertainment and involvement, and managed to pull in large and growing weekly crowds while much of the fan count is in decline.
LDI - owners/promoters of Nebraska Raceway Park. The Hornet/Sport Compact class didn't begin there, but the success of it set a huge trend and now these classes have become the back-gate moneymaker for most tracks and redefined the entry level class on dirt. In addition, they still are a strong force behind Late Model racing in this area and have built a successful "motorsports park" concept with Karts and Motocross.
Johnny Saathoff - modified driver, promoter, race components business owner. His success on the track makes him a feared competitor at any IMCA modified race. Jet Mods have won 5 IMCA National titles, and he's beginning to revive racing at the NE State Fair Park with his annual state championship races.
Greg Sanford - owner, Nebraska Motorplex. It only makes sense to call someone who gets the most local press BY FAR without having run a race in years influential. A whisper of the location of a proposed site for the new dragstrip creates a firestorm.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Kenny Wallace joins USMTS at Eagle Aug. 12
WALLACE TO TAKE ON O’REILLY USMTS THIRTEEN TIMES IN 2008
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 12) — Kenny Wallace is a fan favorite among NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars, but the 44-year-old driver, racetrack owner and television personality is currently without a ride for the upcoming NASCAR season. But let not your heart be troubled, as dirt racing fans will have an ample number of opportunities to catch “The Hermanator” in action in 2008.
Wallace announced his 2008 dirt track schedule on Thursday, with 13 dates set to compete with the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour.
“As of right now I currently have many people helping me search for a sponsor. We put my marketing video on kennywallace.com to create a shortcut for anyone interested in sponsorship. I am currently talking to both truck and Busch teams and they want me to drive for them because I am a good driver and am marketable,” Wallace said. “Hopefully come Daytona, I will have a ride.”
Wallace's first stop on the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will be on Monday, June 2, at the Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines, Iowa. He'll wrap up his campaign with two races in The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship: Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Eagle (Neb.) Raceway and Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa.
As a child, Wallace’s boisterous behavior earned him the nickname “Herman” after a mischievous cartoon character named Herman the German.
Wallace won the first race he ever entered. It was 1982, and the youngest member of the racing Wallace family, a longtime mechanic and crew member for his brothers Rusty and Mike, had a shot at driving a racecar of his own in the Illinois Street Stock State Championship. Kenny’s win in that race would be the first of many in his racing career.
In September of 1988, Dale Earnhardt gave Wallace the seat for his first-ever NASCAR start. He finished seventh in his first Busch Series start at Martinsville, Va. The following year, Wallace raced the full Busch Series schedule in a car owned by brother Rusty, earning the 1989 Rookie of the Year award and finishing sixth in driver point standings.
Wallace’s Busch Series accomplishments include nine wins, 10 poles, and eight seasons in the top-10 in driver points. In fact, Wallace has finished in the top-10 in every full Busch Series season he has ever run, including a second-place run in 1991 that ended just 74 points shy of the championship in what is still one of the closest points battles in series history.
Wallace drove the #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in 2007. Wallace was voted in by fans to compete in the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last May.
In addition to his driving duties, Wallace also works as an on-air personality for SPEED Channel on shows such as NASCAR RaceDay and NASCAR Victory Lane. He was also featured on the show NASCAR Drivers: 360 on FX and is part owner of the Macon (Ill.) Speedway.
After racing three times with the O’Reilly USMTS road warriors in 2007, the following 13 dates are part of his 2008 agenda:
Mon Jun 2 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA
Tue Jun 17 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA
Tue Jun 24 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD
Wed Jun 25 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD
Tue Jul 22 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN
Wed Jul 23 … Clay County Speedway, Spencer, IA
Tue Jul 29 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA
Wed Jul 30 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA
Mon Aug 4 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS
Tue Aug 5 … 81 Speedway Wichita, KS
Wed Aug 6 … Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, KS
Tue Aug 12 … Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE
Wed Aug 13 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS — America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt.
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 12) — Kenny Wallace is a fan favorite among NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars, but the 44-year-old driver, racetrack owner and television personality is currently without a ride for the upcoming NASCAR season. But let not your heart be troubled, as dirt racing fans will have an ample number of opportunities to catch “The Hermanator” in action in 2008.
Wallace announced his 2008 dirt track schedule on Thursday, with 13 dates set to compete with the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour.
“As of right now I currently have many people helping me search for a sponsor. We put my marketing video on kennywallace.com to create a shortcut for anyone interested in sponsorship. I am currently talking to both truck and Busch teams and they want me to drive for them because I am a good driver and am marketable,” Wallace said. “Hopefully come Daytona, I will have a ride.”
Wallace's first stop on the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will be on Monday, June 2, at the Iowa State Fair Speedway in Des Moines, Iowa. He'll wrap up his campaign with two races in The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship: Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Eagle (Neb.) Raceway and Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa.
As a child, Wallace’s boisterous behavior earned him the nickname “Herman” after a mischievous cartoon character named Herman the German.
Wallace won the first race he ever entered. It was 1982, and the youngest member of the racing Wallace family, a longtime mechanic and crew member for his brothers Rusty and Mike, had a shot at driving a racecar of his own in the Illinois Street Stock State Championship. Kenny’s win in that race would be the first of many in his racing career.
In September of 1988, Dale Earnhardt gave Wallace the seat for his first-ever NASCAR start. He finished seventh in his first Busch Series start at Martinsville, Va. The following year, Wallace raced the full Busch Series schedule in a car owned by brother Rusty, earning the 1989 Rookie of the Year award and finishing sixth in driver point standings.
Wallace’s Busch Series accomplishments include nine wins, 10 poles, and eight seasons in the top-10 in driver points. In fact, Wallace has finished in the top-10 in every full Busch Series season he has ever run, including a second-place run in 1991 that ended just 74 points shy of the championship in what is still one of the closest points battles in series history.
Wallace drove the #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in 2007. Wallace was voted in by fans to compete in the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last May.
In addition to his driving duties, Wallace also works as an on-air personality for SPEED Channel on shows such as NASCAR RaceDay and NASCAR Victory Lane. He was also featured on the show NASCAR Drivers: 360 on FX and is part owner of the Macon (Ill.) Speedway.
After racing three times with the O’Reilly USMTS road warriors in 2007, the following 13 dates are part of his 2008 agenda:
Mon Jun 2 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA
Tue Jun 17 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA
Tue Jun 24 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD
Wed Jun 25 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD
Tue Jul 22 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN
Wed Jul 23 … Clay County Speedway, Spencer, IA
Tue Jul 29 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA
Wed Jul 30 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA
Mon Aug 4 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS
Tue Aug 5 … 81 Speedway Wichita, KS
Wed Aug 6 … Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, KS
Tue Aug 12 … Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE
Wed Aug 13 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS — America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt.
More than 60 dates highlight 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule
WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Jan. 9) — United States Modified Touring Series officials released the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule today with a 60-plus-race line-up that features an exciting slate of races that will make Modified fans salivate.
WARNING: Looking at the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule may make the winter months feel like they'll never end!
“This year's schedule is off the hook,” said USMTS president Todd Staley. “The support we get from O’Reilly Auto Parts and our other great sponsors, along with our top-flight track promoters, has allowed us to assemble a schedule that includes return events at our most popular venues, as well as bolstering the menu with some new racetracks which are the finest you'll find in the country.”
The rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS will thrill race fans in America's heartland with an aggressive National Events campaign which currently features 59 events at 41 different venues in nine different States. The tentative schedule is highlighted with return engagements to 28 facilities that hosted an O’Reilly USMTS National Event last season, along with 11 new venues encompassing some of the most exciting dirt ovals in America.
For the fifth straight year, the O’Reilly USMTS National Events campaign will kick off with a doubleheader at the state-of-the-art Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb. The 5th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw is slated for Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, 2008. Friday’s event will pay $2,000 to win while the victor in Saturday’s main event will pocket $3,000. More than 70 entries are once again expected for the annual lidlifter at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.
A tripleheader next weekend is on tap with a trio of $2,000-to-win shows. The O’Reilly USMTS National Tour makes its debut at the high-banked 1/3-mile oval at the U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., on Friday, March 14. From there, the action moves to the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway on Saturday, March 15, before wrapping up the swing on Sunday, March 16, with an annual trek to the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan.
An encore engagement at U.S. 36 Raceway is slated for Friday, June 20.
One week later, the teams will load 'em up and haul 'em to three more tracks in the Show-Me State with another $6,000-to-win possible. The weekend kicks off on Friday, March 28, at the LA Raceway in LaMonte, Mo., and ends up at the Monett (Mo.) Speedway on Sunday, March 30. Sandwiched between them on Saturday, March 29, the O’Reilly USMTS Modified Masters will take on the lightning-fast Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway.
The action kicks back into high gear in April with a return engagement at the West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs, Okla., on Friday and Saturday, April 4-5. The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, will host the first of three straight races the following weekend beginning Friday, April 11. On Saturday, April 12, it's a first-ever visit to the LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway with the weekend finale taking place at the Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Ill., on Sunday, April 13.
After a grueling first six weeks, teams will get more than a month to regroup before returning to battle on Friday, May 23, at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn.
In addition to the Osborn and LaSalle, several other first-time venues dot the 2008 schedule. The traveling O’Reilly USMTS titans will make their first-ever stop at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, for a $2,000-to-win tilt on Thursday, June 12. The Clay County Speedway in Spencer, Iowa, will host the O’Reilly USMTS mud-slingers on Wednesday, July 23, while the North Iowa Fairgrounds will come to life on Thursday, July 24, at the I-35 Speedway in Mason City, Iowa. Other first-time stops include the newly-reopened Rock County Speedway in Luverne, Minn., on Saturday, July 26, and the 24 Raceway in Moberly, Mo., on Saturday, Aug. 2.
Finally, the O’Reilly USMTS has also scheduled back-to-back-to-back-to-back first-ever stops at the 81 Speedway in Wichita, Kan., on Tuesday, Aug. 5; Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.) on Wednesday, Aug. 6; Nevada (Mo.) Speedway on Thursday, Aug. 7; and Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 8.
Throughout the 2008 racing season, the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will make 2007 season encore stops at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa; Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway; Casino Speedway in Watertown, S.D.; Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn.; Cresco (Iowa) Speedway; Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.; Eagle (Neb.) Raceway; Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa; Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway; Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.; Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway in Des Moines; Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.; Kasson (Minn.) Speedway; Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Ill.; LA Raceway in LaMonte, Mo.; Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway; Monett (Mo.) Speedway; Murray County Speedway in Slayton, Minn. Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn.; Park Jefferson (S.D.) Speedway; Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Ill.; Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa; Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa; Steele County Speedway in Owatonna, Minn.; Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan.; Tri-Oval Speedway in Fountain City, Wis.; Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa; and West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs, Okla.
After a one-year hiatus, one of the most popular fan venues returns to the schedule as the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour returns to the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge, Iowa, for a $2,000-to-win event on Wednesday, June 18. The Mid America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla., is back on the calendar for the first time since the 2002 racing season with a $2,000-to-win event on Saturday, June 21.
The O’Reilly USMTS will return to the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the 10th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-20. The standing-room-only show has become one of the most popular races on the calendars of Modified fans, as well as one of the most lucrative for the drivers. Thursday’s main event winner will pocket $2,000, Friday’s winner will get $4,000 and a $6,000 paycheck awaits Saturday’s champion. Last season's Featherlite Fall Jamboree saw more than 130 Modifieds registered, with a rich pedigree pit area full of America’s best-known pilots.
As many as nine more dates are expected to be added to the 2008 slate as contracts and dates are finalized with several event promoters. The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship season-ending title chase is tentatively set to begin on Friday, Aug. 8, at the Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., and concludes with the finale of the 10th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Saturday, Sept. 20. USMTS officials plan to announce final regional alignments in the next few days as additional race dates become finalized.
The USMTS will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season in 2008 with many special promotions to show thanks to the fans, drivers, team members, families and sponsors who have helped make the USMTS the premier dirt modified series in the nation. More announcements about the 2008 season will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.
The sophomore season of the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series will begin on Friday, April 18, at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park (formerly Motorama Speedway) in Beaumont, Texas, for a $2,000-to-win event, followed up on Saturday, April 19, with another $2,000-to-win show at the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas.
To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters office at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.USMTS.com online.
UNITED STATES MODIFIED TOURING SERIES
O’REILLY USMTS NATIONAL TOUR - 2008 SCHEDULE
Fri Mar 7 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 8 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($3,000 to win)
Fri Mar 14 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 15 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Sun Mar 16 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win)
Fri Mar 28 … LA Raceway, LaMonte, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 29 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Mar 30 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Apr 4 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 5 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK ($3,000 to win)
Fri Apr 11 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 12 … LaSalle Speedway, LaSalle, IL ($2,000 to win)
Sun Apr 13 … Quad City Raceway, East Moline, IL ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 23 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 24 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun May 25 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon May 26 … TBA
Sun Jun 1 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon Jun 2 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 3 … TBA
Tue Jun 10 … Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 11 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 12 … Fayette County Speedway, West Union, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 13 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 17 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 18 … TBA
Thu Jun 19 … TBA
Fri Jun 20 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 21 … Mid America Speedway, South Coffeyville, OK ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 24 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 25 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 26 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 27 … Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 2 … TBA
Thu Jul 3 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jul 4 … Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 22 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 23 … Clay County Speedway, Spencer, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jul 24 … I-35 Speedway, Mason City, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jul 25 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jul 26 … Rock County Speedway, Luverne, MN ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 29 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 30 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jul 31 … Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 1 … Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 2 … 24 Raceway, Moberly, MO ($2,000 to win)
Mon Aug 4 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 5 … 81 Speedway Wichita, KS ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 6 … Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, KS ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 7 … Nevada Speedway, Nevada, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 8 … Midway Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 9 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Aug 10 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 12 … Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 13 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 14 … Steele County Speedway, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 15 … TBA
Thu Aug 28 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 29 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 30 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun Aug 31 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon Sep 1 … TBA
Thu Sep 11 … TBA
Fri Sep 12 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Sep 13 … TBA
Thu Sep 18 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Sep 19 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 20 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
‘The Hunt’ will be comprised of the final 14-18 races of the season. The USMTS points system will be used at all regional events, with the top-10 in the final standings for each of the four regions earning 10 points for first place, 9 points for second place and so forth, descending to 1 point for 10th place in the region. In addition, each driver who competed at all events within a region will earn 5 bonus points. The total points earned for all regions (and/or the USMTS Southern Series) will serve as the base points that each driver will start ‘The Hunt’ with. After base points have been established, the USMTS points system will be used at the remaining events for the drivers in ‘The Hunt’ to determine the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Champion.
For the fans, the ‘The Hunt’ serves as a “playoff” for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. While handicapping gives a slight advantage to the drivers that compete on the entire O’Reilly USMTS National Events circuit, any of the qualified drivers have a legitimate shot at capturing the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. Without question, the 10th Anniversary Season for the O’Reilly USMTS will be the most exciting ever!
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS — America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt.
WARNING: Looking at the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Events schedule may make the winter months feel like they'll never end!
“This year's schedule is off the hook,” said USMTS president Todd Staley. “The support we get from O’Reilly Auto Parts and our other great sponsors, along with our top-flight track promoters, has allowed us to assemble a schedule that includes return events at our most popular venues, as well as bolstering the menu with some new racetracks which are the finest you'll find in the country.”
The rugged road warriors of the O’Reilly USMTS will thrill race fans in America's heartland with an aggressive National Events campaign which currently features 59 events at 41 different venues in nine different States. The tentative schedule is highlighted with return engagements to 28 facilities that hosted an O’Reilly USMTS National Event last season, along with 11 new venues encompassing some of the most exciting dirt ovals in America.
For the fifth straight year, the O’Reilly USMTS National Events campaign will kick off with a doubleheader at the state-of-the-art Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb. The 5th Annual Nebraska Spring Thaw is slated for Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, 2008. Friday’s event will pay $2,000 to win while the victor in Saturday’s main event will pocket $3,000. More than 70 entries are once again expected for the annual lidlifter at the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval.
A tripleheader next weekend is on tap with a trio of $2,000-to-win shows. The O’Reilly USMTS National Tour makes its debut at the high-banked 1/3-mile oval at the U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo., on Friday, March 14. From there, the action moves to the Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway on Saturday, March 15, before wrapping up the swing on Sunday, March 16, with an annual trek to the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan.
An encore engagement at U.S. 36 Raceway is slated for Friday, June 20.
One week later, the teams will load 'em up and haul 'em to three more tracks in the Show-Me State with another $6,000-to-win possible. The weekend kicks off on Friday, March 28, at the LA Raceway in LaMonte, Mo., and ends up at the Monett (Mo.) Speedway on Sunday, March 30. Sandwiched between them on Saturday, March 29, the O’Reilly USMTS Modified Masters will take on the lightning-fast Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway.
The action kicks back into high gear in April with a return engagement at the West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs, Okla., on Friday and Saturday, April 4-5. The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa, will host the first of three straight races the following weekend beginning Friday, April 11. On Saturday, April 12, it's a first-ever visit to the LaSalle (Ill.) Speedway with the weekend finale taking place at the Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Ill., on Sunday, April 13.
After a grueling first six weeks, teams will get more than a month to regroup before returning to battle on Friday, May 23, at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn.
In addition to the Osborn and LaSalle, several other first-time venues dot the 2008 schedule. The traveling O’Reilly USMTS titans will make their first-ever stop at the Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, for a $2,000-to-win tilt on Thursday, June 12. The Clay County Speedway in Spencer, Iowa, will host the O’Reilly USMTS mud-slingers on Wednesday, July 23, while the North Iowa Fairgrounds will come to life on Thursday, July 24, at the I-35 Speedway in Mason City, Iowa. Other first-time stops include the newly-reopened Rock County Speedway in Luverne, Minn., on Saturday, July 26, and the 24 Raceway in Moberly, Mo., on Saturday, Aug. 2.
Finally, the O’Reilly USMTS has also scheduled back-to-back-to-back-to-back first-ever stops at the 81 Speedway in Wichita, Kan., on Tuesday, Aug. 5; Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.) on Wednesday, Aug. 6; Nevada (Mo.) Speedway on Thursday, Aug. 7; and Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., on Friday, Aug. 8.
Throughout the 2008 racing season, the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour will make 2007 season encore stops at the Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa; Bloomfield (Iowa) Speedway; Casino Speedway in Watertown, S.D.; Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn.; Cresco (Iowa) Speedway; Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.; Eagle (Neb.) Raceway; Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa; Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway; Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.; Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway in Des Moines; Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb.; Kasson (Minn.) Speedway; Knox County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Ill.; LA Raceway in LaMonte, Mo.; Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway; Monett (Mo.) Speedway; Murray County Speedway in Slayton, Minn. Nobles County Speedway in Worthington, Minn.; Park Jefferson (S.D.) Speedway; Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Ill.; Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa; Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa; Steele County Speedway in Owatonna, Minn.; Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan.; Tri-Oval Speedway in Fountain City, Wis.; Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa; and West Siloam Speedway in West Siloam Springs, Okla.
After a one-year hiatus, one of the most popular fan venues returns to the schedule as the O’Reilly USMTS National Tour returns to the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge, Iowa, for a $2,000-to-win event on Wednesday, June 18. The Mid America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla., is back on the calendar for the first time since the 2002 racing season with a $2,000-to-win event on Saturday, June 21.
The O’Reilly USMTS will return to the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., for the 10th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-20. The standing-room-only show has become one of the most popular races on the calendars of Modified fans, as well as one of the most lucrative for the drivers. Thursday’s main event winner will pocket $2,000, Friday’s winner will get $4,000 and a $6,000 paycheck awaits Saturday’s champion. Last season's Featherlite Fall Jamboree saw more than 130 Modifieds registered, with a rich pedigree pit area full of America’s best-known pilots.
As many as nine more dates are expected to be added to the 2008 slate as contracts and dates are finalized with several event promoters. The Hunt for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship season-ending title chase is tentatively set to begin on Friday, Aug. 8, at the Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Mo., and concludes with the finale of the 10th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree on Saturday, Sept. 20. USMTS officials plan to announce final regional alignments in the next few days as additional race dates become finalized.
The USMTS will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary Season in 2008 with many special promotions to show thanks to the fans, drivers, team members, families and sponsors who have helped make the USMTS the premier dirt modified series in the nation. More announcements about the 2008 season will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.
The sophomore season of the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series will begin on Friday, April 18, at the Golden Triangle Raceway Park (formerly Motorama Speedway) in Beaumont, Texas, for a $2,000-to-win event, followed up on Saturday, April 19, with another $2,000-to-win show at the Gator Motorplex in Willis, Texas.
To learn more about the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters office at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.USMTS.com online.
UNITED STATES MODIFIED TOURING SERIES
O’REILLY USMTS NATIONAL TOUR - 2008 SCHEDULE
Fri Mar 7 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 8 … Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, NE ($3,000 to win)
Fri Mar 14 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 15 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Sun Mar 16 … Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, KS ($2,000 to win)
Fri Mar 28 … LA Raceway, LaMonte, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Mar 29 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Mar 30 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Apr 4 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 5 … West Siloam Speedway, West Siloam Springs, OK ($3,000 to win)
Fri Apr 11 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Apr 12 … LaSalle Speedway, LaSalle, IL ($2,000 to win)
Sun Apr 13 … Quad City Raceway, East Moline, IL ($2,000 to win)
Fri May 23 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat May 24 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun May 25 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon May 26 … TBA
Sun Jun 1 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon Jun 2 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 3 … TBA
Tue Jun 10 … Adams County Speedway, Corning, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 11 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 12 … Fayette County Speedway, West Union, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 13 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 17 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 18 … TBA
Thu Jun 19 … TBA
Fri Jun 20 … U.S. 36 Raceway, Osborn, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jun 21 … Mid America Speedway, South Coffeyville, OK ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jun 24 … Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, SD ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jun 25 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jun 26 … Casino Speedway, Watertown, SD ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jun 27 … Rapid Speedway, Rock Rapids, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 2 … TBA
Thu Jul 3 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jul 4 … Murray County Speedway, Slayton, MN ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 22 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 23 … Clay County Speedway, Spencer, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jul 24 … I-35 Speedway, Mason City, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Jul 25 … Tri-Oval Speedway, Fountain City, WI ($2,000 to win)
Sat Jul 26 … Rock County Speedway, Luverne, MN ($2,000 to win)
Tue Jul 29 … Cresco Speedway, Cresco, IA ($2,000 to win)
Wed Jul 30 … Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Jul 31 … Knox County Fairgrounds, Knoxville, IL ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 1 … Bloomfield Speedway, Bloomfield, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 2 … 24 Raceway, Moberly, MO ($2,000 to win)
Mon Aug 4 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 5 … 81 Speedway Wichita, KS ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 6 … Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, KS ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 7 … Nevada Speedway, Nevada, MO ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 8 … Midway Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 9 … Lebanon I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, MO ($2,000 to win)
Sun Aug 10 … Monett Speedway, Monett, MO ($2,000 to win)
Tue Aug 12 … Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE ($2,000 to win)
Wed Aug 13 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA ($2,000 to win)
Thu Aug 14 … Steele County Speedway, Owatonna, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 15 … TBA
Thu Aug 28 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA ($2,000 to win)
Fri Aug 29 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sat Aug 30 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Sun Aug 31 … Kasson Speedway, Kasson, MN ($2,000 to win)
Mon Sep 1 … TBA
Thu Sep 11 … TBA
Fri Sep 12 … Iowa State Fair Speedway, Des Moines, IA ($2,000 to win)
Sat Sep 13 … TBA
Thu Sep 18 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($2,000 to win)
Fri Sep 19 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($4,000 to win)
Sat Sep 20 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN ($6,000 to win)
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
‘The Hunt’ will be comprised of the final 14-18 races of the season. The USMTS points system will be used at all regional events, with the top-10 in the final standings for each of the four regions earning 10 points for first place, 9 points for second place and so forth, descending to 1 point for 10th place in the region. In addition, each driver who competed at all events within a region will earn 5 bonus points. The total points earned for all regions (and/or the USMTS Southern Series) will serve as the base points that each driver will start ‘The Hunt’ with. After base points have been established, the USMTS points system will be used at the remaining events for the drivers in ‘The Hunt’ to determine the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS National Champion.
For the fans, the ‘The Hunt’ serves as a “playoff” for the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. While handicapping gives a slight advantage to the drivers that compete on the entire O’Reilly USMTS National Events circuit, any of the qualified drivers have a legitimate shot at capturing the O’Reilly USMTS National Championship. Without question, the 10th Anniversary Season for the O’Reilly USMTS will be the most exciting ever!
To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, call the headquarters at (515) 832-7944 or visit www.usmts.com online for the latest news and information from the USMTS — America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Butler County Motorplex to feature four IMCA divisions
From IMCA
RISING CITY, Neb. (Jan. 11) – Two IMCA divisions return, while two
more sanctioned classes will be new this season at Butler County
Motorplex.
The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Sport Compacts make their
debut at Rising City, while the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Hobby
Stocks are back after a one-year absence.
Opening night at the 1/3-mile dirt oval is scheduled for April 11,
with Friday night point races continuing through Aug. 22.
“From the drivers we’ve talked to, there is a lot of inter est in the
Northern SportMods and we expect car counts to go up throughout the
season,” said promoter Char lotte Bivens. “The Sport Compacts are a
class that allows new drivers to start racing very economically and I
know other tracks where they run that have very strong car counts.”
Modified points earned at Rising City apply toward SuperFlow Central
Region standings. Hobby Stock points figure in the Jet Racing
Northern Region.
All four IMCA classes will also vie for shares of a higher purse
during the Friday the 13th program in June.
Butler County Motorplex is the third Nebraska speed plant to add the
Northern SportMods for 2008. They’re also new to Saturday shows at
Beatrice Speedway and Sunday cards at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood.
“I think sanctioning will bring in more area drivers chasing IMCA
national, regional and state points,” Bivens said. “They’ll have the
opportunity to race as many as three times a weekend with a
reasonable amount of travel.”
RISING CITY, Neb. (Jan. 11) – Two IMCA divisions return, while two
more sanctioned classes will be new this season at Butler County
Motorplex.
The Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Sport Compacts make their
debut at Rising City, while the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Hobby
Stocks are back after a one-year absence.
Opening night at the 1/3-mile dirt oval is scheduled for April 11,
with Friday night point races continuing through Aug. 22.
“From the drivers we’ve talked to, there is a lot of inter est in the
Northern SportMods and we expect car counts to go up throughout the
season,” said promoter Char lotte Bivens. “The Sport Compacts are a
class that allows new drivers to start racing very economically and I
know other tracks where they run that have very strong car counts.”
Modified points earned at Rising City apply toward SuperFlow Central
Region standings. Hobby Stock points figure in the Jet Racing
Northern Region.
All four IMCA classes will also vie for shares of a higher purse
during the Friday the 13th program in June.
Butler County Motorplex is the third Nebraska speed plant to add the
Northern SportMods for 2008. They’re also new to Saturday shows at
Beatrice Speedway and Sunday cards at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood.
“I think sanctioning will bring in more area drivers chasing IMCA
national, regional and state points,” Bivens said. “They’ll have the
opportunity to race as many as three times a weekend with a
reasonable amount of travel.”
I-80 2007 Banquet Recap
From I-80 Speedway
Greenwood, NE (January 10, 2008)- The 2007 I-80 Speedway and champions were crowned on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the Millard American Legion. There were 11 different drivers in 12 divisions who were recognziewd by fellow drivers, family and sponsors during the annual awards banquet.
The champions and their divisions are:
Al Humphrey (#6) in the 2007 Dodge Super Late Models, Jason Hobscheidt (#1) in the Great Clips Crate Late Models, Matt Richards (#1r) in the Modifieds, Jesse Sobbing (#99) in the Hobby Stocks, Shaun Bulin (#36) in the Ty’s Outdoor Power Equipment Pro Stocks and the Certified Transmission Pro Ams, Todd Hipnar (#12) in the City Weekly Grand Nationals, Jared Hoefelman (#15h) in the the Midas B Mods, Justin Soule (#16j) in the Stereo West Auto Toys Pro Hornets, Alex Fink (#2) in the Stereo West Auto Toys Novice Hornets, Ryan Gladwin (#J1) in the Novice Crate Late Models, and Nick Clifford (#99c) in the Midwest Linings 305 Sprints.
Special recognition awards went to:
Most Improved Driver– by Action Signs
Stereo West Auto Toys Hornets-81 Steve England
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints-96 Dan Satriano
Midas B Mods-21 Jim Fritz
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-24 Don Mohr
Great Clips Crate Late Models-(tie)
-2 Dwane Pospisil and 2d Todd Morgan
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-T72 Thad Thomson
City Weekly Grand Nationals-(tie)
-12 Todd Hipnar and 2x Andrew Kosiski
Hobby Stocks-m70 Rick Munson
Pro Mods-4 JC Wyman
Dodge Super Late Model- 00 Clint Benson
Best Appearing Car presented by Ultimate Racing Products
Stereo West Auto Toys Hornets-9x Joe Baker
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints-9t Trish Dover
Midas B Mods-Z00 Lacey Tuttle
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-49x Chad Sanders
Great Clips Crate Late Models-2d Todd Morgan
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-25x Joe Feyen
City Weekly Grand Nationals-35 Kortney Kosiski
Hobby Stocks-7 Tom Myers
Pro Mods-95 Buzz Wilson
Dodge Super Late Model-80 Scott Koskovich
Most Popular Driver Award
Stereo West Auto Toys Hornets-15 Jamie Spanel
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints-95 Nick Satriano
Midas B Mods-71 Floyd Richards
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-90 Andy Miller
Great Clips Crate Late Models-1 Jason Hobscheidt
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-49x Chad Sanders
City Weekly Grand Nationals-2x Andrew Kosiski
Hobby Stocks-6 Jimmy Nichols, Jr.
Pro Mods-4 JC Wyman
Dodge Super Late Model-53 Joe Kosiski
Rookie of the Year
Stereo West Auto Toys Hornets-13 Pete Fink Jr.
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints-99c Nick Clifford
Midas B Mods-15h Jared Hoefelman
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-55d Nick Deal
Great Clips Crate Late Models-2x Andrew Kosiski
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-84 Doug Stevenson, Jr.
City Weekly Grand Nationals-51 Matt Buller
Hobby Stocks-4w Joe Wollenhaupt
Pro Mods-16 Reese Coffee
Dodge Super Late Model-25 Kenny Edwards
The 2007 Total Performance Parts Rising Star finalists, as well as the top Rising Star also were announced:
Novice Crate Late Models-Lindsey Yost and Ryan Gladwin
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints- Trish Dover
Midas B Mods-Lacey Tuttle
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-Nick Deal
Great Clips Crate Late Models-Andrew Kosiski
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-Tim Padroza
City Weekly Grand Nationals-Brad Soll
Hobby Stocks-Jesse Sobbing
Pro Mods-JC Wyman
Dodge Super Late Model-Jason Hobscheidt
Top Rising Star: Jason Hobscheidt
Also recognized were the 24 drivers who made the “Top 500” for the NASCAR Whelen All American Series, as well as the State Top 10.
Greenwood, NE (January 10, 2008)- The 2007 I-80 Speedway and champions were crowned on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the Millard American Legion. There were 11 different drivers in 12 divisions who were recognziewd by fellow drivers, family and sponsors during the annual awards banquet.
The champions and their divisions are:
Al Humphrey (#6) in the 2007 Dodge Super Late Models, Jason Hobscheidt (#1) in the Great Clips Crate Late Models, Matt Richards (#1r) in the Modifieds, Jesse Sobbing (#99) in the Hobby Stocks, Shaun Bulin (#36) in the Ty’s Outdoor Power Equipment Pro Stocks and the Certified Transmission Pro Ams, Todd Hipnar (#12) in the City Weekly Grand Nationals, Jared Hoefelman (#15h) in the the Midas B Mods, Justin Soule (#16j) in the Stereo West Auto Toys Pro Hornets, Alex Fink (#2) in the Stereo West Auto Toys Novice Hornets, Ryan Gladwin (#J1) in the Novice Crate Late Models, and Nick Clifford (#99c) in the Midwest Linings 305 Sprints.
Special recognition awards went to:
Most Improved Driver– by Action Signs
Stereo West Auto Toys Hornets-81 Steve England
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints-96 Dan Satriano
Midas B Mods-21 Jim Fritz
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-24 Don Mohr
Great Clips Crate Late Models-(tie)
-2 Dwane Pospisil and 2d Todd Morgan
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-T72 Thad Thomson
City Weekly Grand Nationals-(tie)
-12 Todd Hipnar and 2x Andrew Kosiski
Hobby Stocks-m70 Rick Munson
Pro Mods-4 JC Wyman
Dodge Super Late Model- 00 Clint Benson
Best Appearing Car presented by Ultimate Racing Products
Stereo West Auto Toys Hornets-9x Joe Baker
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints-9t Trish Dover
Midas B Mods-Z00 Lacey Tuttle
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-49x Chad Sanders
Great Clips Crate Late Models-2d Todd Morgan
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-25x Joe Feyen
City Weekly Grand Nationals-35 Kortney Kosiski
Hobby Stocks-7 Tom Myers
Pro Mods-95 Buzz Wilson
Dodge Super Late Model-80 Scott Koskovich
Most Popular Driver Award
Stereo West Auto Toys Hornets-15 Jamie Spanel
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints-95 Nick Satriano
Midas B Mods-71 Floyd Richards
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-90 Andy Miller
Great Clips Crate Late Models-1 Jason Hobscheidt
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-49x Chad Sanders
City Weekly Grand Nationals-2x Andrew Kosiski
Hobby Stocks-6 Jimmy Nichols, Jr.
Pro Mods-4 JC Wyman
Dodge Super Late Model-53 Joe Kosiski
Rookie of the Year
Stereo West Auto Toys Hornets-13 Pete Fink Jr.
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints-99c Nick Clifford
Midas B Mods-15h Jared Hoefelman
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-55d Nick Deal
Great Clips Crate Late Models-2x Andrew Kosiski
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-84 Doug Stevenson, Jr.
City Weekly Grand Nationals-51 Matt Buller
Hobby Stocks-4w Joe Wollenhaupt
Pro Mods-16 Reese Coffee
Dodge Super Late Model-25 Kenny Edwards
The 2007 Total Performance Parts Rising Star finalists, as well as the top Rising Star also were announced:
Novice Crate Late Models-Lindsey Yost and Ryan Gladwin
Midwest Linings 305 Sprints- Trish Dover
Midas B Mods-Lacey Tuttle
Ty’s Outdoor Pro Stocks-Nick Deal
Great Clips Crate Late Models-Andrew Kosiski
Certified Transmission Pro Ams-Tim Padroza
City Weekly Grand Nationals-Brad Soll
Hobby Stocks-Jesse Sobbing
Pro Mods-JC Wyman
Dodge Super Late Model-Jason Hobscheidt
Top Rising Star: Jason Hobscheidt
Also recognized were the 24 drivers who made the “Top 500” for the NASCAR Whelen All American Series, as well as the State Top 10.
Eagle Raceway 2007 Awards Banquet Recap
From Eagle Raceway
The 2007 Awards Banquet was held on Saturday, January 5th, 2008 at the Double D Ranch in Ashland, NE. Trophies were awarded to the top 10 in each division.
Congratulations to the 2007 track champions:
Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints- Mike Boston
Bud Light Wingless Sprints- Jeff Lowery
Monster IMCA Modifieds- Chris Alcorn
Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks- Justin Wulf
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Kyle Schamp
Congratulations to the 2007 Rookies of the Year:
Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints- Trevor Grossenbacher
Monster IMCA Modifieds- Dylan Smith
Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks- Dan Noonan
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Jake Sells
Congratulations to the 2007 Most Improved Drivers:
Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints- Gage Dorr
Monster IMCA Modifieds- Chad Andersen
Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks- Nick Beckman
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Kyle Schamp
Congratulations to the 2007 Best Appearing Car:
Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints- Ken Klabunde
Congratulations to the 2007 Hard Luck Award:
Bud Light Wingless Sprints- Jay Jordan
Congratulations to the 2007 Slick Chick Award:
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Amanda Rhiley
Congratulations to the 2007 Homer Simpson Award:
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Dan Rhiley
Congratulations to the 2007 Horizon Award:
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Kyle Schamp
The 2007 Awards Banquet was held on Saturday, January 5th, 2008 at the Double D Ranch in Ashland, NE. Trophies were awarded to the top 10 in each division.
Congratulations to the 2007 track champions:
Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints- Mike Boston
Bud Light Wingless Sprints- Jeff Lowery
Monster IMCA Modifieds- Chris Alcorn
Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks- Justin Wulf
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Kyle Schamp
Congratulations to the 2007 Rookies of the Year:
Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints- Trevor Grossenbacher
Monster IMCA Modifieds- Dylan Smith
Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks- Dan Noonan
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Jake Sells
Congratulations to the 2007 Most Improved Drivers:
Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints- Gage Dorr
Monster IMCA Modifieds- Chad Andersen
Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks- Nick Beckman
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Kyle Schamp
Congratulations to the 2007 Best Appearing Car:
Budweiser Championship 360 Sprints- Ken Klabunde
Congratulations to the 2007 Hard Luck Award:
Bud Light Wingless Sprints- Jay Jordan
Congratulations to the 2007 Slick Chick Award:
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Amanda Rhiley
Congratulations to the 2007 Homer Simpson Award:
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Dan Rhiley
Congratulations to the 2007 Horizon Award:
Stereo West Auto Toy's IMCA Sport Compacts- Kyle Schamp
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Beatrice unveils IMCA Northern SportMods this season
From IMCA
BEATRICE, Neb. (Jan. 9) – A fourth IMCA division joins race programs
at Beatrice Speedway this season, with the addition of the Karl
Chevrolet Northern SportMod class to Saturday night shows.
The regular point season for sanctioned Modifieds, Hobby Stocks,
Sport Compacts and Northern SportMods runs from April 12 through Aug.
30.
All four divisions will also be featured at the Spring Nationals
special on March 13-15 and at Octoberfest on Oct. 2-4.
“SportMods are the fastest growing class around and we wanted to be
in on the beginning on this,” explained promoter Toby Kruse. “Working
with Butler County Motorplex at Rising City and I-80 Speedway at
Greenwood gives drivers three places to race for points every weekend
and creates a larger pool of cars for each of the three tracks to
draw from.”
Butler County and I-80 are also adding the Northern SportMod class in
2008.
BEATRICE, Neb. (Jan. 9) – A fourth IMCA division joins race programs
at Beatrice Speedway this season, with the addition of the Karl
Chevrolet Northern SportMod class to Saturday night shows.
The regular point season for sanctioned Modifieds, Hobby Stocks,
Sport Compacts and Northern SportMods runs from April 12 through Aug.
30.
All four divisions will also be featured at the Spring Nationals
special on March 13-15 and at Octoberfest on Oct. 2-4.
“SportMods are the fastest growing class around and we wanted to be
in on the beginning on this,” explained promoter Toby Kruse. “Working
with Butler County Motorplex at Rising City and I-80 Speedway at
Greenwood gives drivers three places to race for points every weekend
and creates a larger pool of cars for each of the three tracks to
draw from.”
Butler County and I-80 are also adding the Northern SportMod class in
2008.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Beatrice Speedway Kids Club Call for Sponsors
From Rhonda Wisdom
Hello, there is a kids club starting at Beatrice Speedway for ages 4-11. Each night of the next race season will be a themed/business night. Such as Dental Health night, Paper Airplane Contests, Bank Night, Coloring Contests, Bike Races, #114 Race Team Night, etc….
I am asking if your business/race team would be interested in sponsoring a night. On average, we have about 100 Kids at the races each week.
You have 2 choices in the level of sponsorship:
Choice #1 is $25. Your business/race team would be listed on the Beatrice Speedway Website, and the Wisdom Race Photos website. Your business/race team name would be mentioned several times during the evening as a Kids Club Sponsor for that evening. In addition you will provide some type of giveaways for the members that evening. You do not need to be present for any of this, if you choose to be, you will certainly be recognized during the evening.
Choice #2 is $75. This choice is the same as #1, except, we will also put your business/race team name on the Kids Club t-shirts. Each Kids Club member will receive a t-shirt free of charge. They will be asked to wear this shirt each week. This option is only available until February 1 in order to get the t-shirts printed in time. –Just think, that’s 100 little billboards running around with your business on their shirt!!!
Examples of giveaways are: if you are a dentist, you could provide toothbrushes and toothpaste to the members. If you only wanted to provide 1 or 2 large items to be given away in a drawing for the Kids Club, that can be done also, such a savings bond or a backpack of school supplies etc. If you are a race team, you could provide pop or juice boxes to all the members, or you could provide a couple of t-shirts to be given to the members, etc.. If you’re restaurant, you could provide free kids meal coupons or free ice cream cone coupons for the kids members.
I will be calling you in the next week or so, please think not only of how this will benefit you, think of how you can make this Kids Club a success by sponsoring a night. Please have in mind the giveaway you will be sponsoring. The sponsorship fee and the giveaways need to be paid and furnished by February 1. I know this is early for the race season, but we have to be sure we have enough sponsors to cover every night of racing.
Thanks so much for your generosity and support of Beatrice Speedway.
Make checks payable to Rhonda Wisdom/Wisdom Race Photos.
Rhonda Wisdom, 402-239-4952, www.wisdomracephotos.com & www.beatricespeedway.com
Download your sponsorship form by clicking here
Hello, there is a kids club starting at Beatrice Speedway for ages 4-11. Each night of the next race season will be a themed/business night. Such as Dental Health night, Paper Airplane Contests, Bank Night, Coloring Contests, Bike Races, #114 Race Team Night, etc….
I am asking if your business/race team would be interested in sponsoring a night. On average, we have about 100 Kids at the races each week.
You have 2 choices in the level of sponsorship:
Choice #1 is $25. Your business/race team would be listed on the Beatrice Speedway Website, and the Wisdom Race Photos website. Your business/race team name would be mentioned several times during the evening as a Kids Club Sponsor for that evening. In addition you will provide some type of giveaways for the members that evening. You do not need to be present for any of this, if you choose to be, you will certainly be recognized during the evening.
Choice #2 is $75. This choice is the same as #1, except, we will also put your business/race team name on the Kids Club t-shirts. Each Kids Club member will receive a t-shirt free of charge. They will be asked to wear this shirt each week. This option is only available until February 1 in order to get the t-shirts printed in time. –Just think, that’s 100 little billboards running around with your business on their shirt!!!
Examples of giveaways are: if you are a dentist, you could provide toothbrushes and toothpaste to the members. If you only wanted to provide 1 or 2 large items to be given away in a drawing for the Kids Club, that can be done also, such a savings bond or a backpack of school supplies etc. If you are a race team, you could provide pop or juice boxes to all the members, or you could provide a couple of t-shirts to be given to the members, etc.. If you’re restaurant, you could provide free kids meal coupons or free ice cream cone coupons for the kids members.
I will be calling you in the next week or so, please think not only of how this will benefit you, think of how you can make this Kids Club a success by sponsoring a night. Please have in mind the giveaway you will be sponsoring. The sponsorship fee and the giveaways need to be paid and furnished by February 1. I know this is early for the race season, but we have to be sure we have enough sponsors to cover every night of racing.
Thanks so much for your generosity and support of Beatrice Speedway.
Make checks payable to Rhonda Wisdom/Wisdom Race Photos.
Rhonda Wisdom, 402-239-4952, www.wisdomracephotos.com & www.beatricespeedway.com
Download your sponsorship form by clicking here
Friday, January 04, 2008
Thayer Co. Speedway Meeting 2/3/08
From Tommy Denton, Thayer County Speedway Promoter:
The Thayer County Speedway meeting will be held February 3, 2008 from 2:00pm
to 4:00pm at the Thayer Co. Fairgrounds. Drivers will have the chance to
register their numbers and buy a pit stall. Number registration will be $30
and buying a pit stall will be $25. Speedway Promoter Tommy Denton will be
there to answer any questions. Allen Langdale, Central region director for
IMCA will be there to answer your questions as well. We look forward to
meeting everyone.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Team Dover Ready For The Chili Bowl Nationals
By Team Dover Media
SPRINGFIELD, Neb. (January 3, 2008) - With the 22nd
edition of the Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals less than a week
away, Team Dover Racing is ready to head to Tulsa. Trish
Dover will be making her second Chili Bowl appearance and
Jack Dover is set to make his first Chili Bowl start.
Though Jack is a Chili Bowl rookie, he is familiar with
the Tulsa Expo Raceway. In 2004 he picked up a Golden
Driller trophy as the Tulsa Shootout Restricted “A” Class
Micro Sprint Champion. Jack is scheduled to qualify in
Wednesday's Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Night.
Jack had a tough time finding a car that would accommodate
his 6' 5" frame. A trip to Belleville, IL, on Thursday,
December 27 landed him in the Anderson Motorsports No. 53,
Dave Schmidt Truck Service, Bedrock Raceway, 3 D Auto
Transport, RMS, Fontana Ford powered Spike chassis.
"I'm very excited to finally get to drive a Midget and to
do it at the Chili Bowl makes it even better." Jack
stated. "I can't wait to race at the Expo Center again."
I'd like to thank Anderson Motorsports for the chance to
drive their car and to all of their sponsors and mine for
making this possible."
Trish will team with Scott Pierovich of Alamo, CA, in the
Lance Pierovich No. 6p, Bob Wirth Mopar powered Good Guys
Hot Rod Association, 3 D Auto Transport, RMS, Spike
Chassis. Trish will qualify in Tuesday's Pre-Qualifying
Night.
"I'm really looking forward to running the Chili Bowl
again." Trish said. "I had a great time last year and met
a lot of great people." This is the direction I want to go
with my racing career and this experience is so very
valuable."
Jack and Trish will become the second Brother-Sister team
to compete in the history of the Chili Bowl Nationals,
Zach and Stephanie Chappell were the first in 2002.
The 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals takes place
January 8-12, 2008 at the Tulsa Expo Raceway ¼-mile clay
oval inside the newly renamed QuikTrip Center in Tulsa,
OK.
To all the others that have made Team Dover's 2008 Chili
Bowl possible, you know who you are and we thank you.
For more information about the Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals
visit www.chilibowl.com
For more information about Team Dover visit
www.teamdover.com
SPRINGFIELD, Neb. (January 3, 2008) - With the 22nd
edition of the Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals less than a week
away, Team Dover Racing is ready to head to Tulsa. Trish
Dover will be making her second Chili Bowl appearance and
Jack Dover is set to make his first Chili Bowl start.
Though Jack is a Chili Bowl rookie, he is familiar with
the Tulsa Expo Raceway. In 2004 he picked up a Golden
Driller trophy as the Tulsa Shootout Restricted “A” Class
Micro Sprint Champion. Jack is scheduled to qualify in
Wednesday's Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Night.
Jack had a tough time finding a car that would accommodate
his 6' 5" frame. A trip to Belleville, IL, on Thursday,
December 27 landed him in the Anderson Motorsports No. 53,
Dave Schmidt Truck Service, Bedrock Raceway, 3 D Auto
Transport, RMS, Fontana Ford powered Spike chassis.
"I'm very excited to finally get to drive a Midget and to
do it at the Chili Bowl makes it even better." Jack
stated. "I can't wait to race at the Expo Center again."
I'd like to thank Anderson Motorsports for the chance to
drive their car and to all of their sponsors and mine for
making this possible."
Trish will team with Scott Pierovich of Alamo, CA, in the
Lance Pierovich No. 6p, Bob Wirth Mopar powered Good Guys
Hot Rod Association, 3 D Auto Transport, RMS, Spike
Chassis. Trish will qualify in Tuesday's Pre-Qualifying
Night.
"I'm really looking forward to running the Chili Bowl
again." Trish said. "I had a great time last year and met
a lot of great people." This is the direction I want to go
with my racing career and this experience is so very
valuable."
Jack and Trish will become the second Brother-Sister team
to compete in the history of the Chili Bowl Nationals,
Zach and Stephanie Chappell were the first in 2002.
The 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals takes place
January 8-12, 2008 at the Tulsa Expo Raceway ¼-mile clay
oval inside the newly renamed QuikTrip Center in Tulsa,
OK.
To all the others that have made Team Dover's 2008 Chili
Bowl possible, you know who you are and we thank you.
For more information about the Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals
visit www.chilibowl.com
For more information about Team Dover visit
www.teamdover.com
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