Blackbird Bend returns for action in 2011

From Bob Coney, Sr.

We have leased the track for the 2011 season. Well known race team owner, Mark Godberson will be the financial backer and be in charge of operation of BBB Speedway. We need input on who will be supporting our racetrack and what classes you want to run. Racing will be run on Fridays. All operations will be run by our group: concessions, beer stands, track preparation and maintenance.

We need workers for all positions. We prefer past or present help from Blackbird, Park Jefferson, Interstate, other area tracks. We also need concession and beer stand managers. The sanction will probably not be available from IMCA until next year because of past experience at the track. Mark said "to make sure everyone knows that payout will be the best in the area." Pit stalls on concrete will be $100. Only 11 left. Mail job apps. and comments to Bob Coney Sr. 1600 Indian Hills Dr. Sioux City IA. 51104 

Women For Racing Car Show + Test & Tune April 9

Bring out your race cars and mingle with the public at the WFR Car Show, April 9th, at the Gage County Fair Grounds. All drivers are asked to have their cars positioned at the fair grounds no later than 10:00 a.m.. All classes will be judged and awarded trophies and prizes. Judging will be complete by 12:00, noon. WFR will have hotdogs, chips and sodas for sale.

Test & Tune will be held after the carshow weather permitting.

Everyone come on out and support the drivers and WFR!

Thank you to the Gage County Fairboard for the use of the fair grounds for this event.

Carrie Hancock
WFR Member

Little Sunset Speedway Gets Facelift

Little Sunset Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park has had a facelift and it has taken on a whole new look. The track is wider and higher banked and will be home to some exciting racing this year. In addition to the tracks facelift, a number of other changes have been made with a new pit entrance, pit shack and fans entrance.

The 2011 season at Little Sunset will kick off on Sunday, April 3 and again on Sunday, April 10 with go kart races (non-point races). Gates open at Noon with racing at 2pm. Entry fee is $15, Pit Passes $15, Cold Passes $10 and Grandstand Admission $5.

Then on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 Little Sunset will be hosting two exciting nights of racing. Mini Sprints, Hornets, Dwarf Cars, Motorcycles, 4 wheelers and B Mods will be racing both nights. Go Karts will also be racing on April 16. Entry Fee is $15, Pit Passes $15 and Grandstand Admission $5. Pits open at 3pm on Saturday with racing at 5pm. On Sunday pits open at Noon with racing at 2pm.

A complete 2011 Little Sunset Schedule will be released shortly. For more information call Ed Kosiski at (402)-659-3301

I-80 Increases Purse for ASCS Events

I-80 Speedway (I-80) and the Junction Motor Speedway (JMS) are proud to announce a combined series of ASCS Midwest Series Sprint Cars races. For the shows that are ran on consecutive nights (Thursday/Friday) at I-80 and JMS, you must run both shows to be eligible for the full purse.

For more information contact Ed Kosiski at (402)-659-3301

2011 Sprint Car Schedule
Date	Location	To Win
Friday, April 8	I-80	$3,000
Saturday, April 9	I-80	$3,000
Thursday, May 26	*I-80	$2,000
Friday, May 27	*JMS	$3,000
Thursday, June 30	*JMS	$2,000
Friday, July 1	*I-80	$3,000
Friday, September 2	I-80	$3,000
Saturday, September 10	JMS	$3,000
Friday, September 23	I-80	$3,000

*These races are combined shows. You must race both races to be eligible for the increased purse. All features are 25 laps.

Eagle Raceway Open House April 14

From Eagle Raceway

We want to make sure that everyone comes out for the Open House at Eagle Raceway so that they can be the first ones to see the improvements made to the racing surface.

"America's Home Track" has always been and will always be a great place to compete and to see the best competition anywhere. But to ensure that the racing is second to none, changes were undertaken. With that in mind, work began last fall and will continue this week. In addition, modifications in the way that the track is prepped weekly are being instituted.

To see the effects of these changes, come out to the Open House on April 14th. Front gate admission is absolutely free with pit passes costing only $10.

Then, come back the next 2 nights to see the Icebreaker Challenge featuring the Rev Honey IMCA Modifieds racing for a top prize of $1000 to win on Friday and $2000 to win on Saturday. Also on the card are the ASCS 360 sprints vying for a $1500 top prize both evenings. Pit gates open at 4 P.M. both days, with pit passes costing $25.

Friday will also see the NAPA IMCA Sport Modifieds and the Good Old Time Racing Association with hot laps at 7 and racing at 8. Saturday the support classes are the Valentino's IMCA Hobby Stocks and the Exhaust Pros IMCA Sport Compacts. Hot laps will begin at 5:30 with racing at 6:30.

Front gate admission Friday will be $10 for adults, $5 for youths 6-12 and children 5 and under free. Saturday the adult admission is $15, youths $5 and children free. Front gates will open Friday at 6 and Saturday at 5.

I-80 Cup coming to I-80 Speedway on April 8 & 9

I-80 Speedway will be welcoming the ASCS Midwest Regional Sprint Cars on Friday, April 8 & Saturday, April 9 for the I-80 Cup. The ASCS Midwest Cars will be running complete shows on both nights paying $3,000 to win and $300 to start. Features both nights will be 25 laps.

Also featured Friday night will be Qualifying events for Grand National/Crate Late Models, B Mods, ProAm/Stock Cars and Hornets (no sanction and no points). Saturday night is another complete show for the ASCS Midwest Sprints, in addition there will be last chance races and feature races for Grand Nationals/Crate Late Models with the feature paying $1,500 to win, B Mods paying $1,200 to win, ProAm/Stock Cars paying $1,000 to win and Hornets paying $500 to win.

Eric Lutz of Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the defending ASCS Midwest Region Champion. In addition to Lutz, many of the premier 360 Sprint Car drivers in the Midwest are expected. On Friday, Pits open at 4, Grandstands at 5:30 with racing action beginning at 7. Admission for Friday is $15 for Adults, $5 Ages (6-15), 5 and under is free.

On Saturday night the Pit Gate opens at 3, Grandstands at 4:30 with racing action starting at 5:55pm. Admission is $20 for Adults, $5 Ages (6-15), with 5 and under free. Pit Passes are $30 each night.

For more information call Ed Kosiski at (402)-659-3301.

Spring Meltdown coming to I-80 Speedway

On Friday April 1, I-80 Speedway will open the season with the first night of the Spring Meltdown. Friday night, April 1 will feature the season opener for the SLMR as well as a complete show for ProAm/Stock cars and Qualifying for A Mods. In addition, there will be an open practice for any class that wants to participate. Gates open at 4 with racing at 7. Admission is $15 for Adults, $5 for kids ages (6-15) with 5 and under free.

On Saturday, April 2, the Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA) will kick off their season with a full show paying $3,000 to win, $400 to start. A Mods will be running last chance and feature races with the A feature paying $2,000 to win and $150 to start. Also racing will be Hobby Stocks for $500 to win, B-Mods will also be racing on April 2 paying $500 to win. Gates open at 3 pm with racing at 5:55. Admission is $20 for Adults, $5 for kids ages (6-15) with 5 and under free.

Kyle Berck is expected to be back to defend his SLMR Championship as well as compete with the MLRA on Saturday night. Al Purkey (now a 7-time MLRA Champion, who won the 2010 MLRA Championship over Brad Looney by just 2 points (1 position) is expected to be here to defend his championship. In addition to the MLRA regulars, Terry Phillips, Jeremy Payne and Chad Simpson all have the Spring Meltdown on their schedule. Phillips is the winningest driver in MLRA history with 101 feature wins

For more information contact Ed Kosiski at (402)-659-3301.

Estes to Step Down from ASCS Post

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (March 22, 2011) - For the past twelve years, Tommie Estes, Jr., has played a significant role in the direction of Sprint Car racing as the competition director of the American Sprint Car Series, garnering the universal respect of drivers and car owners alike throughout the nation in the process.

That is a stretch of duty that will come to a close after this weekend's 38th Annual Devil's Bowl Spring Nationals in Mesquite, TX, as it was announced today that Estes has elected to step down from his position with the American Sprint Car Series after this weekend's Spring Nationals.

"It's just time for a change," Estes commented. "After racing for 23 years and then another 12 years working with ASCS, I'm ready to do something different for a while."

Following a successful racing career in Sprint Cars, Estes went to work with Emmett Hahn's American Sprint Car Series in 1999 and has guided the National series along with overseeing the development and maintenance of the Regional tours as well since that time.

"I appreciate all the opportunities that Emmett Hahn and his family have given me over the years, being a part of ASCS has been a great experience all around," Estes explained. "It's kind of sad to see it end, but I'm ready for something else."

Hahn, who founded the American Sprint Car Series in 1992 and remains actively involved in the series operations as company President, spoke highly of Estes' contributions to the series and the sport in general.

"Tommie has been an invaluable asset, the American Sprint Car Series wouldn't be what it is today without all his hard work and dedication over the years," Hahn explained. "Tommie has set the bar at his position, the respect he has from every driver and car owner in the pit area is proof of that."

Hahn went on to say, "We appreciate everything Tommie has done for ASCS. While we regret that he's leaving, we respect his decision and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."

No immediate replacement has been announced at this time.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

National Speed Sport News Ceasing Publication of Printed Version

End Of An Era: NSSN Ceasing Publication
by NSSN Staff

All good things come to an end.

And so is the case for America's Motorsports Authority, National Speed Sport News.

After more than 76 years, the publication, which was first published as National Auto Racing News on Aug. 16, 1934, has printed its last issue, dated - March 23, 2011.

While hundreds of other newspapers came and went during the past three-quarters of a century, NSSN continued to ride the support of its readers and advertisers in producing the most thorough weekly racing publication on the market. But economic times have been tight and the newspaper business has suffered at the hands of high production costs and modern technology, which provides information to readers instantly.

"This is one of the saddest days of my life," said National Speed Sport News Publisher Corinne Economaki. "The sluggish economy has made it too difficult to continue publication and no matter how I try to make the numbers work - and believe me I have tried - it is just not feasible to keep the business going.

The online version will keep going. Read more here
http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/more/end-of-an-era-nssn-ceasing-publication/

New Poll

The new poll asks this: should a track make it mandatory for so-called "entry level" racers to move up after a certain amount of time, or maybe after they win a championship?

Does it place an unfair burden on someone for doing well, or should they be encouraged to add to the upper level divisions?

What's entry level anyway? I saw a great SportMod feature that looked nothing like "entry level" racing on Saturday night...what say you?

-Jason

Beatrice Spring Nationals Finale Photos

Some of my favorites from Saturday night's COLD but exciting finale from the Beatrice Speedway Spring Nationals. Good racing all night.

Beatrice 3-19-11 Spring Nationals Photos

-Jason

USAC Wingless Sprints, Super Late Models at Eagle August 5

From Eagle Raceway

We are pleased to announce "The Rumble in the Bullring" on Friday August 5th, 2011. Headlining the evening's racing will be the AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars. This will be the first appearance for the wingless 410's at Eagle in nearly a decade, and the first time for USAC to ever visit the state.

Last year Damion Gardner held a slim 18 point lead over Levi Jones in the final National points standings. Bryan Clauson held down the third spot with Hunter Schuerenberg and Jon Stanbrough rounding out the top 5. Who knows which driver will reign triumphant this year??

That alone would be a great show, but we're not stopping there. Just to be sure that the excitement level doesn't drop, the SLMR Late Models will also be flying around the high banks of "America's Home Track". And, to round out a fantastic night we are bringing in the Mod Lites too. Racing will begin at 7:30.

This is one date that you will want to make SURE is on your racing calendar, because it promises to be one of the highlights of this season's racing at the world's fastest 1/3 mile!! Make it a 2-night weekend of racing by coming back on Saturday evening to take in our regular Saturday night card.

Eagle Raceway is located at the junction of US Highway 34 and Nebraska Highway 63, 11 miles south of Exit #420 off of I-80 or 12 miles east of Lincoln, Ne.

For further information, visit our website at www.eagleraceway.com or call the race line at 402-781-2243.

Quick Takes

- I would be remiss if I didn't mention Eagle Raceway's revamped, polished updated site (now to include the "Little E") kart track. Check it out: www.eagleraceway.com

- The new mini-sprint track is nearing completion at I-80, and they're looking to schedule shows. The call is out for Mini-Sprint teams to give your input to the track.

- Late Models and Wingless Sprints. Two classes talked about most when asked what fans would like to see at Eagle. I'd love to see them on the shorter tracks. Eagle had them last year, and there are plans to run them this year along with a USAC Wingless show. It's been nearly 10 years since the wingless cars have seen Eagle's high banks, and I have to say it's an amazing show. Those who have been to the T'N'T Wingless shows at I-80 have been treated to some fine racing. Imagine it even tighter. It's a good show.

And Late Models. Yes, I'd love a 2-day Late Model event with the likes of the top dog late model series. One night, August 5, will have to do. I will say this: Super Late Models on a tacky Eagle surface are a hoot. Dry slick...my experience varies. Just saying. It would be a great night to really wet that sucker down....

- The Beatrice Spring Nationals are this weekend. I plan to make the trip one of the nights - it looks like they may have a pretty decent weekend, weather-wise for the event. A Saturday trip may be in order.

- One of my day job duties involves Facebook (and not just wasting time on it). What some of these tracks are doing with Facebook is just the beginning. Simply posting and broadcasting isn't the answer or the intent. The goal is to engage. Shameless plug alert: I'll come talk to you about your social networking strategy - for a modest fee.

-Jason

Reflections on my first visit to the Museum of American Speed

This weekend I took advantage of the 1/2 price admission and made a long overdue trip to the Museum of American Speed, housing the Smith Collection - also known informally as the Speedway Motors Museum.

It's quite a sight and my hour and a half wasn't enough. I didn't even make it to the third floor.

I think what impressed me most (beyond the immaculate restorations) was unlike many museums that just have piles of old crap mixed in with some relevant treasure, the MoAS exhibits each had a story of their own, either told outright with placards or examples of a larger exhibit.

There was a story behind everything - fulfilling in itself - but the museum docents backed it up with more lore and facts to take you deep into the whats and whys. 

The displays were mostly circle-track, sprints and midgets, and mainly in fields where Speedy Bill was involved personally. Indy and NASCAR was represented as were the land speed cars of Bonneville. Yes, I would love to see more sports cars, and drag cars, but maybe that would've taken away from what I saw as an overall theme - the evolution of grassroots, Saturday night American racing.

As I walked through the exhibits I was stunned by the individuality of the cars, the motors, the parts. I grew up at the tail end of some of this, before tube frames and pre-fab, instant race cars dominated the scene. One can see what it was like before mass production reduced the innovation to something that could be made in China, like TVs and computers.

Understand, it's not a question of craftsmanship. Modern technology builds to tighter tolerances with better materials, but these cars had soul, like a steam locomotive. The story of the car could NOT be told without the story of the person behind it.

That is what I miss about today's racing so much.

Yes, there's the driver and the crew chief, but those are always givens. Money has always played a part and always will.

But, through the lens into the past, one could see spirit, that hope that the mind could raise the bar higher through cleverness or sheer perseverance.

The cocktail-napkin drawings, the trial and error, the happy accidents, the new innovations...most of that is gone now. CAD drawings by a nameless engineer or machinist produce the templates that make the jigs that guide the robots to....

I lament. It's not that I don't enjoy racing now. It's just different. Go to the museum and see how it used to be. Then go again. I know I will.

Museum of American Speed 

Jason

ASCS Sprint Cars Headline I-80 Cup April 8-9

The Lucas Oil ASCS Midwest Regional Sprint Cars return to I-80 Speedway on Friday April 8 and Saturday April 9 for the I-80 Cup. Both nights, the ASCS drivers will be competing for $3000 to win. Qualifying will be held for the weekly Late Models, B Mods, Pro Ams and Hornets for a non points show to be held on Saturday. Sprints will run 25 lap features both nights. Late Models, B Mods and Pro Ams will run a 25 lap feature and Hornets will run a 20 lap feature on Saturday.

On Friday, pit gates open at 4:00 p.m., grandstands at 5:30 p.m. and racing at 7:00 p.m. Adult grandstands on Friday are $15, Kids 6-15 are $5 and under 5 is free. Pit passes are $20 for NASCAR members with a license and $30 without.

On Saturday, pit gates open at 3:00 p.m., grandstands at 4:30 p.m. and racing at 5:55 p.m. Adult grandstands on Saturday are $20, Kids 6-15 are $5 and under 5 is free. Pit passes are $20 for NASCAR members with a license and $30 without.

No IMCA or NASCAR licenses are needed to race.

If Mother Nature rains out Friday April 8, a 1 day show will be held on April 9 with a 50% purse payout.

For more information, visit www.neracewaypark.com

Pics From the Museum of American Speed

FINALLY, got to go the the "Museum of American Speed" next to Speedway Motors - one of Lincoln's most under appreciated treasures.

I only spent about 1 1/2 hours in the place, and that's not nearly enough. I'll do a little writeup about it later, but for now here's some photos from my short time in there, with a little creative work mixed in.

Museum of American Speed Photos

I-80 Spring Thaw April 1-2

The 2011 season at I-80 Speedway starts Friday, April 1 with Modifieds racing for $2000 to win. Late Models, B Mods, Pro Ams and Hornets will join the lineup for a non points weekly show.

Pit Gates open at 4 p.m. and grandstands at 5:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m., and the first green flag of the season drops at 7:00 p.m.

The second action packed night will feature the stars of the MLRA battling it out for $3000 to win, along with Modifieds racing for $2000 to win, and Hobby Stocks racing for $500 to win. Pit gates open at 3:00 p.m. and grandstands open at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps start at 5:30 p.m., and racing action is underway at 5:55 p.m.

Pricing:
Fri. April 1:
-Pits $25/ $20 with a NASCAR License
-Grandstand tickets are Adults $10, Jr's (6-15) $5 and 5 & under FREE

Sat. April 2:
-Pits $30/ $20 with a NASCAR License
$100 entry fee for MLRA

Adult grandstand tickets are $20, juniors 6-15 are $5 and 5 and under are free.

For more information, visit www.neracewaypark.com

JMS Spring Thaw Canceled

From Jessica Stutzman, JMS:

The Spring Thaw is canceled for this weekend- just decided by USMTS officials and JMS Officials that the weather conditions will not be favorable this weekend.

We are looking to reschedule this show on June 3 and 4, 2011

Poll Results

The results of the latest poll:

How long should a weekly show run (assuming you don't have to be up early the next day)?

Out of 40 votes (my comments in red)

3 hours max 7 (17%) I was surprised to see any votes for this

3-4 hours 24 (60%) How I voted as well.

4-5 hours 3 (7%) About as many people as I thought would vote.

5+ hours - can't get too much! 6 (15%) Didn't really surprise me. I can't sit/stand that long though. 

Overall, this is about what I expected. I hope track owners see this. One line I heard during one of the "back gate bonanzas" last year over the radio was, "who cares when it gets over, this is the (name of the race)!" The problem was some of the officials didn't see it that way, and as each feature got over - the fans didn't either.  

-Jason