Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Upcoming Season Openers, Clarification From Past Blog

I'd like to clear something up from my previous blog from the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City. I received an email from Mark Lettow regarding the Matt Lettow tshirt trivia/giveaway:

"We gave Berg (Ryan Bergeson, track announcer) a coupon for a drawing to add into the collection of giveaway items off the lucky number programs. Whoever wins the coupon receives a free tshirt (go to trailer after the races and select a size they need). However, if Matt is fortunate enough to win the feature that night, the prize gets upgraded to a $25 Cenex fueling card (if they would prefer instead). We look at it as a way to give our sponsor a little recognition as well as giving something to the race fan."

I just wanted to clear that part of my blog up. I was unsure what the scenario was once I heard two different prizes as I was talking with some friends that night. I'd like to thank Mark Lettow for emailing me once he read my blog on Positivelyracing.com.



Season opening events are what fans wait for all winter long. A couple of tracks will be opening in the next couple of weeks, providing for more choices for fans and drivers.

First off, the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge is set to open up Friday night, April 30th. The schedule boasts 19 weekly shows, including season championship night on September 3rd. Also on the slate is the return of the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) with a June 22nd date. The season will end in grand style with the annual Bruce Sommerfeld Memorial on September 24-25.

The Mineral City Speedway runs six exciting classes of competition. Hornets, econo stocks, hobby stocks, stock cars, b-mods, and modifieds are on the slate all season long. Defending track champions include Austin Reicks (econo stocks), Justin Nehring (hobby stocks), Mike McFarland (hornets), Brandon Leeman (limited modifieds), Tyler Pemble (modifieds), and Jason Minnehan (stock cars). I could be wrong, but I don't believe Pemble will return to defend his track championship as I noticed his car listed on the Harris Auto Racing website as being for sale.

Be sure to check out the fast half-mile on Friday nights when the gates swing open at 5pm, hot laps beginning at 6:45, and racing set to start at 7:30. I plan to make the trip Friday night to take in the season opener. Maybe I'll see YOU there!! For more information, check out the track website at www.fdspeed.com.


Saturday, May 1st, marks the opening event for the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa. After carrying the USRA sanction the past couple of seasons, the speedway will not have a sanctioning this year. In fact, both USRA and IMCA rules will be allowed to compete at the unique 1/3 mile oval.

Classes in action on Saturday night's in Decorah include hobby stocks, limited modifieds, stock cars, and hornets. The schedule comprises of 16 weekly events with season championships set for August 28th. Two noteworthy events not included in that tally are the Winneshiek County Fair races on Thursday, July 8th while the inaugural season of the Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA modifieds makes its first visit to the speedway on Wednesday, July 28th. For more information on the Upper Iowa Speedway, check out www.upperiowaspeedway.com.


Now I don't know about the rest of you, but I've kinda been missing my "midweek" racing. Fortunately for me, the month of May turns up the wick on midweeek racing when the Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, Iowa opens their gates on Wednesday, May 5th. Thirteen weekly races highlight the schedule with season championships scheduled for August 11th. Two specials during the season along with a fall special are also on the card. The United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) makes another stop at "The Beaver" on Wednesday, June 16th. The IMCA Stock Car Shootout also returns to the 3/8 mile speedplant as part of the Kyle Suter Memorial race on Tuesday, June 29th. The season will come to a close October 15-16 with the "Going Topless at the Beaver" event.

The Buena Vista Raceway will boast exciting racing action in six classes this year as the bomber class is brought back. They will join the IMCA sport compacts, IMCA hobby stocks, IMCA sportmods, IMCA stock cars, and IMCA modifieds. During my ten visits or so to the speedway last year, the IMCA stock cars put on some of the best races I would see all year!! Defending track champions in Alta include Jeremy Mills (modifieds), Dustin Smith (stock cars), Brett Meyer (sportmods), Shannon Anderson (hobby stocks), and Cory Flanigan (sport compacts). More information about the season can be found by clicking on www.buenavistaraceway.net. I look forward to making my first trip to Alta for opening night next Wednesday!!


Not to be outdone, the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa will open their gates a couple weeks later on Wednesday, May 19th. Seventeen total dates are on the schedule this year, including a couple stops for the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) along with the return of the IMCA Deery Brothers Late Model series. The USMTS dates are May 26th and September 1 while the Deery Brothers Late Models will run Wednesday, July 21st during the Southern Iowa Fair. Something a little different for fans this year is the addition of another late model race. The MARS DIRTcar Series will invade the "Monster Half-mile" on Wedneday, August 4th for the first time ever.

The Southern Iowa Speedway will run four classes of competition once again this year. USRA modifieds, USRA stock cars, USRA limited modifieds, and USRA hobby stocks will entertain the crowd every Wednesday night this season. Last year's track champions were Nathan Wood (hobby stocks), Tyler Groenendyk (limited modifieds), Matt Greiner (stock cars), and Brad Pinkerton (modifieds). For all the updates on things associated with the Southern Iowa Speedway, check out www.rlpromotions.com/oskaloosa.

- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!!

No comments:

Post a Comment