Bristol Motor Speedway
Notes: Deery opener at 34 to honor late driver
Brent Slocum
An Iowa driver popular all around the IMCA Late Model circuit will be remembered when his home track hosts the opening event of the 2009 Deery Brothers Summer Series. West Burlington's 34 Raceway will be the site for the first annual Slocum 50, in honor of the late Brent Slocum and his High Five Race Team, on April 11. | Deery Brothers Summer Series schedule
Slocum died in a pit area accident at 34 on June 11, 2005. The 28-year-old from Burlington was the defending track champion at 34 and had competed in more than 80 Deery events at the time of his death.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Brad Stevens, who was one of Slocum's best friends. “We want to keep Brent’s memory alive and give back to his fellow Late Model competitors. This special race is the way to accomplish both objectives."
High Five team members have contacted Slocum’s family and friends, as well as area businesses, to raise an additional $6,000 for the main event purse. The winner will go home with $2,500. A minimum of $500 will be paid to start the 24-car feature, which boasts a $16,450 total purse. Non-qualifiers will get $100 in tow money.
"Adding $6,000 to the purse allows Brent’s home track to host the two highest paying Deery Brothers races of the year," Stevens said, “the series-opening Slocum 50 in April and the Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals in September.”
One dollar out of each grandstand admission ticket sold on opening night and half the proceeds of the evening’s 50-50 raffle have been designated for a Slocum 50 Scholarship Fund, to benefit area high school students.
Anyone interested in donating to that fund can contact Stevens at (319) 759-9558. More information on scholarship applications will be available at the track website.
"We are excited to host this memorial event,” said Amy Laue, owner and promoter of 34 Raceway. “Brent was a fierce competitor and a great guy, and I’m sure the drivers who raced with him here and in the series will be proud to attend. We are honored to help his family, friends and sponsors keep his memory alive in this great racing community.” — Bill Martin
WDRL PLANS TO BUILD ON 14-RACE SCHEDULE: The World Dirt Racing League released a 14-race schedule last month and plans to add at least a few more races. "We've never put TBAs on our schedule before," series founder Jim Wilson said, "but we are working with several more racetracks about scheduling races this season, and wanted to let everyone know that there will be more races added before long." The season is scheduled to open April 4 at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway. Among season highlights are two visits to Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., (June 19-10; July 30), the May 24 Alphabet Soup Classic at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., and the first-ever series visit to North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minn., on June 17. Chad Simpson of Marion, Iowa, is the defending WDRL champion. — From series reports
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