Bristol Motor Speedway
Notes: Ohio's Raceway 7 gets reprieve, will open
Ron Neilson leased Raceway 7 for the 2009 season. (Todd Battin)
For a while, it appeared Raceway 7 wouldn't open at all in 2009. But the track near Conneaut, Ohio, is not only opening, but Super Late Models are scheduled to make more appearances at the track since being dropped as a weekly division a few years ago.
Long-timer track owner Ron Neilson announced over the off-season that he didn't plan to open the track because of family health issues, but Terry Adams of the asphalt-covered Lorain County Speedway in Elyria, Ohio, decided to open Raceway 7 with a one-year lease with an option to buy the 4/10-mile dirt track.
Adams plans to stick with the exiting weekly Late Models, including Fastrak Northeast Crate Late Models, along with running at least five Super Late Model events, at least one sanctioned by the United Late Model Series. Super Late Model events are scheduled for May 22, June 12 (ULMS), July 17, Aug. 21 and Sept. 18. When Super Late Models are in action, Crates take the night off.
Adams had a previous stint promoting the track in 1991. Among changes are an 8 p.m. start time for Friday night events, a half-hour later then previously, and racing through October, more than a month longer than normal.
The Neilson family operated the track for 12 years and don't plan to reopen in 2010, according to the Erie (Pa.) Times-News. — Jim Balentine and newspaper reports
TWO-TRACK BONUS IN PENNSYLVANIA: Pennsylvania dirt tracks Marion Center Speedway and Dog Hollow Speedway in Strongsville are offering the Super Late Model Championship Challenge in 2009, which will pay a $10,000 bonus if a driver can sweep both track championships. The tracks use identical rules and both race on open tires. The track championships pay $3,000 apiece (paying down through 10th place, which pays $500), meaning a two-title sweep would be worth $16,000. Shawn McGarvey of Coalport, Pa., (at Dog Hollow) and Dave Satterlee of Home, Pa. (Marion Center) won track championships last year, but not many drivers competed regularly at both tracks. According to 2008 points, only four drivers appeared in the top 25 at both tracks. — From staff reports
DUBUQUE, FARLEY SPLIT SIX IMCA EVENTS: Three race dates for IMCA Late Models are on 2009 schedules at Iowa sister tracks Farley Speedway and Dubuque Speedway. IMCA points will be awarded for Friday shows May 8, June 19 and Aug. 14 at Farley, and for Sunday shows June 7, July 12 and Aug. 23 at Dubuque. A joint track champion will be crowned and will receive a pro-rated point bonus based on average car counts for the six events. "These dates fit in when weekly sanctioned tracks in the area have the night off," said IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root. "They also provide the opportunity for drivers to race more often for points within a reasonable distance of where they live and where they compete regularly.” IMCA’s Late Model point season starts April 24 and continues through Aug. 30. — Bill Martin
SEVERAL SPECIALS SET FOR MIDWAY: Midway Speedway in Crooksville, Ohio, has a full schedule of Super Late Model events for 2009 with potentially 27 events, with several special events sprinkled in. Among specials are an April 24 topless event ($2,500), the May Day 40 on May 22 ($3,000) and the Dorus Wisecarver Memorial on Aug. 21 ($3,101). While those events are unsanctioned, the track's Jim Dunn Memorial on July 2 will be sanctioned by the new O'Reilly All Star Late Model Series. Midway's season opens April 3. — From track reports
BIG POINTS FUND AT GOLDEN ISLES: Late Model drivers at Golden Isles Speedway near Brunswick, Ga., will battle for a lucrative $30,000 points fund in 2009. The champion will receive $10,000 and the rest of the money will be doled out among the top 20 in the point standings. The track plans to run $1,200-to-win races every other Saturday. Sanctioned events don't count in the regular-season points, but drivers competing in NLMS and UDLMCS events will earn 100 points per race. — From track reports
TICKET PRICES CUT AT MAGNOLIA: Promoter Johnny Stokes, who has returned to Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss., for 2009, has reduced grandstand admission to $10 from $15 for weekly events, and also introduced military, student and senior admission for $8 (children 10 and under are free). Also, non-reserved trackside parking is free. Stokes also promotes Columbus Speedway on the other side of town. — From track reports
ODD AND ENDS: Clinton County Speedway in Alpha, Ky., is for sale. Call Marty Schrednitz of Coldwell Banker at (606) 305-2037. ... The Missouri-based United Late Model Association opens its points season April 10 at Callaway Raceway near Fulton. More than 70 ULMA points events are scheduled with weekly events at Callaway, Butler (Mo.) Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., and Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo. ... IMCA regular Matt Strassheim of West Burlington, Iowa, has split with car owner Lynn Richards and will drive as a teammate to Tom Darbyshire in 2009. ... Bedford (Pa.) is returning to 2007 lineups rules. Drivers will draw a pill and, following heat races, redraw for the feature (top three if three heats, top five if two heats). ... Scott Green has taken over full ownership of Wartburg (Tenn.) Speedway after dissolving his partnership with Jot Raymond. ... Rocky Top (Ohio) Raceway co-announcer Carl Swartzwelder died Feb. 28. He was 54. ... Clinton County Raceway in Mackeyville, Pa., is requiring drivers to wear neck braces in 2009. ... Rice Lake (Wis.) Speedway dropped weekly WISSOTA Late Models for 2009.
