National notebook
Notes: 5/8-mile WVMS set to reopen in 2010
West Virginia Motor Speedway will reopen in 2010 with a special events schedule that will include Dirt Late Model events at the 5/8-mile oval in Mineral Wells, promoters announced.
The track, just south of Parkersburg on the west side of I-77, will be operated by Mountain State Motorsports Promotions, a partnership among Charleston-area businessman Lynn Chapman and the three members of BDS Racing Promotions, which promoted Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va., the past six seasons. The group signed a three-year lease with PMC Company to promote the 24-year-old track that's been shuttered September 2007.
“It seems like WVMS has always been plagued with bad luck in the past, but has also always been a favorite among race fans," said Brian Ferrell of BDS. "We hope to once again make the West Virginia Motor Speedway a showplace West Virginia can be proud of and bring the speedway back to the forefront of motorsports venues in the nation."
Promoters hope to revive the track with terraced hillside seating and long straightaways that allow for some of the highest speeds in Dirt Late Model racing.
"We have some really big shows in the works that I'm sure will put WVMS back on the national map," said Daniel Patterson of BDS, which has previously promoted stock car and motorcycle events at WVMS. "From marquee crown jewel racing events, to family-oriented monster truck shows (and) hammer-down 410 sprint (car) action, the sky’s the limit really on what is possible at WVMS."
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series ran events at WVMS from 2005-07 while the World of Outlaws Late Model Series ran at Mineral Wells in 2004. The new promoters plan to host the first 2010 event in late April.
After being neglected for two years, the new promotional group is preparing to undertake the immense chore of restoring the speedplant. New clay, fresh paint, mowing and other improvements are planned at the track. — BDS Promotions
JACKSON 100 UP NEXT FOR LUCAS OIL SERIES: For the 30th anniversary of its biggest race, Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway is mixing things up for the Jackson 100. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competitors will remove the roofs from their cars for the Sept. 25-26 event, which pays $20,000 to the winner. "It is our signature event of the year and we wanted to do something a little bit different since this is the 30th Jackson 100," promoter Tim Keithley said. Besides the Lucas Oil Series regulars including points leader Scott Bloomquist, last year's Jackson 100 winner Tim McCreadie is among drivers expected at the quarter-mile oval. Bloomquist, looking for his first 2009 victory on the series, is a seven-time winner at the the Indiana track, including the Jackson 100 in 1990-91. — James Essex
SOUTHERN RAINS DAMPEN SEPT. 18-19 WEEKEND: Rain in the South has shuffled schedules for several events as of Friday. The Southern Regional Racing Series postponed its scheduled $10,000-to-win event at Duck River Speedway in Wheel, Tenn., moving it back to Nov. 6-7 as a pair of $3,000-to-win events. The O'Reilly Southern All Stars moved Saturday's scheduled event at Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway to Oct. 17. And the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series-sanctioned Dega 100, a $10,000-to-win Crate Late Model event at Talladega (Ala.) Short Track, was postponed until Oct. 23-24. Also, the first night of the Mississippi State Championship Challenge-sanctioned Derek Henley Memorial at Northwest Florida Speedway in Blackman, Fla., was rained out; a $4,400-to-win event is scheduled for Saturday. — From staff reports
TWO SERIES LENGTHEN SEASONS: Two Southern tours added events recently to lengthen the 2009 season. The Tennessee Thunder DirtCar Series added an Oct. 23-24 doubleheader at Boyd's Speedway in Ringgold, Ga., setting up a weekend finale on the tour. A 40-lapper on Friday will pay $2,500 to the winner and a 60-lapper on Saturday will pay $5,000 to the winner. Also, the Long Lewis Ford Bama Super Series added an Oct. 10 event at North Alabama Speedway near Tuscumbia. Chris Ragan leads Anthony Burroughs by 60 points heading toward the finale. — From series reports
ODDS AND ENDS: East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala., has dropped the winning purse of the Nov. 5-8 National 100 to $20,000. The unsanctioned event has paid $30,000 in recent years. ... With the discovery of Harry Hanson's illegal heads in his WISSOTA engine at the WISSOTA 100, the loss in points have cost him the track championship at Grand Rapids (Minn.) Speedway; Kevin Carlson was elevated to the championship. ... Scott Knowles of Lanett, Ala., has clinched the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region title. Knowles had eight victories among his best 16 finishes.
