WoO reveals 10 major events on '10 schedule
By Kevin Kovac
World of Outlaws Late Model SeriesA mix of well-established mega-shows, rapidly-growing affairs and brand-new races will highlight the 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series special-event schedule. Officials have announced the dates of 10 major multi-day programs that will be featured on the national tour's 2010 slate, including the prestigious USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. | 2010 World of Outlaws schedule
Other announced events are the fourth annual Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa.; inaugural 100-lap events at Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va., and Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg, N.Y.; and a unique short-distance, big-money fall special at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.
The complete 2010 WoO schedule, which is expected to number over 50 events, will be released soon.
“The 2010 season is going to provide fans and race teams the biggest special-event schedule in the history of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series,” said tour director Tim Christman. “We're looking forward to being involved with some of the most well-known dirt Late Model events in the country and building new big-show traditions at other tracks in different regions.”
More than a quarter-million dollars in combined first-place cash will be on the line in the 10 weekend spectaculars, led by the $50,000 top prize offered to the winner of the 23rd annual USA Nationals on Aug. 6-7 at Cedar Lake Speedway. Back as part of the WoO for the first time since 2005 and fourth time in its storied history, the 100-lap summer showdown at the 3/8-mile Badger State oval boasts a gargantuan purse of nearly $250,000 — making it not only the richest race on the 2010 WoO schedule, but also one of the lucrative crown jewels in all of Dirt Late Model racing.
The tour's first major summer event of 2010 will once again be the Firecracker 100, a $30,000-to-win blockbuster at Lernerville Speedway that has quickly gained a prime spot on the sport's national map. Though details haven’t been announced, the Firecracker is expanding to a three-day format at the 4/10-mile track outside Pittsburgh and will be contested from June 24-26.
The Commonwealth 100 on April 16-17 at Bill Sawyer's Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va., will serve as one of the most intriguing new additions to the 2010 WoO schedule. A $25,000-to-win feature will headline the $100,000-plus weekend of fun on and off the track at the modern half-mile.
Joining the Commonwealth 100 on the list of highly-anticipated inaugural WoO events is the biggest Dirt Late Model race ever run in the state of New York: a 100-lapper paying $20,000-to-win on Aug. 20-21 at Mohawk International Raceway. A 3/8-mile oval that has been a staple of big-block modified competition for two decades and will host its first-ever Dirt Late Model event, MIR was completely rebuilt prior to the 2009 season and now ranks as one of the Northeast's top facilities.
I-55 Raceway, meanwhile, will be the site of a huge autumn weekend of WoO action. Track promoters Ken Schrader and Ray Marlar, who operate the high-banked, third-mile oval outside St. Louis, have decided to expand their traditional late-season tour date to a two-day program on Sept. 17-18 — and with a $20,000 first prize posted for a 55-lapper, the event will be the second highest-paying race per-lap of the 2010 season.
Other major multi-day events spread across the 2010 WoO schedule include:
• Two 50-lap, $10,000-to-win A-Mains to kick off the season during the 39th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. The WoO takes center stage on Feb. 11 and 13, accenting four nights of UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model action (Feb. 8-9, 10, 12) that will also be part of the Sunshine State series.
• The third annual Illini 100 on April 9-10 at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway. A $20,000 first-place check awaits the winner of the spring special at the fast-and-furious quarter-mile oval, which drew standing-room-only crowds in 2008 and 2009 for what has quickly become the biggest Dirt Late Model event in the Land of Lincoln.
• The return of the WoO to West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells for the RaceFest World Championships on May 29-30. Details are still forthcoming about the Memorial Day weekend program at the sweeping 5/8-mile oval, which is reopening in 2010 under the direction of Mountain State Motorsports Promotions and will host the Outlaws for the first time since 2004.
• The Oil Region Labor Day Classic on Sept. 4-5 at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa. The summer-ending, holiday-weekend show will feature complete 50-lap, $10,000-to-win WoO programs on both Saturday and Sunday nights for the fifth consecutive year.
• The fourth annual World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will present the popular World of Outlaws Late Model and Sprint Car doubleheader on Nov. 4-6.
The upcoming release of the full 2010 WoO schedule will detail, among other items, three summer miniseries that have become annual staples: June’s Great Northern Tour through Pennsylvania, New York and Canada; the mid-July Wild West Tour; and the late-July Speedweek that visits tracks in Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Fans can also expect to see an interesting array of dates at stalwart tour tracks and new facilities appear on the '10 schedule.
