Bristol Motor Speedway
Notebook: WDRL starts season at Davenport
From series and staff reports
WDRL founder Jim Wilson (DirtonDirt.com)
The World Dirt Racing League's 20-race schedule opens April 5 at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway's half-mile oval as the Midwest-based tour begins its seventh season. "We are excited about 2008," said WDRL founder and president Jim Wilson, "and we look for some great things to happen this year."
Among highlights on the schedule are the $5,000-to-win Alphabet Soup Classic on May 25 at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., a two-race visit to Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., during the annual Masters weekend and a visit to Eagle (Neb.) Raceway on July 3, the Thursday preceding the Fourth of July weekend.
Three two-race weekends wrap up the conclusion of the schedule with Sept. 5-6 dates at Freeport (Ill.) Raceway Park, Sept. 26-27 dates at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., and Oct. 3-4 at Davenport. More races may be added on the series. Justin Fegers of Mound, Minn., won last year's championship. — From series reports
NEW WRINKLES FOR UMP FALL NATIONALS?: When Eldora Speedway general manager Larry Boos received the third annual Bob Memmer Memorial Achievement Award at January's UMP banquet, he mentioned that October's UMP DirtCar Fall Nationals at Eldora might see a few new wrinkles for 2008. He said he’s hoping to make the weekend even more of a destination event for UMP competitors and will announce details later. Boos picked up his award from presenter Earl Baltes, the former Eldora owner and his old boss. “Bob Memmer was a man with a vision, and I’m glad I got to work with him,” Boos said. “And this man right here (pointing at Baltes) has a great vision, and he taught me a lot. Now, working for (new Eldora owner) Tony Stewart, he’s allowed me to proceed with that vision for Eldora." — Kevin Kovac
NLRA RELEASES SCHEDULE: The Northern LateModel Racing Association released a 15-race schedule for the 2008 season, including a pair of two-race weekends at Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Minn. Viking hosts events May 24-25 and Aug. 30-31, the season-enders. A third two-day event is scheduled for Aug. 2-3 at Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, N.D., for the North Dakota Governor's Cup. The series refused to reveal winning purses for series events. — From staff reports
SHOW-ME SERIES GETTING READY: The southwest Missouri-based Race Brthers Show-Me Racin' Series plans a March 1 tech day and car shot the week before its season opener. Country Chrysler in Cassville, Mo., a new sponsor for the 2008 season, is hosting the preseason event. The opening race is set for March 8 at Crawford County Speedway in Van Buren, Ark. The 19-race schedule includes three visits to West Plains (Mo.) Motor Speedway and the first-ever series visit to Outlaw Motor Speedway near Muskogee, Okla. The series also announced that 2008's top rookie will earn $1,000 from sponsor Auto Express. — Karen Fulp
ODDS AND ENDS: Any driver that can sweep the Late Model championships at the Don Hammer-promoted Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway and Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway will earned a $10,000 bonus. ... WISSOTA has announced that Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D., and Gillette (Wyo.) Speedway will host two of the three year-ending WISSOTA 100s. The easternmost venue hasn't been decided, but North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Minn., and Proctor (Minn.) Speedway are contenders. ... The WISSOTA Dart Challenge Series added an Aug. 15 event at Superior (Wis.) Speedway. ... Springfield (Mo.) Raceway, which suffered about $100,000 in tornado damage from a Jan. 7 storm, is hosting a clean-up day on Feb. 23 beginning about 9 a.m. ... NASCAR driver Ken Schrader is expected to compete with the first-year DLRA series at the season opener April 20 at Monett (Mo.) Speedway. DLRA also announced the points champion will receive $5,000. ... Peoria (Ill.) Speedway has dropped its NASCAR sanctioning for 2008.
