National notebook
Notes: Tri-City is ready to host its richest race
Tri-City Speedway plans to pack the place for the July 14-15 Battle at the Beach 100.
Tri-City Speedway is gearing up for the richest event in the history of the track this week as the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series rolls into the 3/8-mile oval for the $20,000-to-win Battle of the Beach 100. The 100-lapper on July 14-15 is helping mark the 50th anniversary of the Granite City, Ill., racetrack promoted by Kevin and Tammy Gundaker.
The track has added an open practice from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday with free general admission (all classes of cars are welcome).
Action begins Thursday with time trials and heat races for the Lucas Oil-sanctioned Late Models. Modifieds will run a $700-to-win feature, Crate Late Models will run a $500-to-win feature and street stocks are also in action.
Friday's Late Model schedule includes consolation races and the main event for Lucas Oil-sanctioned Late Models. Modifieds run a $1,000-to-win feature and Crate Late Models will run a $750-to-win feature.
Besides Lucas Oil regulars including Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Earl Pearson Jr., Ray Cook and more, among drivers expected are Billy Moyer, Wendell Wallace, Brian Birkhofer and Jason Feger.
The track has planned a fan-friendly atmosphere with a monster truck display, a Late Model simulator where fans can win prizes, a 24-foot inflatable dual slide, fan giveaways and the Budweiser Girls.
Additionally, the track is selling race sponsorship for $20 per lap. Contact Brandy Gundaker at torqued56@yahoo.com.
General admission tickets are $18 on Thursday with children 12-and-under free. Friday's general admission tickets are $25 with 12-and-under free. Visit tricityspeedway.net for more race details. — From track reports
RICHMOND ALSO SET FOR RICHEST RACE: Richmond (Ky.) Raceway hosts its richest event July 16 with the 24th annual Butterball Wooldridge Memorial, an unsanctioned Super Late Model event paying $7,500 to the winner. Practice is scheduled from 6-9 Friday with free grandstand admittance, and several post-practice activities are planned, including a pig roast (for those with a pit pass), bonfire and music by Michael Shannon. Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m. Saturday for the Coyote 100.7 FM-sponsored Super Late Models along with modifieds and sportsman. General admission is $20 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for 5-and-under. — From track reports
SOUTHERN OHIO'S GRAND REOPENING FRIDAY: After tireless week of work to whip a closed racetrack into shape, Southern Ohio Speedway in Wheelersburg, Ohio, is set to reopen Friday with a $3,000-to-win event for ADRA Late Models. The Southern Showdown at the 4/10-mile oval also includes a $3,000-to-win modified race and bomber action. Promoters H&L Motorsports have installed new bleachers, added banking in turns three and four, adding new guardrails and catch-fences, enlarged the pit area and added clay to the surface, among other improvements. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday with hot laps with action starting at 7 p.m. — From track reports
OHIO'S MILLSTREAM SPEEDWAY CLOSES: Citing low spectator and car counts, Dean Miracle stepped down July 6 as promoter of Millstream Speedway in Findlay, Ohio, the track announced. The 4/10-mile dirt track, reopened by Miracle in 2008 after being shuttered for 10 years, is owned by by Greg and Mary Beth Rowe. "I have put all of the effort and money into Millstream that I can," Miracle said in the track release. "That being said, I hope Greg Rowe will sell the track to someone who will put the money and effort the track needs or put the money and effort into it himself. I wish luck to whoever takes this task on." Anyone who still has an arm band from the All Star Speedweek race can send their to me Miracle for a full refund at the following address: 352 Midland Ave., Findlay, OH 45840. — Dustin Jarrett
SERIES SCHEDULE CHANGES: O'Reilly SUPR added an Aug. 6 race at 171 Speedway in Leesville, La., and a Sept. 2 event at USA Speedway in Sterlington, La. ... The Lucas Oil MLRA tour added an Aug. 20 event at Thunder Hill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan. ... I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., has made the Cornhusker Classic into a two-day event on Sept. 23-24 sanctioned by MLRA and the Dart Corn Belt Clash circuits. ... The Hedman Husler NLMS tour added an Oct. 15 event at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla.; the series will also sanctioned the track's Nov. 24-26 Late Model action.
ODDS AND ENDS: Madison (Minn.) Speedway dropped WISSOTA Late Models from its weekly program. ... North Alabama Speedway has added the unsanctioned, $5,000-to-win Shoals Shocker 50 to its schedule on July 29. ... 71 Butler Motor Speedway in Butler, Mo., closed late last month. ... Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., plans to switch its weekly racing to Fridays instead of Saturdays starting July 22. The track runs a weekly DIRTcar-sanctioned Late Model division.
