National notebook
Notes: HTF tour sets West Virginia trip
An aerial view of West Virginia Motor Speedway. (Zach Yost)
While its 2026 schedule hasn’t been revealed, the Hunt the Front Super Dirt Series has announced plans for its first trip to West Virginia for a three-race weekend on Memorial Day.
The weekend for the Florida-based Super Late Model tour opens with a $10,000-to-win event on May 22 at Elkins Speedway, continues with a $12,000-to-win show on May 23 at Middlebourne’s Tyler County Speedway and concludes with a $15,000-to-win program on May 24 at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells. The event at Elkins, like WVMS under the ownership of Mike Hurley, will be the Red Frederick Memorial.
Additionally, West Virginia Motor Speedway recently announced plans to add catchfencing around its new shortened oval along with adding 3,000 more seats and eight new suites for the 2026 season.
EAST MOLINE PROMOTER RETURNING: Former track promoter Randy Swanson has signed a lease with the Rock Island County Fairgrounds to operate the East Moline, Ill., dirt track in 2026, the track announced Wednesday. No details were announced, but he plans to set a meeting to discuss the schedule. Swanson’s return comes after first-year track promoter Rob Parker prematurely ended the track's season in July, citing financial struggles, low car counts, low attendance and "unfulfilled promised community financial support.” Logan Veloz of Colona, Ill., won six of eight IMCA-sanctioned Late Model features at East Moline and topped the points in the division that drew 23 Late Models competing at least once. The track averaged 9.6 Late Models per event in 2025 with a season-high 15 entrants May 25.
SHORTENING SHAWANO SPEEDWAY?: The long-considered plan to shorten Shawano (Wis.) Speedway’s half-mile layout is being addressed with the track seeking feedback on a plan that would draw in turns three and four to make a 3/8-mile oval. The Shawano County Board has scheduled an 8 a.m., Nov. 6 meeting at the courthouse to get feedback on the plan. For more details or how to send in a video response to the plan, visit the track’s Facebook page.
TENNESSEE OFFICIAL DIES: Tennessee tracks are mourning the passing of longtime official Rick Brooks of Morristown, who died Oct. 23 following a recent decline in health. He was 64. Originally a scorer at Newport Raceway and Davy Crockett Speedway, he transitioned into roles as pit official and race director at tracks including Tazewell Speedway, Seymour’s 411 Motor Speedway and Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap. Among survivors are wife Janet along with daughters Taylor and Samantha, who often accompanied him at the track and worked concession stands. He’ll be remembered "for his many contributions to the sport through the years,” Volunteer Speedway wrote on the track’s Facebook page. “He enforced the rules fairly and earned the respect of drivers/race teams.”
I-55 SEASON ENDER: I-55 Federated Raceway Park in Pevely, Mo., will end the season with November's Fall Frost Classic presented by Bobcat of St. Louis, which includes a $5,000-to-win Super Late Model event. Practice is set for Nov. 6 with eight divisions (no Late Models) on Nov. 7. DIRTcar-sanctioned Super Late Models highlight the final night on Nov. 8 with eight divisions on the undercard. Visit the track’s Facebook page for details.
CHANGES AT DOTHAN TRACK: With plans to continue his studies at seminary, Dothan (Ala.) Motor Speedway co-promoter Kevin Dixon announced he’s stepping away from track promotions. Dixon, who worked at the track in many roles including announcer before forming Dixon Motorsports to operate the track in 2024. Dixon said his partner Tim Adkins is remaining in his management role of the Justin and John Smith-owned track, which frequently runs a 602 Crate Late Model division. The track’s finale is Nov. 15 with the postseason banquet in January.
PINE RIDGE MOURNS: Pine Ridge Speedway is mourning the Oct. 14 passing of Eddie Alexander, a former owner and operator of the Guntown, Miss., track. He was 76. Alexander’s “dedication and love for Pine Ridge Speedway helped shape it into what it is today,” the track posted on its Facebook page. “Eddie devoted countless years of hard work, passion, and commitment to this track. Without him, Pine Ridge Speedway simply wouldn’t be what it is today. His hands built more than just a racetrack; they built a community, a family, and a place where memories are made every weekend.” The track’s 2025 season is over, but Pine Ridge in 2026 plans to host a memorial racing honoring Alexander.
QUINCY REGULAR SERIOUSLY INJURED: Benet Duesterhaus, 22, a first-year Crate Late Model racer at Quincy (Ill.) Raceway, is facing a long recovery and treatment following an ATV wreck in Michigan. According to the family, following the accident he was unable to move or feel anything below his chest, but he had some movement in his arms and limited movement in his hands. Supporters can assist the family’s recovery via a GoFundMe account (gofundme.com/f/benets-recovery) or by donating to an account set up at State Street Bank for Benet’s Benefit. Funds raised will be used for medical, rehabilitation and travel expenses. He’s being treated at a Chicago rehabilitation center.
OVERTURNED WATER TRUCK: Two men injured when the water truck overturned at Oct. 18’s event at Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla., were recovering at home a day later, both sore from the experience, according to the track. Derrick Benton was lifeflighted to a hospital and Curtis “Blackflag” Lee also received medical attention in a rollover caused by two brackets snapping “at the worst possible place on the racetrack,” promoters Tom and Kim Lowery reported. The evening’s event was completed and a day later the men were home and “very sore, very lucky and very thankful,” the track said.
FORMER MINNESOTA STANDOUT DIES: Upper Midwestern standout Dirt Late Model racer Dick Sorensen of Rochester, Minn., died Oct. 19. The 87-year-old's son Mike and grandson Dustin Sorensen, a regular on the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series, also became racers. Dick Sorenson’s outstanding career included Minnesota track titles at tracks in Kasson and Lansing. The U.S. Navy veteran who founded Sorensen & Sorensen Painting competed from 1967-83 and was a supporter of his son and grandson’s racing efforts. Besides Mike and Dustin, he’s survived by his wife of 65 years, Carole, and daughter Carie Roseboom.
ODDS AND ENDS: Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway, which will close for good following the 2025 season with the completion of the track’s sale to the city, will provide free general admission for Nov. 1’s event. …. Wilford Lawson Jr. plans to continue operating 191 Speedway in Campton, Ky., after his brother Willard Lawson announced he’s stepping away from promotions. … After running unsanctioned in 2025, North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia will run its 602 Crate Late Model division with Crate Racin’ USA sanctioning next season. … North Georgia Speedway mourned Nov. 27’s passing of track worker Faye Brindle, the wife of track legend Leon Brindle and mother of current racer Chip Brindle. She filled many jobs at the track including scoring. The former school cafeteria worker was 73. … Brent Hottle, the publication relations coordinator and faith leader for Winchester (Va.) Speedway, died Oct. 22. He was 44. … Late September projects at Outagamie Speedway in Seymour, Wis., included a new wall and pit lane (with support from Holtger Bros.) and the addition of new clay to the surface (thanks to Swinkle Trucking). … Dubuque (Iowa) Fairgrounds Speedway is accepting nominations for the track’s Hall of Fame through Nov. 3 (visit the Facebook page for details). … Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky., will run American All-Star-sanctioned Crate Late Models in 2026. … Former eastern Kentucky Late Model racer Anthony Adams died Oct. 24 at his Colson, Ky., home after a battle with liver cancer. He was 59. … Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wis., has added USRA Late Models as a weekly division for 2026.
