The 2009 race season is shifting into high gear as it approaches midseason for tracks throughout Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and southeastern South Dakota. Regardless if you are a NASCAR fan or Funny Car fanatic, there is bound to be something to fulfill your need for speed.
Parts & People has compiled a list of popular tracks, highlighting this season’s feature events, along with the weekly staples. So, ladies and gentlemen, start your engines and head out to a track near you.
IOWA
Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway, Dubuque, 563-744-3620,
www.simmonspromotionsinc.com.
This 3/8-mile, high-banked clay track hosts Sunday night racing that begins at 6:30. Races include Late Model, Wenzel Towing Modified, Limited Stock, Stock Car, B-Modified, and four-cylinder Farley Flyers.
Farley Speedway, Farley, 563-744-3620,
www.simmonspromotionsinc.com.
As Part of the group of Simmons Promotions tracks, Farley Speedway hosts races in Late Model, Modified, B-Modified Limited Stock, Stock Car, and four-cylinder Farley Fliers. Friday is race night at the half-mile, high-banked clay track. Races begin at 7:30 p.m.
Eddyville Raceway Park, Oskaloosa, 641-969-5596,
www.eddyvilleraceway.com.
A new Street Bike Racing Program is set for Eddyville Raceway Park in 2009. It will include Heads Up Pro Street Bike, Heads Up Super Street Bike, Heads Up V Twin Street Bike, and Friday Fun Night Trophy Bike Class. Other divisions at the 1/8-mile IHRA-member dragstrip include Pure Street, Sportsman, Junior Dragster, Pro, Super Pro, Pro Bike, Top Sportsman, and Top Dragster.
Knoxville Raceway, Knoxville, 641-842-5431,
www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
Tagged the “Dirt Racin’ Capital of the World,” this raceway seats 25,000, with 56 VIP boxes to watch racers on a half-mile oval dirt track that is conducive to fast, side-by-side competition. This season’s main event is the 49th annual Super Clean Knoxville Nationals, which runs Aug. 6-9. This race features 120 top sprint car drivers throughout the world competing for more than $900,000. The weekly “Knoxville Championship Cup Series” for the 360 and 410 Sprint Cars consist of 17 races running from mid-April to Aug. 30 on Saturday nights starting at 6:45PM. Other featured races include the 360 Knoxville Nationals from July 31 to Aug. 2, Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals on Sept. 25-26, and the midget Knoxville Nationals on June 20-21.
Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction, 712-622-8122,
www.midamericamotorplex.com.
The motorplex was designed with road racers, drag racers, and kart racers in mind. It features two road courses, one 2.2-mile track that hosts SCCA races and private events, and another 1.4-mile road course built specifically for kart racing, along with the Rolling Thunder 1/8-mile dragstrip. The dragstrip offers NHRA ET/Bracket racing in addition to Street Legal, Junior Dragster, and High School Programs.
KANSAS
Heartland Park, Topeka, 800-437-2237,
www.hpt.com.
This three-course track offers a variety of races, including a 2.5-mile road course, quarter-mile dragstrip, and 3/8-mile dirt track. This year’s big events include the AMA Tornado Nationals, which brings AMA Superbikes back to the Midwest on July 30-Aug. 2, along with the NHRA Division V Heartland Championships on Aug. 28-29, and the Division V E.T. Finals on Sept. 18-20. The Super Saturday Dirt Track Showdown brings local racing to the track every Saturday night.
Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, 913-299-2040,
www.lakesidespeedway.net.
The 2009 season is Lakeside’s 54th Anniversary, making the facility one of Kansas City’s oldest operating venues. This dirt track hosts Friday night racing beginning at 7:30 in the classes of Modifieds, Grand Nationals, and Factory Stocks. Featured events include the McCarthy Jayhawk Classic on Sept. 18-19 and the CAP FED Late Model Showdown and Modified Shootout on Oct. 2-3.
Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, 913-928-7223,
www.kansasspeedway.com.
With almost 82,000 seats, and the capability to expand to more than 150,000, this 1.5-mile tri-oval track is home to some top NASCAR events. Featured at the Kansas Speedway in 2009 are the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kansas Lottery 300 on Oct. 3 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Price Chopper 400 on Oct. 4.
MISSOURI
Mo-Kan Dragway, Asbury, 417-642-5599,
www.mokandragway.com.
Friday night “Fun Drags” and Saturday night NAPA-bracket races are the staple at this quarter-mile dragstrip. Racing starts at 7 p.m. Mo-Kan Dragway will also host the 44th annual NAPA Labor Day Weekend Classic on Sept. 5-6.
Kansas City International Raceway, Kansas City, 816-358-6700, www.kcir.net.
This quarter-mile dragstrip hosts a variety of races, including Friday Night Grudge, Wednesday Fun Drags, and the VAMP Racing-Street Style Heads-UP Series. On Sept. 11-13, KCIR hosts the Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags.
Lake Ozark Speedway, Lake Ozark, 573-302-4499,
www.lakeozarkspeedway.com.
This third-mile banked oval dirt track hosts races on Saturday evenings in multiple divisions, including 360 Winged Sprint Cars, Modifieds, Four-Cylinder, Pro (Crate) Late Models, and Street Stock. In addition, the speedway will host the ASCS National “360” Sprints on June 27 and the MARS Late Models on Aug. 8.
Ozark International Raceway, Rogersville, 417-738-2222,
www.ozarkracewaypark.com.
This quarter-mile dragstrip hosts bracket-point and shootout races. Bracket race divisions include Jr. Dragster, Trophy, Ro/E, and Super Pro. Shootout divisions include Drag Radial, True 10.5, Outlaw 10.5, Pro Street, and Pro Mod. Special events include the All Out Street Wars on June 27 and the Ozark Wheelie Nationals on Oct. 24.
Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, 417-282-5984, www.lucasoilspeedway.com.
This 3/8-mile, semi-banked dirt/clay oval track, called “The Diamond of Dirt Tracks,” will feature the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series on Sept. 26 and the Crown Class Champions on Sept. 5. Count Down to the Crown races take place on Saturdays for Factory Stocks, “A” Modifieds, and Late Models. Hot Laps begin at 7 p.m.
NEBRASKA
Nebraska Raceway Park, Greenwood, 402-944-2233, www.neracewaypark.com.
This complex holds three tracks, the I-80 Speedway, Soaring Edge Motorcross Park, and Little Sunset Speedway. The I-80 Speedway is a 4/5-mile semi-banked oval dirt track that features Late Model NASCAR, Pro Ams, Sport Modifieds, Sport Compacts, Crate Late Model, ASCS Sprints, and IMCA Modifieds. The Soaring Edge Motorcross Park is a dirt course for motorcycle and ATV racing, and the Little Sunset Speedway offers Go-Kart racing on Friday nights, with the Western Series on June 13-14.
Junction Motor Speedway, McCool Junction, 402-773-5538, www.junctionmotorspeedway.com.
The weekly racing program at this 3/8-mile dirt track consists of NASCAR Late Models, NASCAR Modifieds, NASCAR Stock Cars, NASCAR Hobby Stocks, and Four-Cylinders. Featured events in 2009 include the O’Reilly POWRi Cornhusker Midget National Challenge on July 28-29 and the King of the Hill Late Model Shoot Out on Aug. 7-8.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, 605-966-5517, www.parkjeffersonspeedway.com.
Located just north of Sioux City, this NASCAR half-mile oval includes racing for NASCAR Modifieds, NASCAR 360 Modifieds, NASCAR Stock Cars, NASCAR Hobbies, and Hornets during the Saturday night NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. This year’s featured event is the 24th annul South Dakota National Championship Night on Sept. 18-19.
