Despite the no frills economy, there is still much to cheer about as drivers race on in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and western Kansas and Nebraska. Parts & People has compiled a list of popular tracks, highlighting this season’s feature events. So grab your beer cozies and put your racing hats on; it’s go time.
Colorado
Bandimere Speedway, an NHRA-sanctioned dragstrip in Morrison, underwent a complete makeover last year with a new, high-tech concrete track, complete with its own cooling system in.
This year, the track has new LED scoreboards and several upgraded safety features, such as a deeper sand trap with sand-filled barrels and concrete walls built around it to contain a crash, said Jeff Sipes, Bandimere’s marketing and media relations manager.
The track’s set of safety nets are now six feet high on the first and 12 feet tall on the second one, he said, adding that these safety precautions were implemented as a result of the death of Scott Kalitta, a Funny Car racer who was killed last year in an accident at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. Additionally, he said, all Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car races have been shortened from 1,320 feet to 1,000 feet to ensure adequate stopping distance.
The tracks feature event, the venerable Mopar Mile High Nationals is in its 30th year in 2009 and is held July 10-12. Other notable events for the season that run from April through mid-October include Thunder on the Mountain, June 19-21, on Father’s Day this year; Phil Long Ford Fest, June 28; Quaker State E.T. Series/ATS Diesels on the Mountain, Aug. 1; All Star Chevy Weekend, sponsored by Stevinson Chevrolet, Aug. 22-23; and Armdrop Live!, hosted by Rich Christensen, the host of Pinks and Pinks All, is sold out to racers, but spectator seats are still available for the Aug. 29 event. For additional tickets or a complete list of events, visit www.bandimere.com.
Colorado National Speedway, a NASCAR-sanctioned 3/8-mile oval paved track in Dacono, features racing every weekend from March through September. Notable events include the Front Range Dodge Dealers Mid Season Championship, July 3-4; The Toyota/NAPA "150" NASCAR Camping World Series, Aug. 15; and the Snap-On Tools Challenge Cup XXXV, Sept. 12 and 19. Other divisions include Late Model, Pro Truck, Grand American Modified, Sportsman, Figure Eights, Trains, Legend Car Series, Super Stock, and Super Modified. For more information on divisions, schedules, or ticket prices, visit www.coloradospeedway.com or call 303-665-4173.
I-76 Speedway is a dirt track in Fort Morgan that features four to six divisions every Saturday night through September. Colorado's best dirt drivers are always on hand, challenging each other and satisfying everyone's need for racing. The divisions include Late Models, Midgets, E-mods, Street Stock, Econos, Outlaw 1200s, 600 Mini-Sprints, Dwarfs, Mod-lites, Mini-Stocks, and Sprints. The 19th annual Fall Classic on Oct. 6-7 features Modifieds, E-mods, Street Stock, Econos, Open Dwarfs, Mod-Lites, and Mini Stocks. For more information, visit www.I-76speedway.com or call 970-867-2101.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a unique event that challenges drivers and vehicles. The “Race to the Clouds” course is a 12.4-mile sprint that starts at 9,400 feet above sea level and finishes at 14,110 feet, with 156 turns without guardrails, and 2,000-foot drop-offs. The course is partly paved and partly gravel. The race includes 19 divisions, everything from motorcycles with sidecars to truck tractors. This year’s climb is scheduled for July 19. For more information, visit www.ppihc.com or call 718-685-4400.
Colorado Hill Climb Association (CHCA): The summer schedule, which includes four climbs, starts in April and ends in July. The last climb is Lands End Hill Climb on July 20. The Aug. 9 Gold Camp Hill Climb at Victor has been cancelled due to recent mining activity. For information, visit www.chcaracing.com.
I-25 Speedway, located in Bragdon, just eight miles north of Pueblo, is an banked quarter-mile paved oval. Classes include Late Model, Grand American Modified, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hornets, Figure Eight, Legend, Dwarf, Mini Sprint, Midget, Mini Cup, and Street Drag. Visit www.i25speedway.com for more information.
Pueblo Motorsports Park features a drag strip, road course, and a motocross track. Visit www.pueblomotorsportspark.com or call 719-240-4132 for more information.
Julesburg Dragway in Julesburg is a quarter-mile strip. Special events include NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League and the NHRA Summit Racing Series. For more information, call 970-630-1756 or visit www.julesburgracing.com.
Prowers County Motorsports Park, formerly known as May Valley Speedway, is a 1/3-mile clay oval track in Lamar. Notable news in 2009 is that the track’s Modified, Stock, and Hobby Stock classes are now sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA). Visit www.pcmp.org for more information.
Western Colorado Dragway, supported by the Western Colorado Drag Racing Association in Grand Junction, runs Super Quick, Super Prom, Pro ET, and Sportsman Classes April through October. Visit www.western-colorado-dragway.com for schedule information.
Western Kansas
Airport Raceway in Garden City runs Full Midgets, Jr. Sprints, and Mini-Stocks from May through September. Schedule information is available at www.airportraceway.com.
Other notable western Kansas tracks include Goodland’s Sherman County Speedway, which is a 3/8-mile dirt track that runs Bombers and IMCA modifieds. For complete schedule information, visit www.freewebs.com/shermancountyspeedway. Colby’s Thomas County Speedway runs IMCA modifieds, Cruisers, Bombers, and Super Stocks. Visit www.thomascountyspeedway.com for a complete schedule.
Western Nebraska
Alliance Speedway runs Saturday races on a quarter-mile, slightly-banked asphalt oval track. Races feature Super Stocks, Cruiser, and Quarter-Mile Sprint Karts; for information, call 308-432-5421.
McCook Speedway is a 3/8-mile clay-dirt track that runs regular Friday night events featuring IMCA Modified, ICMA Stock Car, IMCA Hobby Stock, Classic Modified, Mini Trucks, Mini Sprints, and Micro Sprints. For more Information, visit www.mccookspeedway.com or call 800-346-8341.
New Mexico
Hollywood Hills Speedway, located at Casino Hollywood in San Felipe (between Albuquerque and Santa Fe), features special events through the year on its 3/8-mile clay oval track. Local drivers have the opportunity to compete in the 10,000-seat arena in classes ranging from Sprint Car to Hobby Stock. For more information, visit www.hollywoodhillsspeedway.com, or call 505-242-6484.
Sandia Motorsports Park near Albuquerque is a complex of various ovals, a road course, and a dirt motorcross course. The oval tracks feature Stock Car racing on Saturdays from May through October. The other tracks feature a variety of series and events, including Lightning Fast Ladies, Slug Bugs, and Bandoleros. For schedules and more information, visit www.sandiamotorsports.com or call 505-352-8888.
Arroyo Seco Raceway (ASR) in Deming features a drag-racing series as well as a road course with AMSA and SMRI motorcycle races and sports car events for the SCCA. For more information, visit www.arroyosecoraceway.com or call 575-544-3440.
Albuquerque National Dragway is a NHRA Division Seven track that adheres to all NHRA rules and regulations. For more information, call the event line at 505-323-7077 or visit www.abqdragway.com.
Aztec Speedway is a 1/3-mile, high-banked clay oval track that hosts Dwarf, Mini Stock, Modified, Stock and Thunder Bomber racing events in Aztec. For more info, call 505-334-2023 or visit www.aztecspeedway.com.
Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces is a 5/16-mile oval clay track with a track featuring 4 degrees of banking at its bottom and 12 degrees of banking on the outside. For more information, visit www.snmspeedway.com or call 575-524-7913.
Wyoming
Big Country Speedway in Cheyenne hosts racing every Saturday night through September. The track’s weekly program consists of Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Pure Stocks. For more information, visit www.bigcountryspeedway.com or call 307-632-2107.
Casper Speedway runs events starting in May and ending in September. The track is a semi-banked, half-mile clay oval. For more information, call 307-577-3040 or visit www.web.mac.com/amyschick.
Douglas Motorsports Park is a NHRA Division five-member track founded in 2003. The season for the quarter-mile drag strip culminates with the season closer on Sept. 27. Visit www.douglasmotorsportspark.com for more information.
