Wednesday, December 30, 2009
POSTED 12-30-09 STOCK CAR RACER'S GRANDMOTHER PASSES AWAY
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
POSTED 12-29-09 MORE UPDATES ON THE POLAR BEAR 150.
POSTED 12-29-09 A SPECIAL DAY FOR TIFANIE!
POSTED 12-29-09 POLAR BEAR 150 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Speedway owner, Andy Hillenburg, personally chose Moody to give the green for the second annual running of the race. Moody, who has been a regular on MRN Radio since 1998, is looking forward to performing his official starter duties. “The Polar Bear 150 is grassroots racing at its best, and I'm proud to be a part of it,” said Moody. “I just hope I don't drop the flag.”
The 2nd annual Polar Bear 150 kicks off on Thursday, December 31, 2009. Gates open at 8:00 AM and practice sessions take place from 1:00-1:45 PM and 3:00-3:45 PM.
European-style qualifying will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, January 1, 2010, and the green flag will drop at 12:00 PM. A driver autograph session, which will include the starting lineup as well as Moody, Firestone Indy Lights driver Leilani Münter, and some all-star surprises, will take place at the frontstretch fence between the conclusion of qualifying and driver introductions.
Be sure to follow Rockingham Speedway's official Twitter site, www.twitter.com/RockinghamSpeed, which will be running special contests and ticket giveaways for the duration of 2009.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
POSTED 12-26-09 NEWS FROM THE IOFS
Indianapolis, Indiana - December 24, 2009 - International Outlaw Figure 8 Series (IOFS) officials today announced their 2010 schedule. The series is slated to compete at six speedways with events being staged in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.
The series, now in its third season, will compete at several new venues in 2010 as well as return visits to Anderson, Plymouth, and Kentucky Motor Speedway. Twelve events are on the early released schedule with the possibility of two additional events to be released at a later date.
The season kicks off April 10 with a visit to the unofficial home track of the series, Anderson (IN) Speedway. The series will return to Anderson on July 4th as well as playing host to the season championship on October 2nd. Other returning tracks on the schedule include Plymouth (IN) and Kentucky Motor Speedway in Whitesville, KY.
New venues for 2010 include a pair of visits to the Columbus (OH) Motor Speedway and a lone appearance at Kil-Kare Raceway in Xenia, Ohio. The events at Columbus will be the first-ever Figure 8 events at the track outside of the School Bus Figure 8 events held there this past season. This will be the first foray into the Buckeye state of Ohio for the IOFS.
The historic Salem (IN) Speedway will host its first-ever Figure 8 events with two tentative events scheduled for May 23 and August 29. Salem Speedway owner, Owen Thompson, announced on December 18 that the famed .555 high-banked oval would be undergoing several additions over the next three years. Plans call for the construction of a new 3/8 mile asphalt oval to be constructed inside the existing .555 track to be opened in 2010. The new track will be configured for oval and Figure 8 racing. Plans are currently underway with the construction of the new track in hopes of being completed in time for the May 23, 2010 IOFS event.
IOFS Series Director, Charlie Hargraves, shared his thoughts on the recently released schedule. “I am excited to get the new season underway as we will be going to some great new tracks as well as ones that have become a staple on our schedule already." explained Hargraves. “It is great to see so many new tracks want to be a part of what we are doing and we will go to several new markets again this year. We just seem to be picking up more steam as this thing grows and attracting new fans, drivers, and tracks each year. We are working on a couple of other things that will be announced shortly so stay tuned." concluded Hargraves.
Series officials also explained that they are still working on the 2010 IOFS Front Wheel Drive schedule. The schedule should be completed and released by the end of January and will be posted on www.iofsracing.com once it has been finalized.
2010 IOFS SCHEDULE
April 10 Anderson Speedway - Anderson, IN
May 23 Salem Speedway - Salem, IN *
June 11 Kil-Kare Raceway - Xenia, OH
June 12 Columbus Speedway - Columbus, OH
July 3 Plymouth Speedway - Plymouth, IN
July 4 Anderson Speedway - Anderson, IN
July 16 TBA
July 18 Kentucky Motor Speedway - Whitesville, KY
Aug. 7 Columbus Speedway - Columbus, OH
Aug. 21 Plymouth Speedway - Plymouth, IN
Aug. 29 Salem Speedway - Salem, IN *
Sept. 18 Plymouth Speedway - Plymouth, IN
Oct. 2 Anderson Speedway - Anderson, IN
Oct. 7-9 TBA
* Tentative
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
POSTED 12-22-09 NEW SITE TO VISIT!
POSTED 12-22-09 MERRY CHRISTMAS
I can't say enough about all our racing fans and drivers. It has been a lot of fun throughout the year. Margaret and I hope that this blog has been useful and fun for you and yours.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
POSTED 12-20-09 A SPECIAL DAY FOR THE JONES FAMILY
Friday, December 18, 2009
POSTED 12-18-09 DANICA PATRICK RACING NEWS!
Danica Makes Her First Lap in ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards Stock Car Day One of ARCA Testing Productive but shortened by Rain
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POSTED 12-18-09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Richard Deaton
(812) 883-6504
MAJOR CHANGES IN STORE FOR HISTORIC SALEM SPEEDWAY
OVAL INCLUDING ADDITION OF NEW INFIELD SHORT-TRACK
SALEM, IN, December 18 – Salem Speedway owner, Owen Thompson, announced today that phase one of a major transformation project planned for the historic southern Indiana oval is slated to begin within the next few weeks.
“We are certainly excited to announce the start of a long awaited facility renovation,” said Thompson. “The changes about to take place will unfold over the next three years and greatly enhance the motorsports possibilities for Salem Speedway.”
Phase one of the project will focus on the addition of a 3/8-mile asphalt oval in the infield of the existing .555-mile track.
“The new short-track will be configured for both oval and figure-8 racing,” said Thompson. “It will have many, many functions built into it, including connecting roads to the existing oval to facilitate road racing type events.”
No completion date has been announced for the 3/8-mile track, but a full season of racing is in the planning stages for the 2010 season.
“Weather conditions during the winter and spring months will dictate the construction schedule and completion of the project,” said Thompson. “Everything is in place to move full steam ahead with the undertaking.”
“The new short-track opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for racing at Salem Speedway,” said track general manager Richard Deaton. “It will be suited for everything from figure-8 cars to pure stocks, to Legends Cars and go-carts.”
According to Thompson, entry level racing divisions will play a prominent roll in the development of the new oval.
“We want to provide an opportunity for young and inexperienced drivers to gain pavement experience in an affordable class of cars,” said the track owner.
Deaton points out that longtime fans of the high banks need not worry about the half-mile track playing a lesser roll in the overall picture of the planned motorplex.
“The historic high banks have stood the test of time and will continue to be the centerpiece of racing at Salem ,” said Deaton.
The 3/8-mile track is just phase one of Thompson’s overall plan for the track that first opened in June of 1947. Each year over the next three years the Speedway plans to add a new facet with the culmination being the opening of a drag strip at the current Salem Municipal Airport , which adjoins the Speedway property.
Phase two of the project, scheduled for 2011, includes improvements to the existing .555-mile oval and construction of a .44-mile dirt track.
Thompson and his wife, Beverly, who purchased the track in the summer of 1995, have overseen many facility improvements during their 15 years of ownership. Major renovation projects included the construction of a 9600 sq. ft., three story structure that houses concessions, gift shop, offices, press facilities and hospitality suite.
Other improvements the Thompson’s have made include replacing the metal guardrail that once encompassed the track with a concrete retaining wall, a grandstand expansion, a widening of pit road, installation of new light towers, pavement of all roads in the spectator parking area, construction of a 2,000 square foot open air pavilion for hospitality and making the grandstands handicapped accessible with the addition of a spectator ramp, as well as other smaller projects.
The 2010 Salem Speedway season is set to open on Sunday, April 11, when the ARCA Series, presented by RE/MAX and Menards returns to the high banks for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200.
The full 2010 Salem Speedway schedule will be released in early January.
POSTED 12-18-09 POLAR BEAR 150
POSTED 12-18-09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Richard Deaton
(812) 883-6504
2010 JOE JAMES/PAT O’CONNOR MEMORIAL TO
FEATURE TWO DIFFERENT SPRINT CAR SERIES
SALEM , IN , Dec. 15 – The Salem Speedway “Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial” will feature an exciting new twist in 2010 reports track management. The USAC National Sprint Car Series, a mainstay of the event for over 45 years, will be joined by the Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series for the 51st edition of the storied classic.
This marks the first time in the history of the event that two different sprint car series appear together on the racing program. In recent years, midgets or local stock car divisions have joined the USAC sprints for the annual race.
“We’re certainly excited to have these two great sprint car series appear on the same program,” said Salem Speedway general manager Richard Deaton. “This historic night on the high banks will provide fans an excellent opportunity to see the best-of-the-best in open wheel short-track racing.
“The breathtaking action of USAC sprints, combined with the raw speed and excitement of the Must See Racing Xtreme winged sprint cars, will undoubtedly deliver a memorable night of racing,” said Deaton.
The overall Salem Speedway track record of 14.377-seconds was posted by Kevin Feeney during time trials for a 2006 winged sprint car race on the high banks.
The honor roll of past James/O’Connor victors reads like a “who’s-who” in open wheel racing history with such names as A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Bob Sweikert, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Pancho Carter, Rich Vogler, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Tony Stewart gracing the list of former winners.
Originating in 1953 as the Joe James Memorial, in remembrance of the popular California driver who lost his life in a racing accident, the event was renamed the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial in 1958 following the death of O’Connor in that year’s Indianapolis 500.
The 2010 sprint classic, set for Saturday night, August 14th, will be topped off with a 30-lap feature for the MSR Xtreme Sprint Series and the 50-lap James/O’Connor Memorial for the USAC sprints.