Let's get a quick notebook entry in before heading out to the track on this Labor Day weekend!
My destination for tonight is 34 Raceway west of Burlington where the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series will be in action. This is also a "show up points only" race for the Sprint Invaders so with the two combined I am hoping for a field of at least twenty-five of the winged 360 Sprint Cars and it will be interesting to see how the locals match up with the touring drivers. Defending champion Sam Hafertepe Jr. leads the ASCS point standings coming into a three race weekend as after Friday's show at 34 the ASCS gang will head south to the Lake Ozark Speedway in central Missouri for racing on Saturday and Sunday nights. Blake Hahn, Scott Bogucki, John Carney II and Matt Covington are tightly bunched in the second through fifth positions and fans will also get to see a trio of hard charging young ladies in McKenna Haase, Harli White and Alex Hill in action. It should be a fun night of Sprint Car racing so I hope to see you there!
Also on the schedule tonight you have a draw/redraw show at the CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction where promoter Larry Richardson has promised that he will have news for me soon in regard to a third try at running a race in early November. And you can bet that the pits will be full for the Showdown at Motown as IMCA drivers from all over the country and Canada make their way into Iowa and get a shot at the Marshalltown Speedway high banks tonight to start the weekend.
On Saturday night I plan to be right back at 34 Raceway where the Lucas Oil POWRi WAR non-wing Sprint Cars will be in action for the first time along with Late Models and the local 305 Winged Sprints. Yes, the weather looks to be a mystery tomorrow so I have used the Positively Racing Calendar page to map out some alternatives just in case. Always remember that I compile this calendar using the schedule that each track or series puts out at the beginning of the year, so if changes are made later and I don't catch it, then that change is not made in the calendar. Thus the disclaimer at the top, always make sure to check with the track before planning or making the trip.
I thought it was interesting that on Saturday of the Labor Day weekend my next closest options should that nasty four letter word that starts with "R" come into play would be three hours away at Boone or Fairbury. What used to be the Season Championship weekend for most tracks is now primarily the start of the Fall specials season instead. I am hoping that it will be a short twenty minute drive for me on Saturday, but I am prepared for a road trip if needed.
Already some interesting news coming out in regard to the 2020 season. In the Sprint Cars there have been two announcements this week in regard to teams parting ways with their current drivers. This one just came out today as Shane Stewart will be parting ways with the CJB Motorsports Team, one of the World of Outlaw regulars and it will be interesting to see if this starts a shuffle of the Outlaw drivers or if a new driver will get a chance to follow the Tour in 2020. Of course it could also mean that the team does not follow the Outlaws next season.
Closer to home the TKS Motorsports Team owned by Troy and Tammy Renfro and their driver Austin McCarl have mutually agreed to go their separate ways for 2020. After winning the Knoxville Raceway 410 track title in 2018 the team could not find the success that they were hoping for this season and it will be interesting to see who fills the seat of the #2KS next year and, as a proven champion, Austin should get some new offers as well. Oh yes, and did you notice the name at the bottom of this press release?
I have already noticed three tracks in the Midwest that are up for sale or lease and they are the Wagner Speedway in South Dakota, the Elk City Speedway in Oklahoma and the Tri-State Speedway that sits near the border of Oklahoma and Arkansas. I have heard that a couple of tracks closer to home will be in need of a new promoter, but will not give specifics until it is announced so the "silly season" is off to an early start. Hopefully my "Net Zero" theory will continue to hold true.
On the positive side, the work is close to complete on the re-sizing of the Mason City Motor Speedway and the new short track will tentatively have racing on two Sundays in September, the 15th and the 22nd. For now they will be mid-afternoon starts as the new lights are not yet up, but if all goes well promoter Todd Staley might just keep racing as long as the balance sheet for each event is in the black.
That's all for today, time to load up and head out for the track. Hopefully you are doing the same!
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