News and Notes

Although there are still a couple of races left for 2017 here in Missouri, the " off season " news marches on. New 34 Raceway owners/promoters Brad Stevens and Jessi Mynatt have released a preliminary schedule for their inagural season at the storied West Burlington, Iowa facility. Racing is set to begin on Saturday, March 31 featuring the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series late models and the 360 Sprint Invaders. This was my first race of 2017, with a solid field of cars, including 33 late models. The following week, April 7, the IRA sprints are on the card. The tenth annual Slocum 50 late model event has been pushed back one week to Saturday April 21 for 2018. The reason for this appears to be due to the securing of a first time sanction by the Midwest Late Model Racing Association. The MLRA has a record of sucessful shows over the last several seasons at area tracks, and should bring in a solid field of drivers from Iowa, Illinois, and their home base of Missouri, as well as some other national standouts. They will be coming off a two day show the week prior at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland,Mo. Other highlights of the schedule include the Sprint Invaders featured again on May 27 and for their season championship on September 29. Also, Tony Stewarts All Star Sprints are on the card for July 29. At this time, the management team is stil working on more possible specials, as well as fleshing out the lineup for the weekly Saturday night shows. Meanwhile, there is good news for the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa, as race director Mike VanGenderen has signed on for three more seasons, through the 2020 campaign. Mike has consistently provided a crisp, efficient Friday night program at the fairgrounds 3/8 mile facility, including a pair of highly sucessful MLRA shows the past couple of years. Speaking of the MLRA, my sources tell me that they will abandon time trial qualifying in 2018 and go back to the passing points format that had worked for them previously. It is no secret that the biggest names in dirt late model racing prefer time trials, with the top qualifiers then starting up front. Unfortunately, this often produces little passing up front, both in the heats and features. The " follow the leader " action also usually robs us of a multi groove track come feature time. I don't know if I am in the majority or not, but I much prefer passing points over qualifying. At any rate, I think it is safe to assume the the $10,000 plus winners check for the Slocum 50 will still draw plenty of heavy hitters. The full MLRA schedule is due to be released this Saturday, November 18. Quincy,Il. Raceways has already released a preliminary schedule, with more special dates to be announced. In the meantime, the new owners of the .29 mile bullring have scheduled an informational meeting for this coming Sunday, November 19 at the speedway concession stand at I believe 1:00 to discuss the possibility of reintroducing a two person cruiser class. The Gobles are proposing this as a truck class, and they have received positive responses, as well as calls for the revival of the two person car class, which enjoyed a successful run of five or so seasons several years ago. Anyone interested should check out Quincy Raceways on Facebook. As I mentioned at the beginning, there are still a pair of races to be had withing driving distance in 2017. This Saturday, November 18 will be the running of the eleventh annual Turkey Bowl at the Springfield,Missouri Raceway. The late afternoon event features open late models and modifieds, as well as B-mods, Midwest mods and Legend cars. Then the second annual Race at the Dome extravaganza in St Louis will feature late models and modifieds on the indoor track. With area racers traveling to Arizona in January, then to Florida and Georgia in February, I guess " off season " is a loosely defined term!