As we flip the calendar from a trying February, thoughts begin to turn to what we anticipate will be a full and exciting 2021 racing season here in the mid west. At the urging of grandson Keagan, we are planning for our season opener in just over two weeks at a new venue, Bristol Motor Speedway. While the Bristol Dirt Nationals is scheduled to be a monumental event contested over six nights - March 15-20, our arrangements are to attend the final two nights when the grandstands will be open to spectators. The last update included 1363 cars signed in to the eight divisions that will be in action! The super late model count continues to grow, with 112 participants at this time, with open registration continuing while the other classes are now set with a low of 146 602 crate late models and a high of 204 hornets. The supers will run full shows on Friday ($10,000 to win) and Saturday ($50,000 to win), while the other classes will feature last chance and main events split between the two nights. At last check, tickets still remained, although attendance will be capped at a fraction of capacity due to Covid restrictions. Well known mid west promoter Mike Van Genderen has been instrumental in covering the half mile asphalt facility with the trademark red dirt surface for what will be a month of racing, including the spring visit by the NASCAR Cup Series and the World of Outlaw sprints and late models.
Closer to home, we hope to follow up with the lid lifter at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri on March 26 and 27. The Friday night show will feature five classes of cars, joined on Saturday by the opening race for the Hoker Trucking SLMR east division late models.
To cap off the month, it will be the opener at Kevin and Tammy Gundakers' Tri City Speedway near Granite City, Il., as they play host to the second installment in the newly created Flo Racing late model series. This will be a ten race " made for T.V. " series, all on week nights at different tracks around the mid west. The Wednesday, March 31 show will feature super late models racing for a $10,000 top prize joined by open modifieds.
April will then kick things off in full swing here in the Tri State area. Friday, April 2 is set as the first night in the promoting career of long time Quincy Raceways employees Jim and Tammy Lieurance who will take over the reigns at the Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo. with a five division weekly program. April 2 and 3rd will also see 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Ia. roar back to life with a two night USMTS VS. UMP modified extravaganza. Owner/promoters Brad Stevens and Jessi Mynatt are still in the process of multiple upgrades at the 3/8 high banked facility, with new dirt added as well. And the revised schedule for Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Ia. show Brian and Marcie Gaylord kicking things off with a Friday, April 9 program featuring the SLMR late models, 410 sprint cars and midgets. For up to date schedules, including all the openers, check out the calendar tab here at Positively Racing.com.
Things are considerably murkier regarding Quincy Raceways. The track is back under the control of owner Paul Holtschlag, who has been working to sell the facility. As of February 1, he had more than one interested party, but indicated in the local newspaper that if there had been no progress by the end of the month he would be putting the speed plant up for auction. Although his preference is for the property to remain a race track, there would likely be no guarantee of that happening. So we shall see.
Here's hoping for a full and prosperous 2021 for racers, fans, and promoters alike, and let's plan to meet up soon at the track!
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