Hold Up 2020, 2019 Not Done Yet

  The racing season in the midwest may be winding down, but that does not mean we are ready for the " silly season " just yet!
   In fact, this coming weekend has me wishing I could be at two race tracks at the same time, and even wondering if there might be a way to ( almost ) make it work!
   Friday night will be a no brainer, with night one of the Kenny Pratt Memorial at Quincy, Il. Raceways, honoring the gentleman who was a fixture at the track for many years as a car owner, driver, and super fan before losing his life due to an accident. Three classes of cars will be in competition, with UMP super late models vying for a $2,000 top prize, while UMP Pro Crate/ IMCA late models ( $1,000 to win ) and outlaw stock cars ( $500 to win ) will round out the card. All classes will qualify in a one lap time trial format. The feature races will all be 34 laps, as that was the number Kenny displayed on the cars he raced at the Broadway Bullring. After the final checkers, the band " Eleven " featuring the outstanding vocals of Lee Ann ( Weisinger ) Lambert will play.
  As it does on Friday, Saturday action will kick off with hot laps at 7:00 followed by time trials and racing. Fifty lap features will be contested in all three classes, with top prizes of $5,000 for supers, $2,000 for crates, and $1,000 for stock cars making this one of the biggest shows ever in the long history of Q.R.
 Saturday is also the date for the annual Shiverfest races at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. This event includes hay rack rides, trick or treating, and boxcar races for the youngsters as well as five classes of cars battling for the coveted Shiverfest honors, including a place on 2020 apparel. IMCA/Pro Crate/limited late models, IMCA modifieds, stock cars, and sport compacts will be in action as well as sport mods under IMCA, UMP, or USRA rules.Hayrack rides kick things off at 3:00, while hot laps begin at 5:00.
  Hopefully Mother Nature is kind, and both tracks are blessed with full grandstands and lots of race cars!
  Even as we anticipate the weekend ahead, plans for the 2020 season are being made. Over the weekend, the Lucas Oil Late Model Series released their 2020 schedule. Dates of particular interest to those in my area are April 24 and July 17 at Tri City Speedway in Granite City, Il., and Thursday, May 14 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Ia. That date will be the opening of a three race weekend including a Friday stop at 300 Raceway in Farley, Iowa and Saturday at Deer Creek Speedway near Spring Valley, Mn.
  Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. has also released their 2020 schedule, with eight race nights beginning on March 20 and 21.
  And today we have the surprising announcement that the MARS racing series has been sold to former racer/promoter Tony Izzo Jr., who was the point man at the recently shuttered LaSalle, Il. Speedway. MARS had been owned by Chris Tilley, who is also involved with a late model tour which is based in the south. He operated MARS for the past two seasons, working to rebuild the brand after it suffered some negative P.R. concerning a couple of events in Iowa in 2016. His focus for the last two seasons has been in the Kentucky, Indiana, and St.Louis area, so it will be interesting to see what direction Izzo takes the series.
  Whatever you decide to do this weekend, I hope it involves a trip to the race track. If you see me there, stop by and say " Hi."