MENA, Ark. – Awards will remain unchanged, but some criteria for receiving them are new in the 2012 Brodix contingency program for IMCA Late Models.

A driver experiencing engine failure during the regular point season, and a driver sidelined by the same mal ady during the Deery Brothers Summer Series, receive cylinder head sets, as do national and series rookies of the year and pole starters at both the Pepsi USA Nationals and IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Cenex main events.

Brodix, located in Mena, Ark., and manufacturer of the official cylinder heads for IMCA’s Late Model division, had previously given those awards to national and series champions and rookies of the year, and in random drawings for feature qualifiers and for non-qualifiers at the Pepsi.

All drivers competing in the series and for national points are required to display two Brodix decals on their race cars.

Rookie contend ers also have an Aug. 1 deadline to return a reg istration form, to be published in the point sec tion of the Inside IMCA newsletter beginning this month.

The 2012 point season for Late Models begins on Friday, April 27 and continues through Sunday, Aug. 26. There are 21 shows on tap for the Deery Series, which opens Saturday, March 31 at Farley Speedway.

Information about Brodix-made cylinder heads and intake manifolds is available at the www.brodix.com web site or by calling 479 394-1075.

“Adjusting the program to target drivers who break a motor can go a long way in determining whether they will be able to continue their season or have to sit out the remainder of the year,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder said. “We want to keep racers on the track and Brodix is supportive of that mission as well.”

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – East Bay Raceway Park kicks off their 36^th Annual Winternationals on Thursday, February 2. The ASA Midwest Tour and Ace Speedway will honor their 2011 Champions this Saturday night.

Here is a quick look at what is happening this weekend in ASA Racing.

EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK (Tampa, FL) The ASA Member Track near Tampa, FL host the first weekend of their 36^th Annual Winternationals this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series and the World Street Stocks will be competing all three nights. In fact, about 50-60 NeSmith cars were practicing on Wednesday night. A three-day grandstand pass is available for $40. Racing starts at 6:30pm each night.

ASA MIDWEST TOUR (Super Late Models, Sportsman, Trucks) Ho Chunk Casino near Wisconsin Dells, WI will host the stars of the Midwest this Saturday night as they celebrate their 2011 season. Andrew Morrissey will collect his championship trophy in the Super Late Models. Chris Marek will receive his second Sportsman championship and Jerry Wood will also collect his second Truck championship trophy. The schedule is: Cocktails at 5:00pm, Dinner at 6:00pm, Awards at 7pm.

ACE SPEEDWAY (Altemahaw, NC) Ace Speedway will honor their 2011 Champions this Saturday night at the Burlington Shrine Club in Burlington, NC. The festivities will get underway at 6pm. Congratulations to 2011 Champions: Barry Beggarly (Late Models), Gary Young Jr. (Modifieds), Dillon Bassett (Limited Late Models), AJ Sanders (Mini Stocks), Barry Wilson (Extremes), Clyde Johnson (Street Stocks), Junior Chrisco (Mini Trucks).

To learn more about the ASA Member Tracks and Sanctioned Series in your area, please visit www.asa-racing.com. Follow ASA Racing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/american.speed.assoc and on Twitter at @amerspeedassoc.

You can also look for the nearest ASA Member Track, get the weekend schedule, ASA Series information right on your smartphone by downloading the ASA Racing App for the iPhone and Android phones for free. Just search for ASA Racing on iTunes and the Android Market and get the app today for FREE!

The American Speed Association started as a single racing series in 1968 and is a fast growing racing sanctioning body today. The ASA Member Track program sanctions dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information call (386) 258-2221, or send an email to info@asa-racing.com. The latest news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA can be found by visiting www.ASA-Racing.com.

ASA®, ASA Racing®, American Speed Association® are registered trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC.

Wheatland, MO- Officials with Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri are pleased to release the 2012 Weekly Racing Series Point Fund. A point fund will be paid out in each class at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks. In 2012 four classes will battle on track for the Season Championship to conclude on August 25th.”The weekly program continues to grow here at Lucas Oil Speedway and we are excited to welcome drivers back again with a Season Championship Point Fund. All eligible
drivers in the top 10 of each of the four weekly racing series classes will receive point fund pay” commented track General Manager, Dan Robinson. Robinson went on to say, “With each race being a point championship race, even on special event nights, the drivers have weekly opportunities to gain points all season long.”

Lucas Oil Speedway offers one of the strongest point fund and contingency programs in weekly dirt track racing. Drivers in both the USRA Modifieds and the ULMA Late Models must be registered with the sanctioning body to be eligible for point fund pay. There are no additional track imposed fee’s for any driver participating in the Lucas Oil Weekly Series events. In 2011, 30 local drivers received generous cash and contingency awards at the Champions’ Banquet. Rylan Long was the 2011 ULMA Late Model Champion at Lucas Oil Speedway and shared his thoughts on weekly racing during the banquet. “Can’t get much more than racing at Lucas Oil Speedway every week with your family, go there, come home with your car in one piece, can’t ask for much more than that.”

The 2012 Season Championship Point Fund for all four Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series’ totals more than $14,000. The top spot in ALPS Food Stores ULMA Late Models will receive $1,500, 2nd-$1,000, 3rd – $750, 4th – $500, 5th – $400, 6th – $350, 7th – $300, 8th – $250, 9th – $200, 10th – $150.

The Champion in the Pitts Homes USRA A-Modifieds will also be awarded $1,500 in addition to contigency certificates, 2nd – $900, 3rd – $600, 4th – $450, 5th – $300,6th – $250, 7th – $200, 8th – $175, 9th – $150, 10th – $150.

For the Carson’s Corner NAPA Factory Stocks Champion a prize of $500, 2nd – $400,3rd – $300, 4th $200, 5th – $150, 6th – $140, 7th – $130, 8th – $120, 9th – $110, 10th – $100.

In the DJ’s RV B-Modifieds a first place pay of $500, 2nd – $400, 3rd – $300, 4th $200, 5th – $150, 6th – $140, 7th – $130, 8th – $120, 9th – $110, 10th – $100.

Drivers in each Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series class will have several chances to win added purse money throughout the season. “With the support of many local businesses, each class will get multiple chances to take home more cash at events all season long, we don’t have one night on the schedule where there is not added purse money” stated Dan Robinson.

Opening night is 72 days away (not that we are counting), the Lucas Oil MLRA will bring the annual Spring Thunder back to the Diamond of Dirt Tracks. April 14th will also include $750 to win A-Modfieds presented by Lucas Fuel Saving 10W-30 with the Carson’s Corner NAPA Factory Stocks competing for $500 to win presented by Elite Auto Repair, all events are Championship Point races. The following week for the Lucas Oil Weekly Series Season Opener presented by FindItHere.com, all classes will be in action with the ALPS Food Stores ULMA Late Models racing for $1,000 to win. The DJ’s RV B-Modifieds get their first chance of added purse money on May 5th for the Impact Signs, Awnings and Wraps Open Wheel Showdown, $500 will go to the B-Modified winner. These special bonus purse money nights will continue all season to reward drivers for their dedication and create excitement on and off the track.

Click the link to check out the most current 2012 Lucas Oil Speedway Schedule .

Dan Robinson summed up his excitement for this season, “2012 is going to be a huge year here in Wheatland, a great point fund for the drivers, added purse money in all classes at several different events throughout the season, additional specials including another Drag Boat event, Monster Trucks and an additional Open Wheel show. We also have some exciting plans for other attractions coming to the Speedway and look forward to releasing more details soon.”

For complete event information and the latest Lucas Oil Speedway news visit: www.LucasOilSpeedway.com .

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – The memories are still fresh of an event that happened two years ago today. It was on January 31, 2010 when ASA Racing did something that no other American racing sanctioning body has ever done. They organized and sanctioned an asphalt event at a one and a half mile oval in the Republic of South Africa.

The green flag flew around 1:15pm local time on a sunny, 80-degree day at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit located just outside of Welkom, Free State, South Africa. It was broadcasted live on Sirius-XM satellite radio.

24 cars took the green flag in front a large contingency of South African race fans at the oval that sat in the middle of four goldmines.

1986 Daytona 500 Champion Geoff Bodine had a comfortable lead with three laps to go, when he ran out of fuel going down the backstretch. As Bodine pitted, the lead was handed over to Toni McCray, a talented female driver from Southern California. Not far behind McCray was John Mickel, a winning stock car driver from the United Kingdom.

As McCray took the white flag, Mickel was looking for a way to get by her.The two went side-by-side going down the backstretch. Mickel would takeover the top spot as the two battled in turns three and four. As Tom White waved the checkered flag, it was Mickel taking the win over McCray. Marc Davis was third with Rick McCray in fourth and South Africa’s very own Johan Spies rounding out the top-five.

“I can’t believe it’s been two years since such a memorable victory,” Mickel recently said. “It would be great to go back and race again! All the drivers, teams and mechanics loved the whole South African experience so much. We would like to go back and compete at Phakisa again.” It was truly an experience for just about everyone who was involved in this historic event. For many, it was their first trip outside of the United States. Over 300 people from around the world made the trip to the track located about two hours of Johannesburg and about 12 hours north of Cape Town. 16 drivers were from the United States along with six South Africans, one from the United Kingdom and one from Australia.

Rodney Schuette was the car owner of Steve Carlson’s #F-66 car that competed in the event. He wasn’t sure what to expect going over but hopes to go again. “When we were told that we were racing in South Africa, my first thought was, where do they have a track?” Schuette recalled. “The only thing I knew about that part of the planet was what I picked up from the Discovery channel or National Geographic. After being there, I have a whole new respect for the people and that area. They are very friendly, personable, and respectful. The racing facility is top notch. I could talk a long time about being there. It was quite an experience. ASA and Dennis Huth should be commended for thinking out of the box.”

The teams had a short period of time to prepare for the event. They put their time and dedication into preparing the cars and equipment for the 60-day boat journey to South Africa. In fact, the winning car didn’t arrive until the Thursday morning prior to the event.

Mike “Lumpy” Lemke was the Tech Director who put the rules together to make the race as equal as possible. “We had some unique situations with the different engine packages and cars coming to compete in the event,” Lemke said. “The teams understood our goal with this event and we all worked as one giant team to make this work. It was a privilege to be a part of this.”

The event was also the debut of the Schwanke ASA Transcontinental Series engine. A full electronic fuel injected engine. Johan Spies was the top finishing driver with the engine with his fifth place finish.

The event was replayed in 72 different countries reaching 110 million households.

“As we look back, this was a huge undertaking for ASA Racing and we were ecstatic with the results,” Dennis Huth, ASA President said. “In one week, 24 race teams from around the world came together for the ASA Free State 500. It was an incredible race with an exciting finish. The top-five alone showed how diverse this event was with three different countries from three different continents represented. Many of us still cannot believe that it has already been two years.”

The day after the race, everyone visited Savannah near Parys, Free State, South Africa where they enjoyed a safari, an up close encounter with a cheetah, and enjoyed the South African culture with music and dance. It was a great way to end their South African experience.

ASA has several YouTube videos from the 2010 ASA Free State 500 available on their YouTube page at www.youtube.com/Americanspeedassoc.

To learn more about the ASA Member Tracks and Sanctioned Series in your area, please visit www.asa-racing.com. Follow ASA Racing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/american.speed.assoc and on Twitter at @amerspeedassoc.

You can also look for the nearest ASA Member Track, get the weekend schedule, ASA Series information right on your smartphone by downloading the ASA Racing App for the iPhone and Android phones for free. Just search for ASA Racing on iTunes and the Android Market and get the app today for FREE!

The American Speed Association started as a single racing series in 1968 and is a fast growing racing sanctioning body today. The ASA Member Track program sanctions dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information call (386) 258-2221, or send an email to info@asa-racing.com. The latest news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA can be found by visiting www.ASA-Racing.com.

ASA®, ASA Racing®, American Speed Association® are registered trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC.

(Slinger, WI) – The Slinger Speedway awards banquet was held Saturday January 28 at the Schauer Arts Center in Hartford, Wisconsin.  Drivers, car owners, crews, fans and track staff were on hand to honor the champions and all the racers in each division.  There was an added treat with the new venue at the Schauer Center it also allows fans to take in the SE Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame, housed in the same building.  LeRoy Meats of Horicon catered the evening’s dinner.
Long time Slinger Speedway Announcer and Host of The LTN Hour Todd Behling was the MC for the event, and he got things going by introducing Slinger Speedway MRO Track Chaplain Jim Zierke. Jim opened with a prayer and asked to remember Tom Powell, Wes Biswell and others we lost during 2011.

The Slinger Bee’s were the first division to accept their awards for the 2011 season.  Nick Wagner captured his first track championship in dominating fashion.  Wagner recorded 16 fast times and 17 feature wins on his way to the title.  Rounding out the top five were Braison Bennett, Brandon Tackes, Allen Maher, and Marty Tackes.  Allen Maher would also collect the Rookie of the Year honors in the Slinger Bee Division.

2011 Thunderstock Champion Andy Welter continued his steady climb up the ladder in this division.  He went from 5th in 2009, 3rd in 2010 to Champion in 2011, but there won’t be another Thunderstock championship for him next year because he is moving up to the Late Model division in 2012.  Welter collected 15 top fives and 5 feature wins on his way to the title.  Brad Hetzel, John Daley, Ken Schrafnagel, and Nate Fick rounded out the top 5 with Tyler Schley taking home Thunderstock Rookie of the Year honors.

The Figure 8 Division was next to take the stage and returning champion Scott Goetzke stood on familiar ground as he not only repeated, he was crowned champion for the 5th straight year!  Goetzke had a division leading 18 top fives to go with 5 feature wins on his way to claiming his 5th straight championship.  In typical fashion Willy VanCamp spotted the field 4 races and still finished 2nd in the point standings.  Willy had a division leading 7 wins.  Rick Bruskiewicz finished 3rd in the standings but would pick up the title of hardest hit ever in the X.  Rick’s pickup truck was destroyed late in the season from a direct hit in the X with Ryan Lovald.  Cop car driver Brandon Wolf and Shane “THE SHARK” Becker rounded out the top five.

The Midwest Sportsman Division was dominated by the 2011 Champion, James Swan.  Swan had a division leading 17 top fives, 10 fast times, and 11 feature wins.  Over the last five seasons Swan has accumulated 22 Midwest Sportsman Feature wins and 22 Fast Times at Slinger Speedway.  Second and Third place went to team mates Ryan Farrell and Dan Church.  Farrell took the second place honors beating his car owner/team mate Dan Church.  Jack Stern was fourth with Jay Shambeau fifth.
The Late Model division’s top honors went to Wayne Freimund.  Wayne had a division leading 17 top tens to go with 2 feature wins.  Wayne thanked his engine builder Motor Masters and said his Championship wouldn’t have been possible without them.  He also thanked Dan Church for his support.  Alex Prunty claimed the second spot in the Late Model standings and he also picked up the Late Model Rookie of the Year award.  Alex had a division leading 4 fast times and also picked up 2 feature wins.  Dave McCardle was third in points with 16 top tens and one feature win.  John DeAngelis was fourth with one feature win while Jerry Mueller rounded out the top five.   The Late Model Champion also had the honor of drawing the name of the Five Star Race Car body’s $500 gift certificate. Wayne Freimund pulled Alex Prunty’s name from the hat.

The final awards of the evening went to the Super Late Model division.  Jeremy Lepak was the last one standing on the stage after being crowned the 2011 Champion.  Lepak teamed up with legendary car owner Jerry Gunderman in a chase for the 2011 Slinger Speedway Super Late Model Championship, something Jerry Gunderman had not yet accomplished; together they dominated the season.  Lepak led the division with 14 top fives and 7 feature wins.  Lepak also won the three race Pepsi Challenge Series by winning two of the races and finishing 4th in the other.  Lepak thanked Wayne Erickson, B&B engines, a long list of supporters, his sponsors, his wife, his crew, and his car owner, Jerry Gunderman.
Lepak, who had said on the day he clinched the championship that it felt so surreal had a few months to reflect on his accomplishment and to see if it had sunk in yet.

“I think tonight helped it sink in quite a bit,” said Lepak.  “On the ride down it still hadn’t sunk in yet, but I think when I walked up there for everything, get the trophy, do the speech, you know I think it helped to sink it in.”
Considering the laundry list of drivers who have driven for Jerry Gunderman, Lepak was genuinely honored to be able to be mentioned with the great drivers who held that seat before him.

“Is that number unreal?” asked Lepak.  “Are the names on there incredible?  I think that list helped me understand that when I walk into the shop and I know the history there.  Then you hear the names read off and yours is on that list. To be with those drivers….that’s enough said. I don’t even know what to say about it.”

When you consider the drivers that have driven for Jerry Gunderman, and that Lepak gave him just his second ever championship, it is definitely an accomplishment worth noting.  Names like Bobby and Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Ted Musgrave, Scott Hansen, Darrell Waltrip, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant, Ken Schrader, Matt Kenseth, Dick Trickle, Kyle Petty, Jimmy Johnson, and scores of others have all piloted a Gunderman car and have recorded numerous victories.
Jeremy Lepak’s name is now next to Mark Martins (’86 ASA) as the only two championship drivers for Jerry Gunderman.
“I was very honest when I said he (Gunderman) could have any driver he wanted,” said Lepak.  “I firmly believe that.  But when I see my name on those cars it’s incredible.  It’s a hell of an accomplishment.”

Steve Apel drove the Sonya’s Rose Danny and Sonya Delcamp owned car to second in the Championship Standings.  Apel won 3 features in the Super Late Model division and one feature in the Late Model division.  He also collect 8 top fives, 11 top tens and was fast qualifier twice.

The 3rd place finisher in the Super Late Models was 7 time Slinger Speedway Champion Lowell Bennett.  Bennett had one feature win to go with 10 top fives, and 14 top ten finishes.  Jon Reynolds Jr made the trek to Slinger Speedway each week from Rockford and wound up 4th in the standings.  The 2011 Super Late Model Rookie of the year Rob Braun finished in fifth place.  Chris Blawat, Mike Egan, Randy Schuler, Mike Graczkowski, and Conrad Morgan rounded out the top ten.
Jeremy Lepak had the honors of drawing the winner of the $900 Five Star Race Car Bodies award and he drew his own name.  Proving he is the ultimate sportsman Lepak threw his name to the side and drew another name, this time Rob Braun’s ticket was the winner, Rob gladly accepted the gift from Five Star.

Todd Behling finished the evening by thanking many of the staff at Slinger Speedway along with other supporters, and that put an end to the 2011 season at Slinger Speedway.

Written by:  Todd Thelen and Gregg Paul

Cordele, Ga. – Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine Chevrolet, left Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Ga., this past weekend with a visit to Victory Lane, followed by a solid sixth-place finish.

“I’m real excited about this past weekend,” Elliott said. “I felt like we had two solid races but still left room for improvement. It was a great way to start off the year with a win not only for the team but it was also good for Aaron’s.”

Elliott earned the pole position for the first SpeedFest Pro Late Model event, but subsequently started third after the field was inverted Sunday. The 16-year-old driver consistently ran inside the top three for the majority of the 150-lap race.

On the white-flag lap, two cars spun behind Elliott in Turn 4, and he avoided the wreck when the field circled past it again on the .375-mile racetrack. Amongst the chaos on track, Elliott continued to battle the No. 1 car of Mike Garvey on the final lap and was able to maintain his first-place position when the race concluded. The Aaron’s Dream Machine team celebrated in Victory Lane, while the crowd gave Elliott one of the biggest cheers of the day.

“It sure was nice to get a win and a pole our first time out,” crew chief Ricky Turner said. “Everybody did a good job getting the cars prepared and just a great overall effort for this weekend’s events at Cordele.”

With the second race approaching its start, Elliott regained his focus and strapped himself back in to the No. 9 Chevrolet. When the green flag waved for the CRA Super Series SpeedFest 200, Elliott rolled off the grid in 11th.

In the opening laps, Elliott steadily drove through the field and was running fifth by the halfway point, when the field observed a mandatory 10-minute break for adjustments and optional tires. During this break, crew chief Turner made the call to not take tires so Elliott would lead the pack at the restart. Kyle Busch, who went on to win the second event, opted for two tires, and he lined up from the outside pole position, next to Elliott.

Elliott battled hard during the remainder of the 200-lap event, and when the checkered flag waved, he finished sixth.

“Not taking tires was the right call for us,” Elliott said. “I think just two would have made me tight, and four tires would have put us too far back to make up the distance in a Crate car.”

Elliott’s next super late model event will take place on March 23 at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., the site of his most notable win — the Snowball Derby, which he won in December 2011.

SPRING VALLEY, Minn. – The Queensland family and the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., will continue their sanctioning partnership with the United States Racing Association (USRA) for the 2012 season. This will be the tenth straight year with USRA sanctioning at the speedway.

The high-banked 3/8-mile speedplant operates on Saturday nights and will have two classes that will carry the USRA banner. Those will include the USRA RHS Modifieds and USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods during American Racer USRA Weekly Series races.

Deer Creek has sanctioned the Modified division since the 2003 season. Bob Timm of Winona won the first USRA sanctioned race on April 26, 2003, and in that time there have been 27 different feature winners. Tim Donlinger of Rochester leads the way with 26 wins under the USRA sanction. Mike Sorensen of Rochester sits second with 25 wins while Timm is third with 16 victories. Jason Cummins of New Richland is fourth with 15 wins and Rochester’s Brad Waits is fifth at 13 tallies.

There have been five different track champions in that time frame too. Sorensen won the inaugural title in 2003 and also was the champion in 2004 and 2006. Donlinger won the title in 2005 and Timm was on top in 2007. Waits took the hardware in 2008 en route to capturing his second USRA National Championship and now Cummins is the three-time defending champion with titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Cummins was also the USRA National Champion in 2010 and was runner-up to Johnny Bone Jr. in the 2011 title chase.

The car counts at Deer Creek were stellar for the Modifieds in 2011 – one of the best in America. They ran 12 points nights with an average of 28.66 cars per event. The high car count for the year was 34 on July 23 and six nights topped the 30-car marker. There were eight different feature winners this season.

The USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods will enter their third season at Deer Creek. Brandon Hare of Elma, Iowa, is the only champion in the division taking both the 2010 and 2011 titles. Hare also leads with the most wins at 13 with Jake Timm of Winona a distant second with four. Kylie Kath of Owatonna and Erik Kanz of Winona sit tied for third with three wins each and four drivers have one victory.

A lot of young talent influxed the B-Mods in 2011 and the car counts showed it. The class had 13 shows with an average of 21.07 cars on hand. The highest car count was 27 on June 11.

Although not a part of the weekly line-up, the USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars will compete three times in 2012 during three marquee events. On May 26, the full-fendered machines will join the B-Mods as part of the Iron Man Challenge, along with the USMTS Modifieds. Thursday, July 26, will see the Stock Cars in action with the USMTS Modifieds again during the 2nd Annual World Modified Dirt Track Championships and on Sept. 15 they will compete during the Clash at The Creek featuring the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

The 2012 racing season will kick off with the annual car show held at Clements Chevrolet in Rochester on Saturday, March 31. Weather permitting, there will be an open practice held on Wednesday, April 4, from 5-9 p.m., and the season opener is tentatively set for Saturday, April 7, with a 5 p.m. start time.

Individual event and season passes for the 2012 season are on sale now. For more information on the Deer Creek Speedway, go to www.deercreekspeedway.com.

To learn more about the USRA, visit www.usraracing.com or call 515-832-6000. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usraracing or follow us at www.twitter.com/usraracing on Twitter.

by Todd Narveson

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – Mach-1 Sport Compacts will see their first action at Southern Iowa Speedway when the regular point season starts April 11.

The 4-cylinder class joins IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods on regular Wednesday night programs.

“We wanted to add a division that allows younger people to get involved in racing on an economical level. They can get into a Sport Compact without spending a lot of money,” explained promoter Mike Van Genderen. “I’ve also gotten calls from 4-cylinder drivers looking for another place to race for IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national points.”

The first-year boss at SIS also said those drivers were looking forward to racing at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Cenex at Boone on Sept. 4.

Southern Iowa Speedway becomes the 26th track to sanction the Sport Compacts this season. Twenty-one track champions were crowned in the division in 2011.

Van Genderen announced in December that he’d resume the IMCA sanction at Oskaloosa.

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa – Officials from the United States Racing Association have released the 2012 schedule for the popular USRA Iron Man Challenge featuring USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars and USRA Karl Performance Parts B-Mods.

The third season for the Iron Man Challenge campaign will see 28 dates – up from 17 last year – at 14 of the finest dirt ovals in six different states. On the calendar are 26 shows for B-Mods and 18 for Stock Cars. Both classes will race together on 16 nights while B-Mods will have 10 solo nights and Stock Cars will have 2 nights to themselves.

Last season 367 tough-as-nails drivers took part in the Iron Man Challenge, including 130 Stock Car and 237 B-Mod competitors.

The 2012 season for the B-Mods will kick off with a doubleheader at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan., on Friday and Saturday, March 16-17, in conjunction with the USMTS Modifieds. Both the Stock Cars and B-Mods are featured the following weekend at the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo., and the I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo.

In all but six of the events, the Iron Man Challenge will join the USMTS Modifieds on the racing card. All USRA-sanctioned classes will be featured April 7 at the Upper Iowa Speedway in Decorah, Iowa, and for the pair of season-ending doubleheaders at the Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, and Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Stock Car drivers will enjoy the spotlight during the Clash at The Creek featuring the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Sept. 15 at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.

New venues on the calendar include the LA Raceway in La Monte, Mo.; Chateau Raceway in Lansing, Minn.; Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.; Interstate Speedway in Jefferson, S.D.; and Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.

USRA IRON MAN CHALLENGE 2012 SCHEDULE:
Fri Mar 16 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS (B-Mods)
Sat Mar 17 … Humboldt Speedway, Humboldt, KS (B-Mods)
Fri Mar 23 … LA Raceway, La Monte, MO (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Mar 24 … I-35 Speedway, Winston, MO (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Apr 7 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Thu May 24 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Fri May 25 … Chateau Raceway, Lansing, MN (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat May 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Wed Jun 27 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Thu Jun 28 … Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, MN (B-Mods)
Fri Jun 29 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods)
Sat Jun 30 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA (B-Mods)
Thu Jul 12 … I-35 Speedway, Winston, MO (B-Mods)
Fri Jul 13 … Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, KS (B-Mods)
Thu Jul 19 … Interstate Speedway, Jefferson, SD (B-Mods)
Sun Jul 22 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN (B-Mods)
Thu Jul 26 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (Stock Cars)
Fri Aug 17 … Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Fountain City, WI (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Aug 18 … Upper Iowa Speedway, Decorah, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sun Aug 19 … Nobles County Speedway, Worthington, MN (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sun Aug 26 … Huset’s Speedway, Brandon, SD (B-Mods)
Wed Aug 29 … Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont, MN (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Thu Aug 30 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Sep 15 … Deer Creek Speedway, Spring Valley, MN (Stock Cars)
Fri Oct 5 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Oct 6 … Highway 3 Raceway, Allison, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Fri Oct 12 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)
Sat Oct 13 … Mineral City Speedway, Fort Dodge, IA (B-Mods & Stock Cars)

Points will be determined by the best 12 finishes for B-Mods while Stock Cars will count their best 10 nights. To be eligible for points funds, drivers must possess a valid USRA license, utilize the American Racer KK704 racing tire on all four wheels and compete in at least half of the events for their division. Mike Van Genderen of Newton, Iowa, is the defending Iron Man Challenge Stock Car champion. Cayden Carter of Oskaloosa, Iowa, is the defending B-Mod champ.

There is no requirement to purchase a USRA license to compete in the Iron Man Challenge, but benefits enjoyed by licensed drivers include higher event purses, a piece-of-mind $100,000 insurance policy and an unmatched points fund from the organization that puts it’s money where it’s mouth is and gives more back to the drivers who give their all. The cost of a USRA Competitor License is $100 for Stock Cars and $90 for B-Mods.

The USRA was founded in 2002 with the sanctioning of Modifieds and Stock Cars. Hobby Stocks were added in 2003 and the organization grew steadily over the next three years with 14 tracks hosting USRA events in 2005. The B-Mod division arrived on the scene in 2006 and since then, USRA Weekly Racing Series national champions have been crowned in all four premier divisions.

To learn more about the USRA, visit www.usraracing.com or call 515-832-6000. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usraracing or follow us at www.twitter.com/usraracing on Twitter.

BAYTOWN, Texas – In less than three weeks, the nation’s elite dirt Modified drivers will begin their quest for a 2012 USMTS National Championship with the season openers for both the USMTS Casey’s Cup and new USMTS National Championship Series at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, Feb. 16-18. One driver could walk away with $10,000 or more from the tripleheader at the 3/8-mile clay oval.

The engines fire up and drivers get an opportunity to fine-tune their machines during an open practice on Wednesday, Feb. 15, before the green flag unfurls for the first time on Thursday for the year’s first USMTS Casey’s Cup Qualifier with at
least $2,000 going to the winner.

With 27 USMTS Casey’s Cup Qualifiers on the schedule, drivers will be battling for a spot in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup, which will begin Aug. 9 at the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo., and culminate Sept. 20-22 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., during the 14th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree.

At the conclusion of the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup, the champion will earn a $15,000 paycheck.

On Friday and Saturday, the inaugural events for the USMTS National Championship Series are on tap with each night carrying a $4,000 top prize.

The USMTS National Championship Series currently has 29 events and each will pay at least $4,000 to win and $400 to start with up to 30 cars taking the green flag in every main event. The driver with the best 20 showings during the campaign will be named the 2012 USMTS National Champion and will take home a record $30,000 while the runner-up in the final ranking will get a cool $20,000 in the richest season-ending payoff in USMTS history.

Paul White won the first-ever USMTS event at the Royal Purple Raceway in 2007. Since then, trips to victory lane have also been made by Alan Mondus, Kelly Shryock, Jason Hughes, Tommy Weder Jr., Johnny Bone Jr., Zack VanderBeek, Jeremy Payne, Rodney Sanders, Ryan Gustin, John O Whittington, Chris Brown and Dereck Ramirez.Hughes leads all drivers with five wins at the former Houston Raceway Park, but Ramirez comes into the event with the momentum after capturing back-to-back wins on the final two nights of the 5th Annual USMTS Winter Nationals in November.

Other drivers expected to compete for the checkered flag include Jon Tesch, Johnny Scott, Rick Beebe, Bryan Rowland, Corey Dripps, Jason Krohn, Stormy Scott, Jeremy Payne, Shane Hebert, Randy Timms, Chase Junghans, Grant Junghans, Austin Siebert, Bobby Malchus, Clyde Dunn Jr., Chase Allen, Steven Whiteaker Jr. and many more.

Limited Mods will also be running for $500 to win Thursday, $700 on Friday and $1,000 on Saturday. A $100 bonus will be paid to any driver racing all three nights and not qualifying for the “A” Main on Saturday. The event will be sanctioned by the USRA, with licensed USRA Western Flyer HotMod drivers earning national points toward the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series.

Practice on Wednesday will be from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. On Thursday and Friday, the pit gate opens at 3:00 p.m., grandstands open at 5:00 and racing begins at 7:00. On Saturday, pit gates open at 3:00 p.m., grandstands open at 4:00 and the first heat race hits the track at 5:30.

The Royal Purple Raceway is located just east of Houston on I-10 to exit 799, then 2.5 miles south on SH 99 (Grand Parkway), then 0.3 mile west on FM 565. For more information, call the track office at 281-383-7223 or visit www.royalpurpleraceway.com online.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like the USMTS on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Silver Bay, MN – In 2011, Fuel The Thunder, a documentary TV program featuring the Como Modified Series in Northern
Minnesota and Wisconsin, took the industry by storm with its innovative and grassroots marketing approach and documentation of ten drivers that fueled participation in the series. The show was broadcast on the local Duluth-Superior FOX 21 affiliate and online via YouTube. The movie version was shown on December 17, 2011, in a Duluth, Minnesota, theater.

In 2012, Fuel The Thunder 2 will build on the foundation established by the initial series by expanding to 13 one-hour episodes and featuring the drivers that fuel the IMCA Hawkeye Dirt Tour. The episodes will be exclusive to YouTube and will be released every Monday at 1:00 PM Central starting on December 3, 2012. A subsequent DVD/Blu Ray Set and movie
theater showing will be released in the months that follow.

“The is an excellent opportunity for the modified drivers of IMCA to get much needed exposure via new media outlets,” stated IMCA Vice President Brett Root. “Barry and his team at X.CELERATED produced a fantastic program that really features the lifestyle and personalities of these drivers. On top of this, the vision they have with utilizing the internet, mobile, and TV everywhere instead of the traditional form of network television fits the dirt track racing business model now and into the future.”

The 13 drivers of Fuel The Thunder 2 will be selected at a later date. The show will follow these drivers in the quest to win races and the championship of the Hawkeye Dirt Tour, now it its third season, throughout the state of Iowa.

“Fuel The Thunder has been one of the most rewarding projects that our young company has produced,” added Barry Braun, Producer of Fuel The Thunder and President of X.CELERATED. “The project is as real as one will get at the dirt track. We do not use a big fancy film crew, equipment, or post production. We get in the trenches with one camera, a couple of ideas, and drive up and down the road like any fan would. I strive to create based on the drivers, the elements, and the pure passion of the project. The internet, with delivery to multiple devices, has allowed us to stay true to
this project. Because of it, we will expand on that in 2012 with an hour long show and thirteen in-depth episodes.”

More information regarding Fuel The Thunder 2 will be released in the coming months on www.fuelthethunder.com. Filming for the series will begin in early April during the Frostbuster tour of races sanctioned by the IMCA. To keep up with the International Motor Contest Association, IMCA visit:
www.imca.com

More information on the Hawkeye Dirt Tour can be found at: www.dirttour.com More information on X.CELERATED can be found at: www.racexr.com.

About X.CELERATED

X.CELERATED (XR) is a marketing and multimedia firm based in Minnesota. XR focuses on the dirt track industry producing high impact websites, video, and internet broadcasts. More information on X.CELERATED can be found at: www.racexr.com

About the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA)

The largest sanctioning body in the United States, the International Motor Contest Association provides rules and race procedures for eight divisions of race cars. The open wheeled Modified has been IMCA’s signature class since its introduction in 1979. Nearly 7,000 drivers will compete at 125 IMCA tracks in 23 states and Canada during the 2011 season.

The premier event in dirt track racing is the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Cenex. More than 800 Modifieds, Late Models, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts will take their turn on the track at Boone, Iowa, Speedway during the 29th annual event Sept. 5-10. For more information visit: www.imca.com

ALTA, Iowa – A 13th date has been added to the 2012 JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour schedule.

IMCA Modifieds will headline the Tuesday, June 26 show at Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, racing for a top prize of $1,000.

Special series, Allstar Performance State, North Central Region and IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national points will be awarded. Support divisions are to be announced.

The third annual series opens May 8 at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. All 13 features are qualifying events for 2012 or 2013 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballots.

Chris Abelson won the tour race at BVR last August.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – A famous character in a racing movie says, “All I want to do is race!” When you ask Zack Franks what he wants to do, you get the same answer.  The 17-year-old from Asheville, NC, surprised many last year at Newport Motor Speedway, an ASA Member Track in Newport, TN, when he held off veteran drivers Wayne Webb and David Flynn for the title. Franks won the championship by a total of five points over his two fellow competitors. By the way, he missed the first two events of the season.

He competed in 14 events during the 2011 season where he won seven of those events along with 13 top-five and 14 top-ten finishes. Franks impressive record also put him in the running for the ASA Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Member Track National Championship where he finished second to 2011 National Champion Barry Beggarly. Franks had an average of 4.7075, only 0.2341 behind Beggarly.

What makes this more impressive is that this was his first full season of racing…ever. “I wanted to race ever since I was five years old. When I was 11, I started racing go-carts,” Franks recalled. When asked if he raced up until he switched over to full bodied racecars, Franks gave a blunt answer. “No, I quit the go-carts because dad didn’t know much about them. But I ran really well. I finished second and third in my first two races.”

When asked if he only ran those two go-cart races, he simply said yes. In 2010, he ran a few street stock events before moving up to the tough Late Model Sportsman division. “Everything went by real fast,” Franks said. “My dad (Junior Franks) said it would.” Franks has a simple goal, “I want to do this full-time, I simply can’t get enough of it,” he said. “I also could not have done this without my dad. He has a lot of experience doing this and continues to teach everything that he knows.”

Zack’s father, Junior Franks, has competed in some NASCAR Nationwide Series and the former Sportsman Series with competitors like the late Dale Earnhardt. Franks also enjoyed competing at Newport Motor Speedway. “Oh yeah, that track is a lot of fun,” he said. “It is the best. The racing gets so intense there, it is unreal.”

“Let me tell you something about this kid. Last year his dad put him in a street stock car. This was his first time ever being in a race car,” Ron Crane, General Manager of Newport Motor Speedway said. “About midway through last season, his dad decides to put him in a Late Model and in his first race he sat on the pole. We call him the ‘Wild Child’ and he has showed everyone what he is all about. He is a good kid, a little shy. But when he gets out on the track, nothing intimidates him but he is very appreciative of his peers. We are all very proud of him.”

Currently, he and his father are exploring their options for 2012. Those options include returning to Newport to run for the ASA National Championship or competing in super late model events. By the way, if he does plan to return to Newport and defend his 2010 track championship, he will have at least one tough competitor trying to beat him. That driver is his girlfriend Taylor Nesbitt, who finished eighth in the standings last season.

To learn more about the ASA Member Tracks and Sanctioned Series in your area, please visit www.asa-racing.com. Follow ASA Racing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/american.speed.assoc and on Twitter at @amerspeedassoc.

You can also look for the nearest ASA Member Track, get the weekend schedule, ASA Series information right on your smartphone by downloading the ASA Racing App for the iPhone and Android phones for free. Just search for ASA Racing on iTunes and the Android Market and get the app today for FREE!

The American Speed Association started as a single racing series in 1968 and is a fast growing racing sanctioning body today. The ASA Member Track program sanctions dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information call (386) 258-2221, or send an email to info@asa-racing.com. The latest news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA can be found by visiting www.ASA-Racing.com.

ASA®, ASA Racing®, American Speed Association® are registered trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – ASA Member Tracks and Series have embraced today’s social media and many are using it as a major resource to communicate to their own individual communities. Today, all ASA Member Tracks and Series have a Facebook page while over half have a Twitter account.

The positive thing about social media is that it is free to set up an account and start using it right away. The challenge with both Facebook and Twitter is getting people to follow you. Some are already having success as they have from 3,000 to over 5,000 followers on Facebook alone.

Many ASA Member Tracks and Series promoters are either updating their social media pages or are relying on their Public Relations Directors to help get their audience to grow. Each track and series has their own thoughts about how they use Facebook and Twitter.

“Facebook and Twitter have been a great help to us at ACE Speedway with getting more interaction with fans and much more,” Tyler Williams, Announcer/Public Relations Director at the ASA Member Track in Altamahaw, NC said. “Back in January of 2010 we maybe had a couple hundred people on our Facebook page, now we’re at over 5,000 fans on the track Facebook page and it grows everyday. For us it’s a great way to get news out quickly, and also to get invaluable feedback from the fans. It’s the fans that keep us going and with Facebook and twitter we are more in touch with our fans than ever before.”

Williams made some personal sacrifices to get the 5,275 followers they have today. “The key to getting the number to grow was being active daily on the page, it’s not enough to be on there once a week and only post event info. To help grow the fans we frequently pose questions to the fans along with promoting track events etc.,” Williams said. “Also we rewarded our Facebook fans with specials. When we got 2000 Facebook fans, I wore a suit to the racetrack to announce for one of our Friday night events. When we got to 4000 fans, I let some drivers cut my hair into a Mohawk on the front stretch during pre-race ceremonies. When we hit 5000 fans, I participated in a race in our Extreme division. Also, we’ve done V.I.P. Ticket giveaways thru the Facebook page along with using it to help determine our “Most Popular Driver” award and promoting sponsors who support our Racing Events.”

Adam Nelson, Promoter of Meridian Speedway, an ASA Member Track in Meridian, ID, gained over 4,000 followers by free ticket promotions and also making sure they don’t go over the top on their Facebook page. “We do ticket promotions on
Facebook. They have to ‘Like’ us or be a friend to have access to the free tickets that are available from time to time,” Nelson said. “Plus, we don’t over post. People tend to un-friend you so they don’t have to see the extra
items you are posting about or dislike.” Typically on race day, Nelson posts a photo of Meridian’s pits with a reminder of what time the racing action starts that night.

Wayne Brevik, Promoter of Marshfield Motor Speedway, an ASA Member Track in Marshfield, WI, finds that Facebook is a great way to get updated information out to his competitors and fans. “Facebook has become a quick way for us to post updates on our events, rules, meetings and more,” Brevik said. “With access to Facebook and Twitter on computers and mobile devices, the updates are instant and quick.”

Ethan Fields recently took over the Public Relations duties at Lonesome Pine Raceway, an ASA Member Track in Coeburn, VA. Within 24 hours, Fields created a new look for the track’s website www.thepineraceway.com which promoted their social media. “We have already seen a 500 friend increase on the LPR Facebook page,” Fields said. “By constantly updating statuses, creating engaging competitions, uploading pictures and videos, and using friends of friends to network with people from all over the nation, LPR and other businesses are likely to see a substantial growth.”

Hunter Thomas, Public Relations Director at Dillon Motor Speedway, an ASA Member Track in Dillon, SC, has a unique promotion on Facebook. “Throughout the season we posted a secret Facebook word on our page,” Thomas said. “The fans that came to the ticket office on race day received a discount of some sort if they said the right word. We used this tactic throughout the season to gauge about how many fans were looking at our page.”

Thomas even has gone out on USTREAM to do live pre-race coverage before an event at Dillon Motor Speedway. “On Labor Day, we hosted our very first pre-race show on USTREAM,” Thomas recalled. “The day before the race, we uploaded a video that showed a tour of the pit area as well as a few quick comments from random drivers. On the day of the race, Andy Locklair and I interviewed teammates Cody McKenzie and Mike Watts. After the interviews were complete, I took another tour of the pit area and interviewed several drivers and crew members.” Thomas did say they had nearly 350 views of the broadcast that day.

How was Thomas able to do this? By simply having access to a wi-fi, or a good 3G network, and using the USTREAM app on his smartphone.

One thing that is unique and helpful for the tracks and series is how Facebook and Twitter interface with each other. For many, all they need to do is post on one of the social media sites and that posting instantly appears on the other. A posting on Facebook will appear on their Twitter or vice versa. Twitter limits posts to 140 characters which is great for someone who wants to get quick and easy updates during their busy workday.

“There is a unique comparison about social media and short track racing. The comparison can be summed up with one word, community,” Dennis Huth, ASA President said. “Short track racing became popular through word of mouth. The interest grew when fans shared the excitement and entertainment they saw at their local short tracks. Now we have traditional media to help promote short track racing to new fans and social media is another forum for fans to follow their favorite ASA Member Track and Series. Social Media is today’s word of mouth. You see a friend follow a track/series, it peaks your interest and you start to follow it as well. This is growing and it is great to see how our ASA Member Tracks and series are using it to help promote their ASA sanctioned events.”

To learn more about the ASA Member Tracks and Sanctioned Series in your area, please visit www.asa-racing.com. Follow ASA Racing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/american.speed.assoc and on Twitter at @amerspeedassoc.

The American Speed Association started as a single racing series in 1968 and is a fast growing racing sanctioning body today. The ASA Member Track program sanctions dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information call (386) 258-2221, or send an email to info@asa-racing.com. The lates news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA can be found by visiting www.ASA-Racing.com.

ASA®, ASA Racing®, American Speed Association® are registered trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC.

Wheatland, MO – Reserved Seat 2-Day Tickets for the 20th Annual DART Show-Me 100 will go on sale Monday, January 30, 2012. Tickets may be purchased online through Showclix .

Reserved Seat 2-Day ticket prices are only $55. This reserved seat ticket guarantee’s your spot for the nation’s premiere Crown Jewel event at Lucas Oil Speedway! The 20th Anniversary of the DART Show-Me 100 is a race you won’t want to miss, featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the Show Me 100 2012  Lucas Oil MLRA battling for 100 Laps. The camera’s of CBS Sports will be on hand capturing all the action for the second year in a row.

Fans can also purchase general admission tickets through Showclix. Tickets for Friday, May 25th are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for children age 6-15 years. Friday night will feature time trials and six heat races for the Super Late Models plus the Race of Champions and the Manufacturers Dash. The top three finishers in each heat race will move on to Saturday night’s main event. The Pitt’s Homes A-Modifieds will be featured as the support class and will compete for $750 to win on Friday night courtesy of New Vision Graphics .

Saturday, May 26th tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for children age 6-15 years. On Saturday night the Consolation events will be held for the Super Late Models. Consolation races will be followed by the 100 Lap DART Show-Me 100 presented by Lucas Oil taking center stage. The nation’s top drivers will be on hand for intense racing action. Dry Camping areas are FREE this year for the DART Show -Me 100 so come and spend the holiday weekend with us.

Show Clix

The newly expanded campground at Lucas Oil Speedway includes ample FREE dry camping spaces and several reserved spots, as well. If you purchased a reserved water and electric camping space in 2011 contact Cheri Boehler at (417)282-5984 or
cheri@lucasoilspeedway.com to renew your spot for 2012. New for 2012, reserved dry camping spaces will be available.
If you would like to reserve a marked dry camping space contact Cheri. Space is limited for reserved spots and will be on a first call first served basis.

For complete event information and the latest Lucas Oil Speedway news visit: www.LucasOilSpeedway.com .

Charlotte, NC—Top teams from around the U.S. and Australia are now choosing a new and innovative way to market and brand their team called Motorsports on Demand. The concept makes the traditional avenues of marketing and branding obsolete with new technology that brings your presentations to life, on demand.

This concept combines the best of what is available into a concise presentation that comes alive with the click of a link. If you were sending a 25 page presentation booklet, a long and wordy PowerPoint or a video that looked more of a highlight reel then the likelihood of a decision maker taking the time to grasp your message is not realistic.
Motorsports on Demand is a 5-6 minute presentation that takes the most powerful communication vehicles available like PowerPoint, animation, photos, video and voice-over integrated to tell your story and enticing action by the potential marketing partner. Teams such as DirtCar Superstar Brett Hearn, ARCA competitor Andy Belmont Racing, rising Midwest racer Kyle Brinkmann and Australian racer Matt Dicinoski have chosen Motorsports on Demand to take their marketing efforts to the next level.

Motorsports on Demand allows you to send the link to your personal branding tool to as many email addresses as desired. The data you receive will tell you who viewed it, when they viewed it and how much of the presentation they viewed and can include personal information on that company and executive.

“I am very pleased to announce the introduction of our new and innovative way to market your team, racetrack, series or business to the motorsports community”, said President Rolfe Schnur. “Motorsports on Demand brings your presentation to life in a short period of time and gives you the opportunity to make an immediate impact with potential marketing partners”.

Simply paste this link http://my.brainshark.com/Brett-Hearn-PBT-981232336 to view a sample of how Motorsports on Demand works. Your package includes design and creative, slide creation and animation, choice of 3 designs, colors, 5 hours of changes throughout the calendar year and hosting for a year and voice-over. For a free consultation on how Motorsports on Demand will differentiate you from the competition please call Rolfe Schnur at 954-224-8661 or send him an email to sponsorland@aol.com.

Thorold, Ontario – With the announcement last week that B&C Truck Centre/Mack Canada will be launching Merrittville
Speedway’s 2012 Championship Chase on Saturday May 5th – comes news this week that Blast Entertainment will help put the first full Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series Event over the top.

When you think Stratford Ontario you think the Shakespeare Festival Theatre . maybe the Stratford Cullitons ( Mid-Western Conference rivals of the Thorold Blackhawks) or even Justin Bieber.

If you attended Merrittville Speedway’s 60th Anniversary Awards Night last October you have to know that Blast Entertainment and P.M. Lighting also call Stratford home.

“With Blast Entertainment and PM Lighting officially close out last season,” revealed (Merrittville Speedway GM) Erica Bicknell-Jones, “it’s only fitting that they help us kick off another . their professionalism and creativity can put any event over the top!.”

The Blast Entertainment, B&C Truck Centre/Mack Canada Event Saturday May 5th finds the Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinders and J&S Heating and Air Conditioning Modified Lites in their first races of the season – building on the Spring Sizzler Events for the Hoosier Stocks, Original Pizza Logs Sportsman and Bobcat of Hamilton 358 Modifieds.

Blast Entertainment is a production company that specializes in Weddings … Stag and Does … School Dances and Corporate Parties – wherever you are.

Paired with P.M. Lighting DJ Adam Vandenakker – the duo bring a nightclub experience to any event featuring an over the top visual production that includes lasers and robotic lighting.

To put your event over the top or for your free consultation – contact Adam at 519-878-5163 or Brian Pugh at 519-271-4927 or via e mail at pep992911@yahoo.com.

“When he’s not doing an event – Brian is a huge race fan,” adds Bicknell-Jones, “he enjoys his racing and we’re excited he can join us!”

When the Grandstand Gates open at 5:30 for the Blast Entertainment B&C Truck Centre/Mack Canada Championship Chase Blast Off – Race Fans can also visit and learn more about Blast Entertainment.

In the first of four Special Saturdays in May for Students – all those 18 years of age and under will be admitted for just $5 in the Grandstand.

For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 61st Consecutive Season in 2012 including the Blast Entertainment B&C Truck Centre Mack Canada Championship Chase Opener – visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com . Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book (Facebook.com/Merrittville Speedway) and Twitter (Twitter.com/Merrittville).

Join us this season on a Saturday Night for a LUCAS OIL WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Divisions with local heroes and up and coming new stars. Make your plans . call your friends and maybe even get a carpool together and enjoy a staycation at the speedway with plenty of free parking and camping spots – a night at the races is so much fun and so close to
home!

Your Local Dirt Track is where it’s at!!! Merrittville Speedway ‘The Best Family Entertainment in Niagara.”

MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2012 Lucas Oil Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 5 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – Bobcat of Hamilton, Original Pizza Logs, J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, Hoosier Tire Canada and Turn 4 Collision in addition to many marketing partners Visit them at . http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.htm and visit them when you require their products and/or services.

Lucas Oil Products is one the fastest growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry featuring a premium line of oils, greases and problem solving additives.

Through innovative product research and development along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top selling additive in the industry.

Look for Lucas Oil Products at your favorite automotive retailer or maintenance centre including B&C Truck Centre, the PartSource locations in Welland and St. Catharines, Drummond Home Hardware, KC Auto Parts, RCM Racing Equipment and Tim Phillips Garage

Jamaica, VA – After a very successful Motorsports 2012 show officials at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway are now focused on the Speedway’s opening weekend of racing, the 3rd Annual Commonwealth 100 to be held April 13 – 14, 2012 at the pristine ½ mile speed plant.

This year’s edition will have a new twist as the Lucas Oil Late Model series will now sanction the $25,000 to win event. The weekend will also include a $3000 to win non-qualifiers race.

Fans can expect to see the best in national and regional dirt late model drivers for this highly anticipated event. Defending Lucas Oil Late Model Series Champion Jimmy Owens, two-time Champion Scott Bloomquist, Steve Francis, Don O’Neal, 5-time Champion Earl Pearson Jr., Jared Landers along with rookie contenders Austin Hubbard and Jonathan Davenport are just a few of the Lucas regulars that will compete against defending race winner Steve Shaver, Booper Bare, Ricky Elliott, Jason Covert, Jamie Lathroum and a host of other regional hot shoes for the top prize.

Fans have until April 1 to grab one of the best deals in dirt Late Model racing — a two-day advance adult ticket for just $30; Senior / Military are $27 and students (7-17) just $15. All tickets are general admission. No reserved seats will be sold for the event.

Fans can purchase tickets by visiting www.vamotorspeedway.com, downloading the advance ticket order form and sending it to the track with a money order or cashier’s check (no personal checks), or by calling the speedway office at 804-758-1867 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and using a Mastercard, Visa or Discover card.

Drivers, meanwhile, can also save by entering the Commonwealth 100 prior to the early-entry deadline of April 1. The $150 early-entry fee not only saves racers $50 off the regular $200 entry fee but also includes a two-day driver pit pass worth $50.

The Commonwealth 100 weekend kicks off on Fri., April 13, with Lucas Oil Late Model time trials and heat races, while B-Mains, a 30-lap Non-Qualifiers’ Race and the headline 100-lapper take center stage on Sat., April 14. A raindate of Sun., April 15, has been established for the event. Schedule of events is tentative and subject to change.

43rd SEASON: The tentative 2012 schedule has been released and includes 17 weeks of action starting with the opening weekend Commonwealth 100 and ending September 14 – 15, 2012 with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series sanctioned $20,000 to win USA 100. The schedule also includes two Mud Bogs at “The Pit @ VMS”. To see the entire 2012 schedule in its entirety, visit the Speedway’s website at www.vamotorspeedway.com.

Registrations are currently being accepted with the top 10 in each division having their numbers reserved until February 15th, after which all numbers will be first come first served. Competitors can obtain a 2012 registration form by going to the tracks website or by calling the speedway Monday through Friday 10am through 3pm at (804) 758-1867.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/vamotorspeedway and follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/vamotorspeedway.com for a chance at special deals and prizes during the 2012 season.

Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, an ASA affiliate track, is a 1/2-mile, dirt oval. The track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads areas.

To learn more about Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway and its 2012 schedule of events, fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.

Longview, Texas -Morgan Bagley began his 2012 campaign in fine fashion by claiming the $10,000 win in the Bill Cheesebourg Memorial behind the wheel of his #14m P&W Sales/Rocket By R.E. Consulting/Clements Super Late Model at USA Raceway (Tucson, Arizona).

Sunday afternoon was a crowning achievement in the young, Super Late Model career of Morgan Bagley as he raced his way to the $10,000 win in the Bill Cheesebourg Memorial at USA Raceway (Tucson, Arizona). The big paying event served as the final round of the 6th Annual Wild West Shootout, and after winning his heat race, Bagley locked into the redraw for the feature, where he received the outside, front row starting spot for the feature, alongside pole-sitter, Billy Moyer Jr.

As the race went green Bagley shot to the lead before Moyer Jr. took over the lead a couple of laps later. Morgan would storm back to the lead on the tenth lap and would hold the spot until lap 19 when Billy Moyer raced past for the top spot. Bagley would maintain the second spot until mechanical issues ended Moyer’s run on lap 30, allowing Morgan to inherit the lead. He would never give up the lead again as he led the final ten laps to claim the richest payday of his career. Morgan was followed across the finish line by Tim McCreadie, John Anderson, Billy Moyer Jr., and Jimmy Mars.

“Part of me hates to get a win that way with the leader breaking, but I’ll definitely take it,” laughed Bagley after the event. “Randall (Edwards) and everyone with this team has done a great job with this car getting it ready for the season. We’ve had a good car out here all week, but we just haven’t had the best of luck and our results haven’t shown what we are capable of until tonight. I can’t thank my team and team owner, Wayman McMillan enough for their support and hard work.”

Morgan’s results for the miniseries are shown below:

6th Annual Wild West Shootout
January 14th: USA Raceway (Tucson, Arizona) – $3,000-to-win – 8th
January 15th: USA Raceway (Tucson, Arizona) – $5,000-to-win – DNS
January 18th: USA Raceway (Tucson, Arizona) – $3,000-to-win – DNS
January 20th: USA Raceway (Tucson, Arizona) – $3,000-to-win – 15th
January 21st: USA Raceway (Tucson, Arizona) – $3,000-to-win – 15th
January 22nd: USA Raceway (Tucson, Arizona) – $10,000-to-win – 1st

Full results from the miniseries are available at www.USARaceway.net.

The team now turns their attention to the 36th Annual Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park (Gibsonton, Florida) on February 13th-18th. The week is highlighted by six events in six days, and is sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS). For more information on the events, please visit www.LucasDirt.com .

Morgan Bagley would like to thank all of his sponsors, which include P&W Sales (Oil Field Manufacturers Rep.), MSI (Pumps, Valves, & Manifolds), Mr. Frank Motorsports, The Directional Drilling Company, Wehrs Machine, Southern
Transport, Outerwears Pre-Filters, Bulldog Rear Ends, 360 Motorsports, Sunoco Race Fuels, ShowTime Signs, D&T Racing, J&J Motorsports, Indy Screen Print, Rocket by R.E. Consulting, Hyperco, and MSRMafia.com.

For more information on Morgan Bagley and Team 14, please visit the official team website at www.MorganBagley14m.com .

WEST HAVEN, VT — Officials from Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, VT and Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT have announced a Vermont State Late Model Championship Series for the 2012 race season.

Four (4) long distance stock car events for Late Model race teams will determine the Vermont State Late Model Champion. The American Canadian Tour (ACT) type Late Model division is the most popular form of stock car racing in the northeastern US and eastern Canada, serving the needs of racers and fans at fifteen different race tracks and two regional touring divisions.

Thunder Road will present the historic 50th anniversary Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic and annual Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 as part of the Vermont State series. The new owners of Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT, Mike and Alayne Bruno, have joined over a dozen regional tracks by incorporating the ACT Late Model rules as a part of their NASCAR weekly
racing program.

Mike Bruno, a former ACT Late Model competitor himself, said, “I know how competitive these cars can be and when Tom (Curley) and I talked about this idea, it just seemed like a good fit for our first year with Devil’s Bowl Speedway, and for the entire Late Model region”.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway will host a 100-lap event on Friday, June 8, 2012. The Vermont State Late Model Champion will be crowned at the Devil’s Bowl season finale on Sunday, September 16, 2012. Both events will be 100 laps in distance. The two tracks will post over $10,000 in point fund money for participating teams.

“The ACT US Tour Late Models have put on a great show at Devil’s Bowl over the past couple years, and the opening event at Devil’s Bowl will once again be the traditional Spring Green 112 lap event. This combined effort to give the weekly teams around the region an opportunity to have a four race weekly type series and honor the first Vermont State Late Model
Champion is a nice balance between tour racing and weekly racing. I think it will be well received by Late Model teams in the region,” said Tom Curley, long time promoter of Thunder Road and the American Canadian Tour.

*2012 VERMONT STATE LATE MODEL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE*

Sun., May 27 Thunder Road Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic (100L)
Fri., June 8 Devil’s Bowl Devil’s Bowl Speedway (100L)
Thu., July 12 Thunder Road Vermont Governor’s Cup (150L)
Sun., Sept. 16 Devil’s Bowl Vermont 200 Weekend (100L)

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963, www.acttour.com, or email media@acttour.com; or Devil’s Bowl at (802) 265-3112, www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com, or email devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com.