BENTON TRACK WILL REOPEN THIS SPRING

BENTON, Mo. -- The auto racing track near Benton, formerly known as Missouri International Racepark, will be back.

To the delight of local fans the lighted, three-eighth mile oval track with a NHRA-sanctioned drag strip is expected to once again be the site of auto racing in the Southeast Missouri area.

DSF Motor Sports, the new owner/operator group, has purchased the property from the Simpson family of Scott City and is planning an opening in late April.

The refurbished facility -- Auto Tire and Parts Racepark -- will meet on Saturday nights and feature sprint, open-wheel modified, pure street and cruiser classifications.

Co-owner Doug Friese, who will serve as track president, said, "We're looking forward to bringing racing back to the area. I know there are lot of racing fans out there. It's a shame to have one of the nicest racing facilities in the area just sitting there."

MIR, with a grandstand seating capacity of about 4,700, opened on May 11, 1991. The dirt-track facility was an attraction to racing enthusiasts in the region before closing its gates on Oct. 4, 1997 .

Many local drivers have continued to race at tracks in the region, such as Farmington, Malden and Fredericktown.

Scott City racer Greg Gross, who has been racing at Malden and Farmington, was elated to hear the news of the track's resurrection.

"I think enthusiasm from fans and drivers will be up for the track," said Gross. "I believe area drivers will definitely come back and that it will be successful. I know I'll be there, because it's so much closer to home."

Shawn King, another local racing enthusiast who never missed a race at MIR, is hyped for the return of the track.

"That race track was the nicest facility in the area," said King. "It compares to any track I've ever been to."

As for future plans, the owners intend to expand the operation to include motocross, supercross and four-wheel racing.

Friese said a motocross track will be constructed on a 100-acre lot behind the track. He added a supercross track may be built in the center of the car track.

"We plan to add all different types of racing, but our first goal is to make sure we get the cars organized and going," said Friese. "As the year goes on we'll start working on the motorcycle tracks. Whether we get them up and going this year, we'll have to see."

The new track management has also vowed to work closely with the Malden track, which meets on Fridays, so entrants won't have to make modifications to their cars to run at both tracks.