Area tracks fine-tune plans as season nears

Southeast Missourian

New Auto Tire and Parts Racepark oval track manager Jerry Wolsey has added to ambitious plans for the racing season scheduled to start April 5.

Wolsey, who completed a deal with track owner Doug Friese to oversee the 3/8-mile oval dirt track near Benton, Mo., said Thursday that he'll use a meeting Feb. 23 to explain the schedule, changes in rules and changes in prize money.

The meeting will be at 2 p.m. at the American Legion building in Chaffee, Mo.

"I wanted to get all the teams together, get acquainted with everyone and get all the necessary information distributed," said Wolsey, who already had announced a tentative schedule that could see more additions.

Besides adding a late model division on a weekly basis, ATPR returns sprints, street stocks and cruisers from last season's weekly lineup. Modifieds also return, but with the sanction of the United Midwestern Promoters. The same group will sanction the late model division.

Special events include NCRA sprints on May 24, USCS sprints on Sept. 20 and $2,000-to-win sprint events July 5 and Aug. 30.

Here are plans for other area oval tracks:

Fredericktown Raceway: Modifieds will be added to the weekly Friday schedule, replacing the pro street class, track owner Danny Keith announced Wednesday.

UMP-sanctioned late models, pure streets and RAMS-sanctioned four-cylinders also will compete weekly when the season begins April 4.

Malden Speedway: The track's weekly Friday-night lineup will return from last season with late models headlining the bill. Modifieds, hobby, pure street and cruisers also will compete. Sprints will replace late models for one night a month.

Special events include MARS late models April 25 and July 4 and the Cotton Bowl Cup Oct. 10 and 11.

Double-file restarts and a feature-race lineup determined by passing points are among rules changes being considered, although no decision is expected before next month.

Poplar Bluff Speedway: Construction continues on the retaining wall and grandstands for the new 3/8-mile oval track, but owners are confident the facility will be open and ready to race each Saturday night beginning in April.

The track has scheduled a MARS late model event for Aug. 23 and will schedule special events for each of its other weekly classes, which include modifieds (IMCA rules, but not sanctioned), super street, pure street, cruisers and a four-cylinder dirt-dobber class.

Among contingencies planned by track owner Keith Adamson: Feature winners will receive a night's worth of free racing fuel, feature winners that use stamped track tires will get $200 extra, and any front-row starter that elects to start last and still win will have his winnings doubled.

jhall@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 174