Racing Around – News from the Short Track Industry

Cumberland Speedway Set to Reopen in 2017

Cumberland, MD- Cumberland Speedway is set to reopen in April 2017 and will host sixteen races during the 2017 racing season. After years of disappointing seasons and rumors of the speedway shutting down, Cumberland Speedway's new track promoter, Todd Brode is onboard and ready for the challenge. The county has made a deal with Brode for sixteen races between April and October with the potential for more in 2018.  The proceeds from the 2017 racing season will go back into funding for the track maintenance and end of the year awards. Local residents formed a non-profit group also led by Brode and has been hard at work with fundraisers and track work days to make the 2017 racing season possible.

The Greater Cumberland Raceway is a 5/8 mile dirt track originally opened in 1924. For more information about the Greater Cumberland Raceway including the 2017 racing schedule visit www.thegreatercumberlandraceway.com

 

Wilwood Disc Brakes Expands Facilities

Camarillo, CA- Wilwood Engineering has acquired another 100,000 square foot building located close to their headquarters in Camarillo, California. The second building is now open and houses product manufacturing and all warehouse and shipping operations. The addition of the new building reflects Wilwood Engineering's growth and success over the years, but especially in 2016. Wilwood Engineering designs and manufactures high performance disc brakes and components and was founded in 1977 by Bill Wood.

For more information visit www.wilwood.com

 

I-77 Speedway Regains AMRA Sanctioning

Ripley, WV- I-77 Raceway (formally I-77 Raceway Park) in Ripley, West Virginia has regained AMRA sanctioning after a year of absence due to a limited schedule in 2016.  The 3/8 mile clay oval will undergo new management and revamped operations for the 2017 season. Todd Jones will oversee operations at I-77 Raceway with plans to restore a full schedule as well as updates and improvements to the track. Although full details have not been released, I-77 plans to feature all 3 of AMRA's National Divisions with the AMRA Late Models, AMRA Modifieds, and AMRA Sport Mods in 2017.

For more information visit www.racei77.com

Airborne Speedway Will Transition to Dirt for 2017

Plattsburgh, NY- Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, New York will be switching from asphalt to dirt for the 2017 season. Racetrack leaders decided to convert to dirt due to a declining interest in asphalt racing in the area hoping to attract more drivers in the area. Airborne Speedway opened in 1954 originally as a dirt track and has been switched several times between dirt and asphalt with the last conversion to asphalt twenty-six years ago. John Walker, the owner and promoter of Airborne Speedway expects the transition to cost anywhere between $85,000 and $125,000 to cover the ½ mile track with dirt. Track leaders have been traveling the Northeast in search of the right dirt and clay mixture for the transition. Walker expects to have the 2017 racing season open in May.

For more information visit www.airborneparkspeedway.com

 

POWRi Partners with WAR Sprint Cars Series

St. Louis, MO- The Performance Open Wheel Racing, Inc. (POWRi) has expanded into non-wing Sprint Car racing by partnering with the Kansas City, Missouri based Wingless Auto Racing (WAR) Sprint Car Series to form the Lucas Oil POWRi WAR Sprint Car Series. The partnership between the two series will continue to develop and expand sprint car racing in the Midwest. Casey Shuman owns the WAR Series and will run the newly formed Lucas Oil POWRi WAR Sprint Car Series as the director. Jason McCord is the POWRi Director of Competition. McCord and Shuman will work together to build the series and hope explore options like larger point funds, national television coverage, and expanding the series into new regions of the country. At this time the schedule 2017 has not been released.

For more information visit www.Powri.com or www.WARSprints.com

 

DIRTcar and World of Outlaws Adopt Unified Dirt Late Model Council Specs

DIRTcar racing and the World of Outlaws will officially adopt the Unified Dirt Late Model Council's technical and driver personal protection specifications. The specifications will be added to the rules books for the World of Outlaw Craftsman Late Model Series, DIRTcar Late Models and DIRTcar Pro Late Models. The adopted specifications will be integrated into the 2017 General Rules and Specifications and includes fuel cells, battery and electrical systems, wheels and wheel discs/covers and personal safety equipment such as drivers head and neck restraints, gloves, seats and fire suppression.  All Council members including the World of Outlaws, Lucas Oil Series, MLRA, Ultimate Series, Southern Nationals Series, AMLS, MARS, DIRTcar Racing and Eldora Speedway. All dirt Late Model sanctioning series will be encouraged to adopt the specifications effective January 1, 2017.

 

Shadyhill Speedway Gets New Owners

Forcast, IN- Shadyhill Speedway in Forcast, Indiana has acquired new owners for the 2017 racing season. For the past sixteen years, Shadyhill Speedway was owned and operated by brother and sister duo John Schmitter and Barb Broedel and their families. Billy Alger has purchased the quarter mile dirt track. Alger is a former kart track owner and ARCA stock car racer, and has fielded entries in both ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. At this time, the schedule and racing divisions for 2017 have not been released. For more information visit www.shadyhillspeedway.com

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