New owners look at upcoming 34 Raceway season with excitement and anticipation,
Sprints making a comeback to 34 Raceway
by Dana Royer/34 Raceway

BURLINGTON, IA (April 2) ­ After celebrating its 40th birthday in 2006, 34 Raceway will be starting a new season under new ownership. Jeff and Amy Laue purchased the 3/8 mile track from Johnny Johnson last fall and its been non stop ever since as they make plans for the new season. With the help of family and friends, the Laues have worked hard to make the new season at 34 Raceway fun and exciting for both racers and fans. Fans will see a few changes from years past and the Laues hope these changes will bring more fans out to enjoy this exciting sport. Realizing the impact Johnny Johnson made during his ownership of the track, with physical improvements and his support of the racing action, Jeff and Amy hope to keep 34 Raceway one of the premier racing facilities that it is. ³Johnny has always been such a great asset to racing and continues to support 34 Raceway in a big way², says Amy.

What¹s new for the 2007 season? First to mention would be the return of the sprint cars to 34 Raceway. Each Saturday night the Zaiser Fabrication 305 Sprints will bring sprint car racing back to 34 Raceway¹s weekly program. The Zaiser Fabrication 305 Sprint Cars will compete each Saturday along with the J&J Steel/Ideal Ready Mix Late Models, Miller Lite Modifieds, Hy-Vee Stock Cars and Pepsi Hobby Stocks. New to 34 Raceway, the Mid America 305 Sprints will take to the track five times this year and the popular Sprint Invaders will return with many local racers seeing action in their 360¹s. The Laue¹s are also proud to bring back the 410 sprints this year. It¹s been ten years since the 410 winged wonders have taken on 34 Raceway and Jeff and Amy are excited to be bringing them back to the high banked oval. The IRA 410 Outlaw Sprints will make their appearance on Sunday, May 6.

Along with a new office being installed and renovated, a new look is coming to 34 Raceway with a lot of bright red paint. Bathrooms are being painted and freshened and approximately 30 loads of new gravel have been brought in for the parking area and roads. Most of the previous 34 Raceway employees will return to the track but fans will see new faces in the flag stand with Donnie Williams and Rodney Bliesener controlling the action. Bud Wollam also returns to 34 Raceway as competition director. Fans visiting the 34 Raceway website will be pleased with the new look. Track information, schedules, ticket prices, photos and more are at the touch of your fingertips. Check it out at www.34raceway.com

Attending the races shouldn¹t be a burden on families, so new this year will be a special family package offered the fans as well as reduced rates for senior citizens and students. The ³Family Fun Pass Punch Card ($35) can save a family of 2 adults and 3 students $20.00 off the retail value of $55. The pass includes admission, 5 drinks, 5 hot dogs and 5 popcorns. And as usual, kids 10 and under are admitted FREE. For group ticket prices email info@34raceway.com.

The first of many ³Family Fun Nights², sponsored by H & L Mack will be held on April 21 with family packaged pricing. $18 grandstand admission will get 2 adults and up to 3 students/kids into the gates that evening and Iowa Speedway tickets will be given away throughout the night. April 28 will be Electric Rayz Tanning Night (Burlington) with driver autograph sessions in the grandstands from 5:45 - 6:30. 1/2 price 34 Raceway T shirts will be available and FREE tanning certificates will be given away to the first 500 people. These are just two of the many special events planned for 34 Raceway. Watch for more events throughout the season.

For the racers themselves, the Laues are proud to announce that Snap On Tools and Shottenkirk Auto Express, have jumped on board offering gift certificates to the winners of ³mystery spots¹ each Saturday night. Not new to 34 Raceway, but popular with the fans will be the return of the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models. The series will make two stops, the first on Saturday, April 14 and the last during the IMCA Deery Brothers Late Model Nationals Sept. 14 and 15. This year the Sprint Invaders will also compete on Friday, Sept. 14. The Invaders will also bring on the action to open the 2007 season on April 7 as well as July 4. The Vintage cars will make their only appearance at 34 Raceway also on July 4 along with the Sprint Invaders Series.

Another new attraction this season will be Mod Lites. Based out of the Quad Cities, these cars are similar to dwarf cars and are sure to bring some new excitement to the track making special appearances on April 14 and Aug. 11. For a different kind of action, 34 Raceway will host the Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull on June 6 as well as Cheaters Night on Sept. 21. The 2007 season will also inaugurate the first annual IMCA Stock Car & 34 Hobby Stock Nationals on Sept. 29. This will be the season finale.

You can¹t put on these great shows without the help of sponsors. ³It¹s been overwhelming to my family & I with the generous support of the past sponsors renewing their sponsorship packages with 34 Raceway as well as the generous support of the over 25 new sponsors², says Amy Laue. ³Not only from the support of our sponsors are we overwhelmed, but with the support of this community in general. People don¹t realize how stressful and how much work, in a very short amount of time, there is to do, and still is to do. We feel very blessed with the friendship and support by so many people.²

The first race of the new season will be Saturday, April 7 with the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders. Also running will be IMCA Modifieds and Hobby Stocks. Then on Saturday, April 14 the Deery Brothers IMCA Summer Series will make its first of two stops. The Mid American 305 Sprint Cars will also compete on April 14 in their first of five stops at 34 Raceway along with IMCA Stock Cars, and Mod Lites. The first points race will be April 21.