Track Schedules

Bantam to promote Friday programs at McCook

McCOOK, Neb. (Feb. 23) – Jerry Ban­tam will be the new promoter in charge when McCook Speedway opens for the 2011 season on April 22.

IMCA sanctioned Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and 305 Sprint Cars run Fridays on the 3/8-mile dirt oval through early September.

The same five divisions run Saturdays at Bantam’s Elmwood Park Speedway in Norton, Kan.

“These tracks are close enough that car counts at both should be stronger this season,” Bantam said. “McCook races Friday, Norton on Saturday and Dawson County (in Lexington, Neb.) on Sundays. There are seven weekends when all three tracks are scheduled so drivers will have the opportunity to race for national and regional points each night.”

Northern SportMods take their turn in an ‘Eight for Nine’ series with four dates at McCook and four more at Elmwood Park. The top nine drivers in points after eight races qualify for the Sept. 4 finale at Nor­ton with an expanded purse.

That special is headlined by vintage races expected to bring in classic cars from across the Mid­west and as far away as Texas. Sprint Cars are also on the pro­gram.

Bantam noted that six drivers are already new to the winged class for the upcoming season, putting the total car count for Sprints at 18.

“We’ve already been well received by current and potential track sponsors and will be concen­trating our efforts there until we can start work on the track and facilities,” he said. “We will move the exit for Sprints from turn one to turn three and that should relieve some of the congestion.”

Also in plans for upcoming weekly programs are two and four-wheel races for kids during the intermis­sion preceding fea­ture events.

McCook is in IMCA’s Butler­Built Central Region for Modifieds and Probe Industries Northern Re­gions for Stock Cars and for Hobby Stocks.