Dirt from the Stands by Greg Cybulski
COUNTDOWN TO GREEN IN 2009
We're standing on the edge of a new racing season. With most schedules released, here are some things to watch for in 2009.
Kudos to the Northern Outlaw Sprint Association for posting a very safe and reasonably structured set of weekend travel dates. The majority of dates are further south towards the Sioux Falls area which is no surprise, given the fact that the only 410 outlaw sprint cars to run with this organization are south of Grand Forks, North Dakota. These dates include Viking Speedway, Alexandria, MN (3 races), a weekend of Huron, SD and Huset's Speedway, Brandon, SD. and a collection of single race nights at Jamestown, ND., Warren, MN., Minot, ND., Williston, ND. and Greenbush, MN (2 races). Given the recent history of NOSA's car count struggle with stand-alone dates, especially on their western swing, it will be interesting to follow this group and see what kind of numbers they achieve and if they can maintain a respectable number of competitors for the entire racing season. If there is a commitment from the Grand Forks racers to travel, then NOSA should be in good shape in 2009.
What a difference a good Public Relations person can make to jump-start an organization. In the Winnipeg area, is there anyone better than Darren Pallen, president of the Northern Lightning Sprint Association right now? Darren is churning out quality press releases continually on the NLSA website, 20/20 message board, Motorsports Addiction website and many other dirt track racing sites. Apparently Mr. Pallen's drive and desire for success has rubbed a few people the wrong way, as he has been the target of faceless (and nameless) snipers on the 20/20 board lately. Professional jealousy? I'm just asking. If good PR can translate into a quality product on race night, Red River Co-op Speedway is in for exciting times for race fans with the NLSA. Speaking of exciting times, East St. Paul's Dave Sobczak will make his return to open wheel racing, running his familiar #17 on the wing of his new lightning sprint.
The Northern Late Model Racing Association has released a conservative schedule which includes 2 race nights for Winnipeg. The majority of the NLRA's distance dates are two night weekend's including a western North Dakota swing to Dickinson and Williston in late July and Nodak Speedway's Motor Magic on Labor Day weekend in Minot, ND.
Winnipeg! Are you ready for the Sunshine Toyota ASCS Sprint Car Special? The $2,000-to-win 360 sprint car show is set for Thursday, July 2nd, featuring the newly formed ASCS Canwest series from Alberta and ASCS Northern Plains competitors from the Upper Midwest. Follow this date up with the 3rd Annual ASCS Canwest "Prairie Dirt Classic" at Speedy Creek Raceway in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and you have yourself the biggest open wheel weekend across the Canadian prairies. To date, 18 teams have confirmed their participation in this year's race. As more information becomes available, you will hear it first with Prairie Dirt. Stay tuned for more exciting news in the weeks to come.
Please be sure to watch for a special return visit by yours truly to the Prairie Dirt Podcast of Darren Pallen and Pat Mooney in the not too distant future. Darren and I will be discussing a variety of topics, including the importance of public relations, blogging, the ASCS and the state of sprint car racing across the Canadian prairies plus much more. Prairie Dirt meets Prairie Dirt, one more time! Be sure to check us out at http://www.prairiedirtdigest.com/
I would like to bring your attention to a blog post entitled "Community, What It Means To Me, RRCS" from Anthony Leek of Emo, Ontario at http://theroarofengines.blogspot.com/ I have known Anthony for about four years now and he has his finger on the pulse of the local dirt track racing scene. He discusses what has become a sad trend with today's society, that being a disconnection, a drifting apart of "Community" as we know it in the local racing scene. I invite you to read his message and think about what he is saying.
For more racing news and information from the Canadian prairies, check out the latest version of Prairie Dirt website at http://dirtfromthestands.blogspot.com/ As always, I welcome reader feedback at prairiedirt@hotmail.com
Until next time...
Take care and good racing,
Greg Cybulski
