WINNIPEG AND SWIFT CURRENT COUNT DOWN TO PRAIRIE DIRT CLASSIC WEEKEND
Greg Cybulski, WINNIPEG, MB (June 28, 2009) Prairie Dirt Classic Weekend is just days away and the energy is building towards the hottest open wheel racing of the summer as the dirt track race fans of the Canadian Prairies prepare for the winged 360 Sprint Cars of the American Sprint Car Series. Highlighting the two race weekend will be the debut of the ASCS at Red River Co-op Speedway in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The speedway will host teams from two territories, the Alberta-based ASCS CanWest and the ASCS Northern Plains. The $2,000-to-win, Sunshine Toyota ASCS Sprint Car Special is scheduled for Thursday, July 2 and will feature championship caliber drivers from Western Canada and the Upper Midwest. Amongst the drivers competing will be 2007-2008 NOSA points champion Lou Kennedy Jr of Winnipeg, Manitoba, two-time ASCS Northern Plains points champion Lee Grosz of Harwood, North Dakota, 2008 Alberta Sprint Tour points champion Gord Kynoch of Spruce Grove, Alberta, 2008 Prairie Dirt Classic winner Sean Moran of Sherwood Park, Alberta and 2008 River Cities Speedway champion Wade Nygaard of Fargo, North Dakota, who was just recently confirmed as attending.
Always a threat to contend for the checkered flag, Wade is no stranger to victory lane. This 18 year veteran of open wheel racing has celebrated multiple Sprint Car points championships with over 220 career wins in both the 410 and 360 Sprint Car classes in the Upper Midwest region. Despite this impressive record, the Nygaard #9N sprinter has settled for the bridesmaid spot in 3 of the past 4 races at Winnipeg's 4/10 mile dirt oval and will be in the hunt for the victory on Thursday night.
Many miles will be traveled from the South and from the West by these teams to entertain Manitoba's open wheel enthusiasts. Fans will have the opportunity to see Dave Glennon of Casselton, North Dakota, Donovan Peterson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota as well as other talented racers from the Upper Midwest. There will also be a few familiar cars on the track. Alberta's Jessica Lavalee returns following her Winnipeg debut at the 2008 Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge, Also returning will be Estevan, Saskatchewan's Kyle Fedyk with his brother, Kohlan, who will make his Sprint Car debut on July 2nd.
Kyle shared his excitement about returning to Winnipeg with the ASCS CanWest series. "I'm ecstatic that the sprint car special in Winnipeg is an ASCS CanWest sanctioned event this year!. I believe every race in our area should be an ASCS event. I'm not saying it'll give me that much more of a shot at the win but it'll definitely even up the competition and make for a better show for the fans. This is a show that I can't wait to be part of!"
Gord Kynoch, who is sponsored by Fountain Tire, spoke about the bigger picture for Western Canada. "I am very excited to be traveling to Winnipeg for the Sunshine Toyota-sponsored Sprint Car Special. It is very exciting to finally see the potential of the ASCS CanWest Series becoming a true 360 Sprint Car series in Canada. Many people have been working in the background to make this event a reality and it is an honor to be racing in the inaugural event with the hopes that it becomes an annual event. With the Prairie Dirt Classic taking place in Swift Current on Saturday, I feel that this sets the stage for an annual ASCS CanWest Speedweek Canadian Style. With more racers, more tracks and more sponsorship, this is an equation for Success for Sprint Car racing in Canada."
Saturday, July 4 marks the return of the ASCS CanWest series, formerly Alberta Sprint Tour, to Speedy Creek Raceway in Swift Current, Saskatchewan for the running of the 3rd Annual Prairie Dirt Classic. Returning to defend his championship crown is 2008 Classic winner and current ASCS CanWest points leader Sean Moran. Add the Sprint Cars of Winnipeg's Kennedy Racing Team plus former Alberta Sprint Car champions into the mix and you have the makings of a night to remember. 2008 AST Champion Gord Kynoch and 2006 Gold Cup Champion Bill Boyce of Lethbridge will be in the hunt to become the 2009 Prairie Dirt Classic Champion. If people want to see fireworks on the fourth of July, then Speedy Creek Raceway will be the place to witness the best in open wheel racing on the Canadian Prairies for one memorable, hot summer night.
ASCS 360 sprint teams from three states and three Canadian provinces will be a part of the Prairie Dirt Classic Weekend. Racers from North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota as well as the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba will treat dirt track fans in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Swift Current, Saskatchewan to their first American Sprint Car Series racing experience. Both events are also ASCS CanWest points races. The Prairie Dirt Classic Weekend features teams from two ASCS territories, the Alberta-based ASCS CanWest series and the ASCS Northern Plains of the Upper Midwest.
Information, news and updates regarding Prairie Dirt Classic weekend can be found at http://dirtfromthestands.blogspot.com/
