Dakota Track Side Classic dates announced for IMCA Modified, Stock Car tours
MINOT, N.D. (Dec. 19) – Six races dates have been announced for both the 2012 Dakota Track Side Classic Tour for IMCA Modifieds and the Dakota Track Side Classic Series for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars.
Both the 23rd annual Modified tour and the fifth annual Stock Car series run from July 8-13 at tracks in North Dakota and Saskatchewan.
After being taken off the schedule because of flooding in Minot this year, Nodak Speedway hosts Sunday and Monday, July 8-9 races. The series are at Estevan Motor Speedway on Tuesday, July 10, at Williston Basin Speedway on Wednesday, July 11, and at Southwest Speedway in Dickinson on Thursday, July 12 before championship night Friday, July 13 at Dacotah Speedway in Mandan.
All Modified features pay $1,200 to win, a minimum of $300 to make the 26-car grid and will be Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. Stock Car features pay $500 to win and a minimum of $125 to make the main when there are at least 31 entries.
Home region, Allstar Performance State and special series points will be awarded each night. Points also figure toward IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national championships in both divisions. Title sponsor Dakota Track Side will provide the $2,000 Modified point fund and the $1,000 point fund for Stock Cars.
“Nodak was not a part of the tour in 2011 after a massive flood forced officials to use the speedway’s clay surface for critical dike material to protect the state fairgrounds complex,” Tour Director John Gartner said. “The high banked 3/8-mile racing surface was reconstructed after the flood and is ready to go for the 2012 season.”
Drivers who plan to follow the tour should secure motel rooms early for the entire week, Gartner emphasized, as an expanding oil boom has engulfed the entire region and made overnight accommodations difficult to secure.
IMCA rules and procedures will be in effect and IMCA Competition Director Tom Gutowski will attend each event. The same flagman will be in the stand at each race.
Registration and pit fees will be the same each night; the use of transponders and RACEceivers will be required at all events.
More information about the 2012 series is available by calling Gartner at 701 202-6075.
The Modified tour champion becomes eligible to qualify for the Harris Auto Racing Race of Champions and the Stock Car series champion will be eligible to qualify for the Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champions during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Cenex next September.
More than 100 Modified drivers from seven states and Canada competed over the course of the 2011 tour. Minimum start money for Stock Cars will be $100 at any events with 30 or fewer entries in 2012.
Jay Noteboom ruled the Dakota Modified Tour standings for the second time in his career this year, while Nathan Burke prevailed in the Dakota Stock Car Series point race for the third time.
