Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods will join Sunday shows at Nodak Speedway
MINOT, N.D. – Nodak Speedway will open the pit gates for a fourth IMCA division next season.
Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods join Sunday night race programs at the 3/8-mile dirt oval, on the state fairgrounds in Minot.
Track and weather conditions permitting, the 2012 season at Nodak starts with a practice night on May 6. Point races for IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and the SportMods start on May 13 and continue through late August.
A one year phase-in period will be in effect for WISSOTA ‘B’ modified drivers racing at other tracks in the state. Those drivers will be required to purchase an IMCA license and to compete with Hoosier G60 tires.
“I think we’re going to have 20-25 IMCA SportMods right out of the chute, plus the WISSOTA ‘B’ mods,” said Ole Olson, president of the Nodak Race Club. “I think this class is going to be very big in North Dakota and we might as well be the first to have them.”
Olson has already seen the class in action, during a visit a couple years ago to Des Moines and the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway.
“Everybody is very happy about sanctioning this class,” he said. “We’re really excited to be working with IMCA in another division.”
Nodak began sanctioning its Modified division with IMCA in 1997, adding the Stock Cars in 2000 and the Hobby Stocks in 2005.
“This new sanction demonstrates the continued growth of our Northern SportMod division,” noted IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root. “Nodak was a leader in sanctioning IMCA Modifieds, then the Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks in North Dakota. There are a lot of good drivers in the area and this is another positive step by the Nodak Race Club on their behalf.”
Modified points earned at Minot figure toward IMCA ButlerBuilt North Central Region standings, Stock Car and Hobby Stock points toward respective Probe Industries Northern Region standings. Points in all four divisions factor toward IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national championships.
Nodak did not host Dakota Track Side Classic Tour events due to grandstand construction in 2009 and because of flooding last year. Olson emphasized that Modified and Stock Car drivers and race teams should make all hotel/motel accommodations as soon as possible after 2012 series dates are announced.
