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Sprint cars to make debut at speedway
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Friday, August 14, 2009 | No comments posted.
Racing fans can get their fill of flying dirt or splashing water at a pair of regional events this weekend.
The American Sprint Car Series will visit Coos Bay Speedway for the first time Saturday. Meanwhile, the annual Neil Donegan Classic will bring drag boaters from throughout the Northwest to Tenmile Lake in Lakeside on Saturday and Sunday.
Up to 20 sprint cars in the Northwest Region of the series will be at the dirt track south of Coos Bay for races, speeding around the oval at speeds up to 100 mph, said Greg Burgess, the region’s director. He said fans can expect a good show no matter how many drivers make it to Coos Bay.
“As competitive as our racers are, we can put on a great show with a dozen cars,” Burgess said.
The Northwest Region of ASCS includes Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Montana, and Burgess said drivers Saturday could come from several of those states as well as Canada.
Many will come down after racing in Cottage Grove tonight. Other regular stops in Oregon include Medford and Lebanon, but Burgess said Coos Bay became a good option last fall, when he met track owner Chuck Prather in a promoters meeting in Reno.
“Our series is in a growing mode in the Northwest and we want to visit the dirt tracks that are putting on premier events,” he said, adding that Coos Bay fits that mold.
Since Prather converted the old concrete oval to dirt two years ago, the track has hosted a variety of races, though none of this stature.
The drivers will be competing to earn points in the season title chase, Burgess said. The season series, which started in May and continues through September, includes 18 races, all on dirt tracks.
The evening will start with heat races, which last 10 laps, to determine the start order for a 30-lap main event. An ideal field for the final race would be 20 cars, Burgess said.
On some tracks, the cars can get up to 100 mph in the straightaways and average 80 mph for laps.
“We’re real excited,” Burgess said of racing in Coos Bay. “We’ve heard nothing but good about (the track). Our teams are looking forward to being there.”
In addition to the sprint cars, drivers also will compete Saturday in the street stock and sportsman/late model categories.
The gates will open at 4 p.m. Saturday, with racing starting at 6.
General admission is $20.
Neil Donegan Classic
The annual drag boat races will include some boats that can travel close to 200 mph for the quarter-mile races at Tenmile Lake.
Somewhere between 40 and 50 boats are expected for the annual races, split into five divisions based on how quickly they think they can cover the quarter mile.
A showcase of the boats starts at 5 p.m. today at Tenmile Lake County Park, and is free for visitors.
The races begin with time trials Saturday. The elimination rounds are Sunday. Events start at 9 a.m. each day. Admission for the races is $10 Saturday and $12 Sunday or $20 for a weekend pass. Children 12 and under get in free.
The American Sprint Car Series will visit Coos Bay Speedway for the first time Saturday. Meanwhile, the annual Neil Donegan Classic will bring drag boaters from throughout the Northwest to Tenmile Lake in Lakeside on Saturday and Sunday.
Up to 20 sprint cars in the Northwest Region of the series will be at the dirt track south of Coos Bay for races, speeding around the oval at speeds up to 100 mph, said Greg Burgess, the region’s director. He said fans can expect a good show no matter how many drivers make it to Coos Bay.
“As competitive as our racers are, we can put on a great show with a dozen cars,” Burgess said.
The Northwest Region of ASCS includes Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Montana, and Burgess said drivers Saturday could come from several of those states as well as Canada.
Many will come down after racing in Cottage Grove tonight. Other regular stops in Oregon include Medford and Lebanon, but Burgess said Coos Bay became a good option last fall, when he met track owner Chuck Prather in a promoters meeting in Reno.
“Our series is in a growing mode in the Northwest and we want to visit the dirt tracks that are putting on premier events,” he said, adding that Coos Bay fits that mold.
Since Prather converted the old concrete oval to dirt two years ago, the track has hosted a variety of races, though none of this stature.
The drivers will be competing to earn points in the season title chase, Burgess said. The season series, which started in May and continues through September, includes 18 races, all on dirt tracks.
The evening will start with heat races, which last 10 laps, to determine the start order for a 30-lap main event. An ideal field for the final race would be 20 cars, Burgess said.
On some tracks, the cars can get up to 100 mph in the straightaways and average 80 mph for laps.
“We’re real excited,” Burgess said of racing in Coos Bay. “We’ve heard nothing but good about (the track). Our teams are looking forward to being there.”
In addition to the sprint cars, drivers also will compete Saturday in the street stock and sportsman/late model categories.
The gates will open at 4 p.m. Saturday, with racing starting at 6.
General admission is $20.
Neil Donegan Classic
The annual drag boat races will include some boats that can travel close to 200 mph for the quarter-mile races at Tenmile Lake.
Somewhere between 40 and 50 boats are expected for the annual races, split into five divisions based on how quickly they think they can cover the quarter mile.
A showcase of the boats starts at 5 p.m. today at Tenmile Lake County Park, and is free for visitors.
The races begin with time trials Saturday. The elimination rounds are Sunday. Events start at 9 a.m. each day. Admission for the races is $10 Saturday and $12 Sunday or $20 for a weekend pass. Children 12 and under get in free.
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