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Chris Burback Photo
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May 2nd 2008 - The 35th Season
By Jim Gorecki
Menomonie, WI
EXCUSE THE RAIN, and lots of it!...Weather conditions have forced the postponement of the 35th Annual Red Cedar Speedway Opener for the fourth week in a row. We'll try the opener Friday May 9th.
Let's hope for some sunshine.
Founded in 1973, The Red Cedar Speedway opens the grandstands for the 35th season in 2008. The Friday Night races have become a tradition for many race fans in Menomonie and West Central Wisconsin. Many folks can be seen lining up early for tickets to get their favorite seats. Red Cedar Speedway is run by the Red Cedar Racing Association, which leases the track from Dunn County. The Red Cedar, by definition, is a 1/3rd mile clay surfaced oval, semi-banked, with cars entering at the start of the front straight away, and pit entrance being at the beginning to turn four. The races are sanctioned by WISSOTA in the AMSOIL Dirt Track Series, and the cars all run Hoosier Racing Tires. Average car counts are about 100 cars, in five different classes. Classes are Late Models, Modified, Super Stock, Midwest Modified and Red Cedar Pure Stocks. Editors note: (There is no Street Stock class this season.)
It has been 6 months between 60-degree temperatures, and the weather has delayed the 35th opener two weeks already. A little cooperation from Mother Nature would be appreciated. After a long winter, anticipating the Daytona 500 and the start to the NASCAR season, the ice finally melting off of Lake Menomin, I am ready for the local drivers’ to start slinging some mud!
The last time there was racing on this track was September 22, 2007. That was the conclusion to the season, and the 28th running of the Annual Punky Manor Challenge of Champions. Topping the main events were local favorite Jimmy Mars in Late Models, Craig Thatcher of Knapp winning in the Number 91 Modified and Mike Anderson of Colfax pulling out the win in the Super Stocks.
The 2007 regular WISSOTA season ended with some different faces as track champions. Chad Mahder in the 55C claimed the title in the Late Models, Brent Prochnow brought home Marvin the Martian (you need to see his hood) for the Mod Championship, Steve Thomas was back in the T17, and took the Super Stock Title, Mark Hanson, in his second year in the class, won the Midwest Mods in car “Double Q”, newcomer to the Red Cedar, Keith Tourville took home the hardware in the Streeter Stocks in 111JR, and Tommy Richards won the Red Cedar Pure Stocks in his 7R.
The 2008 Season promises to be a great one. With improvements made to the track, the menu, and some new seating opportunities, the racing action will heat up faster than the weather. With gas prices going beyond reasonable, many of you many choose to stay closer to home this summer. The Red Cedar Racing Association appreciates your support. We have a great track here in the middle of Dunn County, with a great entertainment value for the entire family.
My favorite part of opening night is not necessarily the racing, but the cars. With sheet metal nice and straight, new paint jobs, new sponsors, and in many cases, new drivers, the cars look glorious. Once the racing starts, my heart races, my senses heighten, the sound I have been dreaming of all winter is back, the smell of the exhaust, the dust, the brats! Yes, the brats. As far as racetrack food goes, the Red Cedar has great brats. I like mine with sour kraut and hot peppers, with a dash of ketchup. Wash it all down with an iced tea, and I am really happy. I always tell my three sons, (Christian, Carson and Cooper); “It is the simple things in life that make life worth living.” Like spending a night at my favorite dirt track.
Keep up on your favorite Red Cedar drivers on the web, visit www.redcedarracing.com. The first racing action is scheduled for Friday, May 2, 2008 with heat races to begin at 6:30pm.
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