24 Raceway celebrates opening night Saturday

Submitted by Ron Lueck

The 2010 Saturday night season opener on April 10 brings racing back to 24 Raceway for a 21st season with the United States Modified Touring Series being the feature presentation. 

Last year, 39 A-modifieds showed up to compete in this 35-lap feature, which was won by Jon Tesch of Watertown, South Dakota. Some of the big names to look for this year: New Sharon, Iowa’s Zack VanderBeek; Kelly Shryock of Ferile, Iowa; Quincy’s Michael Long; Jason Hughes of Westville, OK, and Pea Ridge, Arkansas’s Johnny Bone, Jr. 

This is the first of two U.S. Modified Touring Series shows scheduled at 24 Raceway for this season.  The second race here in August will be a part of the “Hunt for the Championship”, and is set to be filmed for a TV replay.

Hot laps will begin at 6:15 p.m.this Saturday, following the mandatory driver’s meeting. The heat racing then starts at 7 p.m. Track memberships are not required for participation on this Saturday’s opening night in this A-modified class only at 24 Raceway, BUT:  the A-modifieds in attendance will get 10 bonus points (show-up points) for having their completed memberships paid prior to this Saturday night’s race time. 

The class of A-modifieds is a non-points race this weekend towards the 2010 season championships at 24 Raceway.  However, the other four classes of Sportsman, Hobby Stock, B-modifieds and the 4 cylinder Hornets will be kicking off the 2010 season of earning points towards their own various class championships.  Opening night pit gates will open at 4 p.m. Updated rules concerning all five classes are available on the web site of www.24racewayinmoberly.com under each class heading, and are located on the forum section of the site. 

Tire sales have been brisk at 24 Raceway this past week, and these are the IMCA approved hard compound tires, in both the tall & short sizes. Both the American Racer and Hoosier tires are the sanctioned tires for competition at the track and are available for purchase.  Same availability applies for fuel sales. Both the Sunoco 110 octane racing fuel and a methanol blend are available at the track. 

The phone number at the track is 660-269-9300, for further questions.  Also, for drivers, owners and a race fan’s convenience, a text messaging service is being made available to cell phone numbers, entered on the appropriate 24 Raceway form with both the carrier and the phone owner’s signature attached.  These forms are available at the pit gate sign-in booth, simply by asking.

The advice here for Saturday is to “Dress warm, as we’re still in April”.  It should be a good show and hopefully a large crowd with the draw of those fast modifieds on opening night. The 25 planned racing weekend dates for 2010 will kick off this next Saturday night of April 10 with “Dirt Track Racing at its Best” at the high banks of 24 Raceway, Moberly.

The 2010 schedule is now available on the website.  The first 6 weeks of the schedule follows:

UPCOMING EVENTS:
    April 10 – USMTS show (35 Lap event) Season Opener & beginning of season points racing
    April 17 – weekly racing series
    April 24 – weekly racing series
    May  1  – Southern Midget Racing Series (20 Lap event) + weekly racing series
    May 8  – weekly racing series + Hobby Stock mechanic’s race
    May  15  – ASC Tour, wingless sprint car tour + weekly racing
    May 16  – Car Show and Racecar Show (full judging & awards) 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.