By David Smith Jr.
– Park City, Kansas – March 28, 2011 – While the previous 21 season openers for the National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Smiley’s Racing Products sprint car division have been much anticipated, it has been awhile since anything compared to this version as the tour kicks off their 2011 season this Saturday night at 81 Speedway in Park City.
Defending series champion Jeremy Campbell, newly married and now residing in Wichita, Kansas, will once again become a series regular and will look to defend his series championship in winning fashion at the track where he picked up his inaugural series feature victory last season.
Five time champion and the career 360 sprint car feature winner with the series Garry Lee Maier of Cimarron, Kansas will once again be back on the tour this year and is looking to get back into championship form after finishing a disappointing runner up in the point standings last season.
J.D. Johnson of Goddard had one of his best years on the tour last year finishing third in the point standings and could make a serious run at the championship as well.
Series veteran Mike Peters of Wichita, who leads the sanctioning body in career starts in super modified, championship dirt car and sprint car divisions combined, looks to repeat his performance of his championship season back in 2008 where he picked up his first and only series points championship.
Former Hutchinson Grand Nationals champion Jon Freeman of Salina will once again compete full time as well as Luke Cranston (Plains), A.J. Selenke (Wichita), Gavin Punch (Collinsville, Oklahoma) and Jordan Whitehead (Andover), Steven Richardson (Liberal) and Patrick Stasa (Kingman).
To date, three drivers have announced their intentions on competing full time on the tour in 2011 during their rookie season with the series. They include Ryan Kitchen of Lincoln, Nebraska, Oklahoma drivers Joe Wood, Jr. (Oklahoma City) and Barry Gifford (Ponca City) along with Justin Schwein of Russell, Kansas.
The past couple of weeks have seen many non-tour regulars announcing their plans to compete during the series season opener which will pay $2000 to win and $300 to start. They include Nebraska drivers Billy Alley, Chad Humston, Mark Pace, Ryan Roberts, Trevor Grossenbacher and Jack Dover. Oklahoma drivers expected include Danny Wood, Aaron Berryhill, Kris Miller and Taylor Milton. Kansas drivers also expected for the season opener include Jason Martin, Cody Forshee, Tony Bruce, Jr. and Taylor Velesquez along with Missouri driver Brian Brown. California’s Justyn Cox is also slated to compete in a team car of Browns.
Close to forty drivers from six states are expected in what is shaping up to be one awesome night of sprint car racing atop the three-eighths mile oval.
Pit passes are just $25 and pit gates open at 3:00 PM with cars rolling through tech inspection at that time. Grandstand gates open at 5:00 PM with racing set for 7:00 PM. General admission tickets are just $9 for adults with children ages 6-10 just $5.
There will be an open practice session on Friday night with pit passes just $5 and grandstand entrance admitted for free.
The series’ modified and southern sport modified divisions will open their season as well and promises to be an action and fun filled night at the speedway!
81 Speedway is located north of Wichita on I-135 to exit 16, then .7 mile west on 77th St. in Park City. For more race and ticket information contact the 81 Speedway office (316) 755-1781.
For more information on the 41st anniversary season for the National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Smiley’s Racing Products, find them at their new online address www.racencra.com.
The series would like to take this time to thank their modified partners and sponsors for the 2011 race season:
Park City, Kansas, Smiley’s Racing Products, Hoosier Racing Tires, Sunoco Race Fuels
Contingency Sponsors: Saldana Racing Products