Cody Morris
April 10th, 2013 – Spanning back to the 1940’s to Taft Stadium, the history of Oklahoma City dirt track racing is among the more illustrious in the United States.
Nearly 70 years worth of applause and standing ovations for the likes of Harold Leep, Jackie Howerton, Aaron Madden, Bobby Walker, Evard Humphrey, “Wahoo” Benny Taylor, and Dutch Ter Steege, just to name a few.
Perennial battles with regional legends such as Tony Armstrong, Emmett Hahn, Ray Crawford, Jon Johnson, Jerry Stone, and Mike Peters.
Or legendary racing families such as the Jennings’, the Brotherton’s, Claxton’s, Johnson’s and dozens more. Volumes could be written on the such vaunted warriors, along with hundreds more. Warriors who imprinted their names on tens of thousands by the courage and daring with which they displayed in every race.
A history so rich was worthy of a better fate than what Oklahoma City race fans, many of multiple generations, were forced to witness and endure with the unfortunate demise (murder) of State Fair Speedway/Fairgrounds Speedway in early 2010. The skies were indeed dark in those days, and ever since in the minds and hearts of many.
Standing alone in continuing the long and legendary history of dirt track racing in the Oklahoma City area was I44 Riverside Speedway. Established in 1999, the 1/5th mile high banked red clay oval gave birth to mini sprint racing in the State Capitol. The mini sprint track faced its’ own bleak forecast when it sat idle for a month with no management in 2011.
Sometimes it is darkest before the dawn, the saying goes. Such was true for I44 Riverside Speedway. The downward spiral stopped when a hometown promoter stepped in. A veteran in the Oklahoma City sprint car ranks, but more importantly, with a vision for I44 Riverside that had never been tested.
I44 Riverside Speedway promoter Mark Banister stepped into that role in the summer of 2011 and against seemingly insurmountable odds, by seasons end delivered the blockbuster show of the season that was also the best show in I44 Riverside history. Midget racing at I44 Riverside had never been tried, such ideas were often dismissed outright and with laughter.
But the raucous outing that over 45 midgets staged in the fall of 2011 at I44 Riverside made believers of all in attendance.
In a state that annually hosts the largest Midget racing event in the world, a weekly Midget division had never been tried before in its’ capitol. The history of open wheel dirt track racing in the OKC area is as deep as it was thrilling, and yet nowhere in that history was there a Midget division.
That changes this Saturday, April 13th. This Saturday, I44 Riverside cocks its’ fist in the fight back against the blow struck to the OKC open wheel racing community in the cold of 2009/2010. This Saturday, I44 Riverside brings out the big guns with the grand debut of the first Midget class in area dirt track history.
A full compliment of lightning fast open wheel mini sprints will share in the limelight, with all five weekly mini sprint classes also in competition (A Class, Non Wing, Turf Tire, Restricted, and Junior Sprints).
Saturday gates will open at 4pm, with hot laps at 6pm and green flags for the history making event flying at 7pm.
All race fans, be it current witnesses to the sensational action, or race fans of years past who are long overdue for a return visit, or those who have yet to see the dirt fly on the high banks, all race fans are encouraged to come join and us in opening up yet another chapter in the storied history of dirt oval racing in the OKC area.
Just one week after the Midget grand debut, on Saturday, April 20th I44 Riverside will host the Lucas Oil POWRi West Midget Series.
Added details will be shared on the official I44 Riverside Speedway website and face book page in the coming hours – Like and Follow I44 Riverside Speedway to stay up to date on all event news and updates. For quick information, contact I44 Riverside promoter Mark Banister @405.633.1583.