From Linda Mansfield
GAS CITY, IN (February 8, 2022) — Last week Gas City I-69 Speedway was inundated by the biggest snowstorm so far this winter, and the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter.
Race fans can take heart, however, because today Gas City I-69 Speedway released its eagerly-anticipated 2022 schedule featuring hot racing action this spring, summer and fall. The schedule has something for everyone, as sprint cars, modifieds, street stocks, hornets, midgets, monster trucks and everything in between will be showcased during the diversified, 20-event schedule for 2022 at the iconic Indiana track located halfway between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.
An open “test and tune” practice day is set for Wednesday night, April 27 in preparation for the season opener on Friday night, May 6. Fans from all over Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Kentucky and elsewhere will spend their Friday nights at Gas City throughout the season, which will conclude with the fourth annual Fall Festival of Speed on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22.
Anchoring the weekly schedule on the quarter-mile clay oval will be the ever-popular non-wing sprint cars, UMP-style modifieds, street stocks and hornets.
The exciting open-wheel racing of the United States Auto Club (USAC) will invade Gas City three nights this season, featuring two USAC AMSOIL national sprint car series and two NOS Energy Drink national midget series events. USAC’s Indiana Midget Week is scheduled for Friday night, June 10 and USAC’s Indiana Sprint Week returns to Gas City for its opener on Friday night, July 22. For the third consecutive year the USAC AMSOIL national sprint car series and the USAC NOS Energy national midgets series combine for a huge doubleheader on Thursday night, Sept. 22 for the fifth annual “James Dean Classic.” USAC fans won’t want to miss this opportunity to see these two series share the card on the same night.
Other sanctioned non-wing sprint car races include the return of the popular BOSS non-wing sprint cars on Friday, May 20, featuring $2,000 to win and $300 to start. Last year’s event attracted 39 sprints.
The Midwest Sprint Car Series will venture north to Gas City on Friday night, July 8 offering a feature paying $5,000 to win from a purse exceeding $16,000. It is the opening night of a two-night doubleheader with Kokomo Speedway. The July 8-9 twin bill is expected to attract a large field of cars and offer fans a weekend of exciting racing at two of Indiana’s most famous short tracks.
The winged 305 sprint cars of the Indiana RaceSaver series will visit on May 13.
The USAC Midwest Thunder SpeeD2 midgets will race for their largest purse (more than $5,000) in history with the inaugural “Tom Bigelow Classic” on Friday night, June 24. The series will make a total of seven visits to Gas City including May 20, June 24, July 15, July 29, Aug. 12, Sept. 2 and Oct. 21.
Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions TQ midgets will be the support division for the USAC Indiana Sprint Week event on July 22. The USSA Kenyon Midget Series will make its Gas City debut on June 3.
Big-money races are also set for each of the weekly divisions, including the $7,000-plus “Street Stock Rumble” on Sept. 2. A $1,000-to-win “Mod Madness” race on July 29 is part of the “Neighborly Challenge” mini-series with nearby Montpelier Speedway that offers a point fund in excess of $1,600. The inaugural “Hornets Buzz Bash” featuring $400 to win from a $2,000 purse for that division is scheduled for June 17.
Flat track-style motorcycle racing will be featured at Gas City on June 4. Non-wing 600cc micro-sprints will run twice, including a $1,000-to-win Heartland Auto Racing Tour event on May 6 and a non-sanctioned event on Oct. 21. Winged 600cc micros will be part of the Aug. 12 card.
On Aug. 20 the popular “Night of Destruction, Thrills and Chills” will feature monster trucks, school bus races, a mini-van demo derby, a rollover contest, trailer races and more. The third annual Fall Festival of Speed will feature seven divisions of racing Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22 to conclude the season.
“It’s a diverse menu of great racing to satisfy almost every race fan’s motorsports entertainment appetite,” said Jerry Gappens, track promoter.
Gappens will continue to incorporate his signature “intermission” entertainment for event nights, including a “Faster Pastor” school bus race plus fun theme nights with human bubble ball and name that tune/dance competition. Kids’ coin and candy scrambles, spectator races for “soccer moms” and much more are in the works.
“Our goal is to provide fast, fun family entertainment,” added Gappens. “Once again our team will be vigilant in completing the programs in a timely fashion.”
For complete schedule information and other news, visit the speedway’s website at www.gascityi69speedway.com. Fans and competitors can also follow the speedway on Twitter: @GasCitySpeedway; Instagram: @GasCitySpeedway and Facebook: GasCitySpeedwayOnTheGas.
Gas City I-69 Speedway is located on State Road 22, approximately a half-mile west of I-69, exit 259. The quarter-mile dirt oval attracts drivers and fans from all over the Midwest and is a bucket-list destination for race fans all over the world.
2022 Schedule of Events
Wednesday, April 27, 5-9 p.m. – OPEN TEST AND TUNE
Open to all race cars; rain date is April 28. Two-seater sprint car rides will also be available.
Friday, May 6 – SEASON OPENER
Non-wing sprint cars, modifieds*, street stocks and Heartland Auto Racing Tour (HART) non-wing 600cc micro-sprints ($1,000 to win, $100 to start).
Friday, May 13 – BENIC ENTERPRISES/BENIC SHOCKS NIGHT
Non-wing sprint cars, Indiana RaceSaver winged sprint cars, street stocks and hornets.
Friday, May 20 – WHO’S THE BOSS?
BOSS non-wing sprint cars, USAC SpeeD2 Midwest Thunder midgets, street stocks, hornets plus “Couples Challenge.”
Friday, June 3 – Fifth Annual JACK AND JIGGS CLASSIC
Non-wing sprint cars, modifieds*, street stocks, hornets, Kenyon midgets.
Saturday, June 4 – AMCA MOTORCYCLE RACING
Vintage motorcycle racing plus motorcycle show; two-seater sprint car rides.
Friday, June 10 – USAC MIDGET WEEK
USAC NOS Energy Drink national midgets plus non-wing sprint cars.
Saturday, June 11 – Two-Seater Sprint Car Rides (9 a.m. — noon).
Friday, June 17 – THROWBACK FRIDAY (HARF Appreciation Night)
Non-wing sprint cars, modifieds*, street stock, hornets (“Hornets Buzz Bash” — $400 to win; $2,000 purse), Midwest Throwback sprint cars plus “Retro Night!”
Friday, June 24 – TOM BIGELOW CLASSIC
Non-wing sprint cars, USAC SpeeD2 Midwest Thunder midgets ($5,000-plus purse), street stocks, hornets.
Saturday, July 2 – FIREWORKS
Modifieds, street stocks, hornets PLUS FIREWORKS!
Friday, July 8 – Fifth Annual Jerry Gappens Sr. Classic ($5,000 to win!)
Midwest Sprint Car Series (MSCS) non-wing sprint cars ($16,000-plus purse, $5,000 to win, $250 to start), modifieds, street stock, hornets.
Friday, July 15 – MID-SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP (double points)
Non-wing sprint cars, USAC SpeeD2 Midwest Thunder midgets, modifieds, street stocks, hornets.
Friday, July 22 – USAC INDIANA SPRINT WEEK
USAC AMSOIL national sprint cars plus All Star Circuit of Champions TQ midgets.
Friday, July 29 – SUMMER THUNDER MOD MADNESS (HARF Appreciation Night)
Crate late models, street stocks, modifieds* ($1,000 to win), hornets, USAC Midwest Thunder SpeeD2 midgets.
Friday, Aug. 5 – BEACH NIGHT BASH
Non-wing sprint cars, modifieds, street stocks and hornets plus Midwest Oldtimers Vintage Race Club display and exhibition.
Friday, Aug. 12 – AUGUST JAM
Non-wing sprints, USAC Midwest Thunder SpeeD2 midgets, winged 600cc micro-sprints, street stocks, Dirt Track Truck Series (hornets will be permitted to run with the dirt trucks too).
Saturday, Aug. 20 – NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
Monster trucks, mini-van demo derby, roll-over competition, trailer races, school bus races and more!
Friday, Sept. 2 – LABOR DAY CLASSIC- SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP
(HARF Appreciation Night)
Street Stock Rumble ($7,000 purse), non-wing sprint cars, USAC SpeeD2 Midwest Thunder midgets, modifieds, hornets.
Thursday, Sept. 22 – JAMES DEAN CLASSIC
USAC AMSOIL national sprint cars and USAC NOS Energy Drink national midgets.
Fourth Annual GAS CITY FALL FESTIVAL OF SPEED
NON-WING NATIONALS
Friday, Oct. 21 – Non-wing 410 sprint cars (purse TBA), IRA Wisconsin wingless sprints, USAC SpeeD2 Midwest Thunder midgets and non-wing 600cc micro-sprints.
SPRINTS AND STOCKS
Saturday, Oct. 22 – Non-wing sprint cars (purse TBA), IRA Wisconsin wingless sprint cars, modifieds, street stocks, hornets.
* Gas City/Montpelier “Neighborly Modified Challenge” races. ($1,600 additional point fund posted for mini-series. Race dates are 5/6-7, 6/3-4, 6/17-18 and 7/29-30.