34 Raceway lands Outlaws – Middletown track unveils 2013 schedule.
by Matt Levins/The Hawkeye.
WEST BURLINGTON, IA (October 4, 2012) – The dust has barely settled on the 2012 racing season and already 34 Raceway co-owner/promoter Amy Laue has landed a major race for the 2013 season.
For the third time since 2008 and the first time since 2009, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series will make a stop at the 3/8-mile oval dirt track. The 2013 show is scheduled for Friday, June 7.
After a four-year hiatus, the most popular sprint car series in the country will make a return to 34 Raceway, giving race fans warm thoughts for the upcoming cold winter months.
“We are really excited about this,” Laue said. “Everywhere I go people keep asking me, ‘When are you going to have the Outlaws back?’ It’s quite a risk to have a show that expensive, but the fans love it and we’re ready to do it again.”
The World of Outlaws made their initial stop at 34 Raceway in 2008. That race drew what is considered the biggest crowd in 34 Raceway history, with an estimated 5,000 people packing the facility. Tony Bruce, Jr., won the first World of Outlaws race at 34 Raceway, holding off veteran Steve Kinser for the $10,000 victory.
Fans that year were treated to a scintillating performance by West Burlington’s Josh Schneiderman, who finished third in the A-main.
A year later, after being postponed for more than a month because of rain, the World of Outlaws returned. In front of a crowd estimated at 4,000 people, Joey Saladana held off Donny Schatz for the $10,000 first prize.
“The first year the weather was perfect and the teams had never been to 34 Raceway before. It was a huge event,” Laue said. “The next year the weather wasn’t the greatest, but we still had a big crowd.”
Laue said she had just released the preliminary schedule for 2013 on the 34 Raceway website when she got a call from the World of Outlaws.
“They wanted to know why the schedule didn’t include a World of Outlaws date on it,” Laue said. “They said they were very interested in coming back to 34 Raceway.”
Laue said ticket sales for the June 7 show will be handled differently this year.
“Fans will be able to go on-line to purchase ticket, call the track or go through CMS Promotions. Details will be announced at a later date,
The 2013 World of Outlaws schedule was announced Saturday night during the final night of the Peak Motor Oil World of Outlaws World Finals presented by NAPA Auto Parts at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, N.C.
The World of Outlaws show is just the tip of the iceberg for 34 Raceway, which will have several major changes come 2013.
One of the biggest changes is the elimination of the hobby stock class. With car counts dwindling, Laue decided to go in a different direction for the entry-level class at the track.
“We will continue with the four cylinders. We are adding more dates for the IMCA sport mods. That will be the new entry-level class,” Laue said. “A lot of the hobby stock drivers knew the car count was low and a lot of them went out and bought IMCA sport mods for next year.”
The other major change is the elimination of points races for IMCA late models. With car counts dwindling to between eight and 10 cars per show, Laue decided to drop the class for next season.
Instead, Laue said she is bringing in the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) late model series next year.
“We are going to bring them in for a 10-night series,” Laue said. “They will be spread throughout the season, with $1,200 to win.”
Laue said she is working on getting onto the UMP SummerNationals Hell Tour schedule next summer.
“It will all depend on how the schedule works out,” Laue said. “The Hell Tour was a four-week series. Last year they expanded it to five weeks and next year it is going to six weeks. We will possibly get one of those shows, hopefully on a Saturday night.”
Laue said the other classes will remain the same – IMCA modfieds, IMCA stock cars, 305 sprints and mod lites. She said she is looking to add more dates for the mod lites. The last mod lites show brought in 29 cars.
“That class is really growing, too,” Laue said.
Laue said they are looking at expanding the Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals back to a two-day show.
“A lot will depend on the Deery Brothers schedule,” Laue said. “We might move it back to a two-night show.”
In addition, Laue said she is helping the Sprint Invaders Series with their 2013 schedule, which will include several stops at 34 Raceway, as well as several tracks which are new to the Sprint Invaders Series. That schedule should be finalized sometime in December.
Laue said she is also looking to bring the MOWA sprints back several times next season.
The annual Slocum 50 is set for April 6.
As of now, the 2013 season opens at 34 Raceway on March 30 with the Frost Buster and Modified Special. Points races start April 27.
There are 16 points night on the schedule for next season, with eight more dates left open for possible specials.
“We are looking at some sprint specials, some late mode specials, some modifieds specials and some stock car specials. Those will be announced later,” Laue said. “It’s been a great six years for us. We appreciate all the sponsors, drivers and fans for their dedication and loyalty. We want to return that by continuing to bring in great shows to 34 Raceway.”
Category: 34 Raceway, Iowa, News
