17th annual Dakota Classic Modified Tour
carries IMCA sanction for July 9-14 run

Mandan, N.D. (Feb. 14) ­ Along with six straight nights of racing, drivers from the United States and Canada are being invited to enjoy local hospitality and plenty of beautiful scenery along the way during the 17th annual Dakota Classic Modified Tour.

Sanctioned by IMCA for the first time since the 1998 season, the tour runs July 9-14, with stops at Nodak Speedway in Minot, Estevan, Sask., Motor Speedway, Williston Basin Speedway, Southwest Speedway in Dickinson and Dacotah Speedway in Mandan.

"We're hoping the IMCA sanction will bring new drivers to the tour. I've already gotten calls from guys as far away as Colorado, Washington and Alberta who want to come," said Tour Director John Gartner. "This is like a vacation for anybody who really likes to race. A lot of drivers bring their wives and children with them. They get to travel through a beautiful part of the country and enjoy a lot of good old North Dakota hospitality."

The same rules, procedures and payouts will be used at all five tracks, with more than $8,000 in prize money paid out each night. The winner's share is $1,200, with a minimum of $200 paid to make the 24 car fields.

"We've restructured our payout and upped qualifying to at least $200. I was really happy to see that," Gartner said. "The typical weekly racer is going to have a good chance to make the feature. We have a lot of guys at these tracks who are flat out fast and we¹re looking forward to a lot of good racing."

IMCA national, Lucas Oil North Central Region and Smiley's Racing Products State points, along with contingency awards from IMCA and local sponsors, will be given. The tour champion will also be added to the ballot for the 2007 Lucas Oil All-Star Invitational to be held during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals.

The tour starts in Minot on Sunday, July 9, at the 3/8 mile Nodak Speedway, located on the North Dakota State Fair-grounds. On Monday, July 10, the tour heads north of the border to the 3/8 mile Estevan Motor Speedway.

Williston Basin Speedway's 1/3 mile track is the site for the Tuesday, July 11 show. Wednesday and Thursday, July 12-13 programs are on tap at the 1/4 mile Southwest Speedway in Dickinson before the tour wraps up with Champion-ship Night at the 3/8 mile Dacotah Speedway in Mandan on Friday, July 14.

Dale McEwen returns to flag all six events. Gartner's son Scott will help with behind the scene responsibilities and is also in charge of T-shirt sales throughout the tour.

"This tour is a great complement to sanctioned weekly programs in North Dakota and at Estevan, and fills a niche by giving racers the opportunity to travel economically," IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root said. "We look forward to adding contingency awards and recognizing the champion during our national banquet in November."

Information about the Dakota Classic Modified Tour is available from Gartner at 701 667-2053.

Sponsors for the 2006 tour include AFCO, Boonville, Ind.; Belleville, Kan., Motorsports; Big Dog Chassis, North Platte, Neb.; Brinn Transmissions, Bay City, Mich.; Corral Sales, Mandan; DJ Safety, Los Angeles, Calif.; Design 500, Seattle, Wash.; Four Bears Casino & Lodge, New-town; Hawk Performance, Solon, Ohio; Impact Racing, Brownsburg, Ind.; Intercomp, Minneapolis, Minn.; Isky Racing Cams, Gardena, Calif.; KSE Racing Products, White House, Tenn.; Keith Black Racing Pistons, Carson City, Nev.; Larson Racing Specialists and Midwest Motorsports, both of Ames, Iowa; Lou Fegers Racing Equipment, De-lano, Minn.; Quarter Master, Lake Zurich, Ill.; Racemart, Memphis, Mo.; Rac-ing Optics, San Clemente, Calif.; Real Racing Wheels, Independence, Iowa; Ringers Gloves, Moorpark, Calif.; Schoen-feld Racing Headers, Van Buren, Ark.; Simes Graphic Designs, Mandan; and Thunder Alley Motorsports, Surrey.