Track Schedules

Riviera Raceway adds three IMCA divisions next season

NORFOLK, Neb. (Nov. 11) – A new chapter will be written in the already thick history book at Riviera Race­way next season, when three IMCA sanctioned divisions join regular weekly race programs.

IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts will run Saturday nights on the 3/8-mile clay oval, located south of Norfolk and promoted by Jeff Haase.

Built by Haase’s father Ray and aunt and uncle Janet and Robert Haase, Riviera first opened its pit gates for the 1965 season; 2012 will be its first year for IMCA sanctioning of any division there.

“My family has been in this business for years. I’ve raced for more than 30 years and I want to see this track stay around,” Jeff Haase said. “Norfolk is a big racing community and a lot of driv­ers in town race IMCA. I felt if we were going to succeed we needed to be an IMCA track. It just makes sense.”

Riviera ran Hobby Stock and 4-cylinder Sport Compact divisions with rules virtually identical to IMCA’s this year.

“The Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts are both very competitive divisions,” noted Haase. “I’ve been following the Northern SportMods that run at other tracks in the area and they’re a neat class, too.”

U.S. 30 Speedway at Columbus and Boone County Raceway at Albion also sanction the Hobby Stocks and Northern SportMods, giving drivers in those divisions Thursday, Friday and now Satur­day night tracks within about an hour’s travel time.

Sport Compacts run at U.S. 30 as well.

““We’ve got a lot of drivers excited about being able to race so close to home three nights a week for IMCA points next season,” said Haase.

Opening night at Norfolk is scheduled for April 14, with weekly shows through Sept. 1.

A major renovation of bleachers, fencing and signage was completed last year. Updating of re­strooms will be completed before opening next spring.

“Riviera will be an outstanding Saturday night home for drivers in all three of the sanctioned divisions,” said Jim Stannard, director of track relations for IMCA. “They’ll have the opportunity to run another night for national and Allstar Performance State points, as well as Probe Industries Northern Region points for the Hobby Stocks.”

Points in all three divisions factor toward IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing national championships.