Springfield Raceway Transport Graphics Opener To Honor Former Track Official

 

SPRINGFIELD, MO (April 19, 2012) – The 2012 Transport Graphics season championship chase will begin Saturday night April 21st at the “Quick-Quarter” of the racy Springfield Raceway as the Speedway will be honoring one of its former track officials Joplin’s Don Haase.

Haase born Oct.1 1962 was a life-long resident of Joplin, Mo. joined the staff as tech man when current owners Jerry Hoffman and Doug Bland bought the 1/4 mile dirt oval. Haase severed as Tech man and was getting ready to become the flagman when a sudden illness took his life at the beginning of the 2008 season.

A gentleman who loved life and enjoyed spending time with his children & grandchildren. Don was an avid race fan spending most Saturday nights at the Dirt Track.The speedway will be honoring him on opening night as his three children Christian, Lindsay and Taylor will be dropping the green flag on the 1st heat of the evening and the last checkered flag feature event Sat night.

Action will feature the Budweiser USRA Modified , Reliable Chevrolet USRA B-Moods, Casey’s General Stores Midwest Modz, Wheeler Metals Legends Cars, Pepsi ,Purestocks, Williams Lawn Care And Preservation Street Stocks and the Young Guns Legend Cars for those 12-16 years of age. The Young Guns are the newest class to the “Quick-Quarter” Racing family and gives kids 12-16 years of age a chance to compete in an actual race car and a place to graduate from Go-Kart Racing and other forms of sports.

Defending track champions include Jackie Dalton (USRA Modifieds) of Carthage, Bobby Maggard Jr(USRA B-Mods) of Republic, Dave Comer(Legends) of Joplin, Trevor Drake(Midwest Modz)of Webb City, Jack Hamer (Purestocks) of Ava. The Street Stocks and Young Guns did not compete in 2011.

Many drivers have already thrown their helmet into the ring to try and attempt to challenge for their respective track titles. With the point funds up for grabs in the USRA Modifieds, Dalton will have his hands full as late last season Erik Maggard of Brighton was one of the hottest drivers at the Speedway along with former track champion Mitch Keeter. Adding in the mix of Branson’s Jody Tillman and Jerry Lankton, Oronogo’s Bobby Pearish, Pierce City drivers Brian Green and Kyle Slagle, Rookie of the year Billy Dalton and many time Flippin, Ark track champion Rob Muilenburg and area top engine builder John Yeoman and many others along with the Speedway flying the USRA Banner, it will be anyone’s guess.

The speedway joined the USRA for the B-Mods also this season while still running under Springfield car spec rules and a nice point fund not only for the track,but also in the National money, Bobby Magrard Jr will find the already tough competition even tougher. Last season JC Morton and Maggard went down to the wire for the title. Adding in drivers such as an ever improving Andy Beauchamp of Springfield, Don Luna, Willard’s Gary Rodocker, Webb City veteran Scott Drake, former Pure Stock front runner Jeremy Thulin, Jared Thulin and a host of others makes this feature worth the price of admission.

In it’s third season the Midwest Modz has one of the fastest growing classes around mixing in an affordable type of Modified racing and keeping the cost down. Trevor Drake became the 2nd champion in this class last season and with Gary Krebs, Todd McGregor, Rusty Forrest, Matthew Thulin, Tyler Moore, Shawn Eggeman and many others provide the area with their next group of local racing stars.

The Legends will be looking for a new champion as Dave comer has claimed this season he will not be running for the title, but scaling to a part-time schedule and helping other drivers in this class. With the talented field of drivers in this ever growing popular class, it is wide open to lay claim on that title while the Pure Stocks and Street Stocks bring full bodied type cars to another exciting Transport Graphics Racing Season.

Pit Gates open around 3:30 PM Sat with drivers meeting set to start at 5:40.Hot laps will begin at 6PM and racing to follow. Drivers will draw for heat race positions and the top 8 in passing points in each class will redraw at intermission over in the Grandstands as this allows the fans a chance to see their favorites get ready to begin the 2012 season. Pit Passes are $25.Raceceivers are required for all classes and it is the drivers responsibility to have one.

The Grandstands will open at 5PM.adult Admission is only $12 for adults while kids 6-12 are only $5 and under 6 Free.

For more information on the Springfield Raceway visit the website at WWW.SpringfieldRaceway.Com or contact Jerry Hoffman at 417-673-7426

Category: Missouri, News, Springfield Raceway