By Dave Grayson
GOOD TIMES QUARTER MIDGET RACING ASSOCIATION. 1/20 MILE. MADERA, CA. www.goodtimesqm.com FRIDAY & SATURDAY, JULY 8TH & 9TH.
This is an outstanding organization is dedicated to developing the young driving talent through quarter midget racing for boys and girls 5 to 16 years old. This racing is sanctioned by Region 11 of the Quarter Midgets of America which is headquartered in Madera. The track is located in the pit area, behind the backstretch Speedway wall, of the one-third mile Madera Speedway.
The association will be spending this weekend staging a Summer Fun Race, a non points event to give young drivers additional seat time in the atmosphere of family fun. Three of their racing division will be on the track this Friday and Saturday: Novice, Junior and Senior. On Friday afternoon there will be an open practice session for all divisions from 4 to 830pm. Afterwards, it's family fun time featuring a water slide and a water balloon war, an outdoor movie and a free dinner, at 630pm, featuring hot dogs, chips and water. Families are welcome to set up tents on the infield and grass areas and camp overnight. RV camping will be available in the track parking lot on Friday evening and the official designated track campground on Saturday.
On Saturday morning race day the pits will open at 7am followed by a pit meeting at 8am. There will be a practice session followed by a series of heat races. The line up for these heat races will be determined by a pill draw. The main event line up will be determined by a full inversion of the heat race results. Main events will feature the Novices running 20 laps followed by the Juniors-30 laps
IRWINDALE EVENT CENTER, (IEC). 1/2 & 1/3 MILE. IRWINDALE, CA. www.irwindalespeedway.com THURSDAY, JULY 7TH.
The action is going to be slide ways and straight line Thursday night at the IEC. Performing on the front side of the speedway will be the Thursday Night Drift program presented by Formula Drift. The tire smoking will run from 5 to 9pm. Entry fee to slide your car sideways is $75 or you can watch them for a reasonable ten dollar bill.
Meanwhile, the back side of the IEC will be converted into a 1/8 mile drag strip for NHRA Thursday Night Thunder, the program that sends the powerful message race the strip and not the street. You can race all evening for a budget friendly $20 or watch the action for $10. The gates will open at 4pm followed by racing from 5 to 10pm.
LOAN MART MADERA SPEEDWAY. 1/3 MILE. MADERA, CA. www.racemadera.com SATURDAY, JULY 9TH.
Here's a hot ticket from an organization that fully understands how to create a hot ticket on any given Saturday night. Loan Mart Madera will be presenting their annual Gerhardt Classic this Saturday night and the event is a true gift to fans who love open wheel racing. Providing the on track excitement will be the BCRA Midgets, the MAV TV Western Winged Super Sprint Series, the USAC HPD Midgets, the NCMA Sprints, the CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Vintage BCRA, Legends of the Kearney Bowl, Senior Open Vintage Super Modifieds, the Twisted Tea Modifieds and the NCPRO 4 Modifieds. Now that's a lot of racing for one evening.
The on track action begins with a practice session for all divisions at 12pm followed by qualifying at 2pm, heat races at 4pm and main events at 6pm. General admission tickets for adults are $20 and $17 for seniors and military personnel. Youth tickets, age 6 to 12, $10 with children 5 and under admitted free.
TUCSON SPEEDWAY. 3/8 MILE. TUCSON, AZ. www.tucsonspeedway.com SATURDAY, JULY 9TH.
Saturday night action at Tucson will feature their NASCAR Whelen All American Series highlighted by the Road Runner 50 from the Late Models. Also on the racing agenda are the Pro Stocks, Hornets, Legends and the Bandoleros. The spectator gates will open at 5pm with the racing going green at 7pm.
Adult general admission tickets are $12 and $10 for seniors, age 55 plus, and military personnel. Kid's tickets, age 11 to 16, are $5. he speedway also offers a budget friendly family package, priced at $25, which admits two adults and two kids. .
UKIAH SPEEDWAY. 1/4 MILE. UKIAH, CA. www.lakeportspeedway.com SATURDAY, JULY 9TH.
The Lakeport - Ukiah Challenge Series moves to Ukiah this weekend. The Saturday night racing will be provided by the Bandolero, Legend, Bomber, Mini Stock and North State Modified divisions. The front gates will open at 330pm following qualifying at 5pm and then the evening receives the green flag.
General admission, adult, tickets are $12 and $9 seniors, age 60 plus, and students with valid ID. Kid's tickets,age 5 to 11, and 1st responders with valid ID are $6. Toddlers and infants will be admitted free. The speedway also offers a $30 family pack which admits two adults and three kids at a bargain price.
