USAC Sprint addition
 

SPRINTS RETURN TO MICHIGAN’S I-96 SPEEDWAY AUGUST 10


The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series returns to Michigan August 10 for a race at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa. The race will be the first for the series on dirt in the Great Lakes State in 16 years!



The August 10 date is coupled with an already-announced August 11 race at Hartford Motor Speedway. Jay Drake won USAC’s last Sprint race at Hartford in 2000.



Mark Cassella won the last USAC Sprint race on the dirt in Michigan, a 30-lapper at I-96, which has hosted the series five times. Jack Hewitt won three of those and is one of only two drivers to record multiple USAC wins in Michigan in 25 previous appearances. The other is Eric Gordon, who also won three features.



Michigan has proven to be one of the most unpredictable states in USAC history. IN 25 races there, 21 different winners have emrged! Jud Larson won the inaugural at Berlin Raceway in 1959 and Clauson won the most recent, also at Berlin in 2010. In all classes, a total of exactly 100 different drivers have won USAC races in the state of Michigan.



"We are incredibly excited to bring these guys back to Michigan,” adds I-96 race organizer Mike Mouch. “We know it will be a spectacular night of dirt track racing! This weekend will be a big deal for Michigan racing!"



“We hope this starts a new era of USAC racing in the state,” says USAC’s Jason McCord, who has competed at the Lake Odessa oval. “



The 2012 AMSOIL National Srrint Car Series opens February 9-11 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla. and encompasses nearly 50 races across the country

Tim Wolffrum aka Cowboy

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

Not sure I understand this part of the press release. Hartford was a dirt track in 2000 as well. So, it's only been 12 years, right???

Nonetheless, it's always great to see additions to the schedule. Glad to see it! :6:

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

finally sprints on the half mile,not to take anything away from indiana but your state lacks half mile dirt tracks.

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

I'd bet money the race is on the 3/8ths.

I am so "geeked" about this w/e in August!! We spend a lot of time in Indiana watching these guys and can't wait to have them in our backyard. Calling all my Indiana friends to come up and support these events so we can have them back on a regular basis. Woohoo!!!!

Posted via Mobile Device

At I96, probably the 3/8, but I don't think Hartford has a small track, and their track is listed at a 1/2, but more like a 5/8.

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

@96 USAC will be on 3/8, Hartford only has 1 track a big 1/2 mile, seen it listed as a 9/16th. Long straights tight turns, one fast joint here. View from a top the concrete stands is fantastic. :8:

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

Tamati, I take it you've never been to Terre Haute. Half mile 3 feet from the inside guardrail.

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

It will be nice to have USAC on some big dirt tracks in our back yard. I hope the I-96 show is on the half as the ama flat track and woo run on it (National event). The sprints put on some awesome long drifts when they last raced there years ago. Tamati has been to Terre Haute many times but not as much as he should.:3:

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

I would like to see them race at Butler Motor Speedway. Nice track and only a few mins from I-69. I grew up going to that track and try to make it back whenever I can, even though they run winged 410 on a weekly basis.

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

USAC sprints ran Butler many years ago and it was a wing show!

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

I'm pretty sure I-96's show will be on the 3/8ths. It's not exactly the most spectator "intense" track since the grandstands & flagstand are about 30 feet from the actual racing surface. (Youtube I96 Speedway and you'll see what I'm talking about.)

Hartford will be a great show. Track is the same size as Terre Haute, only a LOT more banking and wider surface.

I'm concerned the Michigan people don't have any idea what USAC is all about. I went to a Silver Crown show up at Berlin (Grand Rapids, MI) in 2010 and there were about 400 people in the stands.. if that. Anytime you ask someone what they want to see in Michigan all they ever want are A) Late Models or B) SOD Winged 360's. I don't think I've ever talked to anyone who has said they wanted to see a USAC show. Both 96 & Hartford going to need a strong Indiana following for USAC to be profitable... or it will be the last time USAC is ever seen in the Great Lakes State.

I enjoy hartford but is not better or even close to Terre Haute. Its not near as wide, and not banked that much. Back in 2000 it was definitely a good race though. Anytime the non wing cars go up north its nice to see.

Biggest issue i see about these shows is if the locals with the MTS will support it. If not, car count could be really thin.

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

scheduled around these dates so MTS racers can race these events. i think you will see more MTS drivers interested in i96 than hartford because of the size of track... not sure how many will race but there will be some interested for sure..

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

last time usac ran Hartford the owner told me if not for his support class modifieds he would have lost money. He thought usac had a bigger following. Good track to see and camp. Lake Michigan beach only 20 miles away. Hartford is really close to Northern Indiana and a couple of hours from I-96.

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

when we would come up to mic. for nascar racing on sat nights we would go over and see some dirt track racing at butler speedway :9: we all love the tree house and became a race fan of chade blounte he sure could get around that place. what ever happen to him. got to meet him one time at eldora and have not seen much of him. that would be a great track to see usac put on a show. just make it a 2 or 3 day show and we would love to drive from indiana to see butler speedway again :22:

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

Unless you've been down on the track at Hartford, you have no idea how banked it is... it's quite deceiving (from the stands it looks about flat). I did some quick math one evening at the track and figured the banking to be at 18*.

Since I've been to both places as well, I'm going to respectfully disagree with your assessment except that NOW Hartford may very well be narrower than Terre Haute since they took away about 10 feet at the bottom of the track with an inside burm to keep cars off the bottom.

On the outside wall, Hartford is 5/8ths. On the inside guardrail, 9/16ths.

I basically have grown up at hartford and the fiekd of dreams, and i still stand by my statement that hartford isnt even close to terre haute. it is a lot narrower, and unless theyve added bank in the last few years, its got some, but not a ton. Both should be really good races and glad to see the MTS is supporting it.

I havent found a track yet that i didnt enjoy.

Posted via Mobile Device

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

http://www.4thturn.net/images/THvsHMS.jpg

Both images taken at an altitude of 2443ft.

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

So which track is bigger? Looks like the same size to me. To be honest Hartford is not as narrow as you might think it is. I hear lot of friends say you need a pair of b@!!$ to drive either track. I go to Hartford a few times and have been to Terre Haute a few times over the years. The folks at Hartford run what I think is a 1st class show there. The only down side is their weekly car counts aren't the great. If the 410 Non-Wing guys have guts they will help support the race at Hartford and also the race I-96. Both tracks are great places to see BIG races.

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

Hartford. Blue outline indicates the outside of Terre Haute in the bottom image... Red outline indicates Hartford's outside.

Re: USAC Sprint addition
 

I would love to see the usac guys at butler chad blonde still drives he drives the number 1 car for cory bevard at least he did in 2011 I dont know what his plans are for in 2012. I plan to go to I-96 and see usac this year .