Racing will return to Ripley County Indiana’s, Osgood Fairgrounds on Friday May 9th as TQ midgets and mini sprints take to the track for the opening leg of the Grass Roots Racing Revival. In its second year, the event is unique in several aspects. The event is one of the few times each season that the fairground facility is called into service for auto racing. While the 2008 event marks the opening leg of the Grass Roots Racing Revival, a three race tour featuring the TQ midgets and mini sprints, in 2007 it marked the first time in many years that the two classes shared an event card. Additionally for the second year in a row the event will also be a fund raiser to assist a family in need.

A Return to the Days of Old
Although in the not to distant past fairgrounds throughout the midwest were a buzz with open wheel racing, today this part of racing’s history has all but fallen silent. Osgood’s quaint fairground facility complete with covered wooden grandstands brings the entire fairground racing experience back to life. The nostalgiac feeling is further enhanced when you consider that the drivers competing in this event are true grassroots competitors that include youngsters with their eye’s fixed on a future in sprint cars and beyond or weekend warriors that are simply enjoying the thrill of open wheel auto racing.

The First of Three Stops
While the 2007 event brought the two classes back together, this year the event represents the opening leg of a three race series between the two groups. During the month of May each group will crown a champion of the Grassroots Racing Revival. The champion will be determined by driver points earned during races at Osgood, Twin Cities Raceway Park and Lawrenceburg Speedway.

A Race with a Purpose
Event promoter, Terry Eaglin is a cancer survivor and sees the event as an excellent opportunity to reach out and help someone in need. In 2007 Eaglin used the event to raise money to help a young resident of Osgood that was battling cancer. In 2008 the event will once again be used to assist another Osgood resident that is battling cancer. “I am hopeful that this event is something we can do every year as a fundraiser”, commented Eaglin.

Admission to the grandstands for the opening night of the Grassroots Racing Revival is $7.00 for adults and $3 for children 6-12 years of age. The gates open at 4:00 P.M. with racing starting at 7:00 P.M. Osgood is approximately a 1 hour drive from either Cincinnati or Indianapolis.