[kdobson]

Andy Korte of the successful WAR Sprint Series in Missouri has contacted me about whether there would be interest and the opportunity to put together a sister series in Illinois. Having had the WAR Series join us at our track in Quincy previously, I can vouch for the fact that what they do fills an important niche and is a nice show. I have told Andy that I would be willing to help organize it and host some races at our tracks in Lincoln and Jacksonville to help it get off the ground if I sensed that there was enough interest from racers and fans.

If it were to happen, from the start the teams would have to recognize what the series is and isn't and the niche it would be designed to fill. With a payout of $800 to win and $150 to start it isn't meant to compete with or interfere with USAC, MSCS, or even MOWA - which we also operate. The purpose would be to organize a group of primarily Illinois-based non-wing drivers who aren't expected to make long tows to race. The hope is that it would give a number of opportunities for racers in Illinois to continue to race somewhat locally, give guys and excuse to continue to own their non-wing car, get a few more built, and give fans another opportunity to see Open Wheel racing in Illinois.

As we also operate the MOWA series, I would prefer that any non-wing series in Illinois be designed in a way to where both series benefit from the presence of the other. Where there isn't competition for dates, cars or fans but to where they can work in unison to continue to build the sport of open wheel racing in Illinois. That is the primary reason I offered to Andy to take the lead in exploring the opportunity. If someone else or another group wanted to take the lead, we would gladly step aside provided that they were committed to the same cooperation between MOWA and MSCS and other series as we are.

I really don't know if there is enough interest for this to work. Besides our tracks at Lincoln and Jacksonville, I'm not expecting a lot of other tracks to get in line from the start until it has proven successful. This would be a case of starting very small in hopes that it could grow in future years.

I am asking anyone who would be interested in participating in an 8-10 race WAR East series in Central Illinois to please contact me at 217-371-3653 by phone or text. We can gauge the interest and decide whether it could work in 2015 or needs more time to develop before scheduling races.

Thanks
Ken Dobson
kdobson99@gmail.com
217-371-3653