[Kevin Montgomery]

The USAC Triple Crown Strives for Gold at The 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt”

Kevin Montgomery Tucson, AZ (December 11th, 2009) – Someone once said that visionaries create the future! In December 2006 at a local restaurant, Dennis Wood shared his idea of bringing the “Copper on Dirt” to Manzanita Speedway. He told a tale of bringing USAC Sprint Cars, Midgets and Silver Crown cars to Arizona and only had five weeks to make it happen. On February 9th 2007, Dennis Woods, successfully ran the first “Copper on Dirt” with more than 130 cars participating in the two day event.

The vision will be carried on as Arizona will host the 4th Annual “Copper on Dirt”. USAC Silver Crown, USAC National/CRA Sprint Cars and USAC National/Western States Midgets will all take part in a sensational racing spectacle at Tucson’s USA Raceway’s for two nights on February 19th and 20th marking USA Raceway as one of only two dirt track venues to host USAC’s Triple Crown all in one event.

“The Copper on Dirt is a great event and we are looking forward to having it at our facility,” commented Benji Lyons. “We are constantly looking at marquee events for USA Raceway and this was one that we have been after for a while. With the closure of Manzanita Speedway we felt the need to continue to carry the torch for premier racing events in Arizona and this is one of those events.”

Mississippi’s Ricky Stenhouse became the first and only driver to win multiple “Copper on Dirt” features in a single year. Stenhouse set the bar high at the inaugural “Copper on Dirt” by winning back to back races in the 40-lap sprint car feature and finishing off the night by capturing the 50-lap USAC Silver Crown Feature.

California native, Darren Hagen, is the only other driver to win in two divisions with a midget victory in 2008 and a sprint car win in 2009. Hagen will lead the USAC trio into Tucson as the defending “Copper on Dirt” Sprint Car Champion while Brad Sweet and Bud Kaeding will likely set out to defend the USAC Midget and Silver Crown titles respectively. Hagen also leads the “Copper on Dirt” stats with 8 of 9 feature starts (Did not participate in 2007 Silver Crown portion) and an average finish of 5th in 8 total events.

USA Raceway is located east of Tucson off I-10 exit 268, then 1.6 miles south on Craycroft Road, which turns into Los Reales. For more information please, contact the track at 520-574-8515 or additional information regarding USA Raceway can be found at http://www.usaraceway.net

Past Copper on Dirt Winners
2007 USAC Midgets - Cory Kruseman
2007 USAC Sprint Cars - Ricky Stenhouse
2007 USAC Silver Crown - Ricky Stenhouse
2008 USAC Midgets – Darren Hagen
2008 USAC Sprint Cars – Shane Cottle
2008 USAC Silver Crown – Jerry Coons Jr.
2009 USAC Midgets – Brad Sweet
2009 USAC Sprint Cars – Darren Hagen
2009 USAC Silver Crown – Bud Kaeding

[dirtnonwingfan]

I encourage everyone who can go to this event to go. My first visit to USA was last month for the ASCS wing/nonwing show. Nice track, great people, excellent food both at the track and in Tuscon (the green chili burrito lives at USA) and good racing. And it is warmer than it will be here. I don't know what the motel prices will be in February, but in November there were 6-8 which are members of national chains under $30 a night which were not that far from the track.

I asked on another thread and didnt get an answer. Have the silver crown cars ever run on anything smaller than a 1/2 before?

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by raceway video I asked on another thread and didnt get an answer. Have the silver crown cars ever run on anything smaller than a 1/2 before?

Berlin is 7/16, would that count? I thought Eldora was just under a half mile also.

[AustinSprinter]

Originally Posted by dirtnonwingfan I encourage everyone who can go to this event to go. My first visit to USA was last month for the ASCS wing/nonwing show. Nice track, great people, excellent food both at the track and in Tuscon (the green chili burrito lives at USA) and good racing. And it is warmer than it will be here. I don't know what the motel prices will be in February, but in November there were 6-8 which are members of national chains under $30 a night which were not that far from the track.

Where did you stay when there in Nov. Frank??...been lookin for hrs on diff. sites try'n ta narrow it down...lookin for the best all round deal....keepn cost in mind...cause were doin the triple again this year out West!!....thanks for any tips for Tucson..everything else is covered!!.........
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Brucer'

[dirtnonwingfan]

Brucer'

I stayed at:

Travelodge Tucson AZ
1000 S. Freeway
I-10 Exit 259, Frontage Road
Tucson, AZ 85745 US
Phone: 520-622-8089
Fax:520-798-3940

This is right off 22nd street, a main drag in the southern part of Tucson. Clean, the air conditioning works well, the Wifi works well most of the time, the lady on the front desk is friendly and helpful. Not a luxury motel, but I will stay there again. They also have a computer in the lobby.

This is walking distance from a "Village Inn" restaurant. I have eaten at this chain in Phoenix, Tuscon and Albuquerque and every single employee has been nice, the food really good and the prices very reasonable. Also, this has easy access to the track. Turn east on 22nd street, go to Alvernon and turn right (South), and take it to the little road whose name I can't remember right now which is a left turn and takes you to the track after about a 2 block drive. Total time may be 15 minutes.

I recommend getting the VIP tickets, or All-Access pass if you want to go to the pits after they are swept. When I was there the pits were open until around 3:30-4:00. Not that much more for the VIP and you get an all-enclosed room above the regular grandstand with real chairs, table service, nice people. Really good Hebrew National brand hot dogs used for their corn dogs. Yum, yum, yum.

PM me if you want to know anything else. I found a really good Mexican restaurant also.

[Kevin Montgomery]

The Tucson Airport Courtyard by Marriott has USA Raceway rates of $59 520-573-0000 if you are interested

[Doug Bushey]

So, let me get this straight...

It's going to be SILVER crown cars going for GOLD at the COPPER...is that correct?

ORANGE you glad it's not the newly-skinned GOLD crown "rogue-sters" hitting the BROWN clay. I'll be feeling a bit BLUE when those cars hit the BLACK tops. Some car owners are still RED in the face just thinking about the little WHITE lies that the BRASS told them about the next generation SILVER crown cars. They're definitely going to YELLOW their shorts when they find out how much GREEN the new series is going to set them back. Unless you've got Royal PURPLE or someone helping you, it's pretty CLEAR that you'll need the PLATINUM card for that new Ed PINK bullet!

[Dns_Miller]

Here's a Happy Holidays shout out to all my racing friends. Hoping to see you in Tucson for the Copper.

Some information if you have never been to Tucson

- Free parking, free camping and reasonable concession prices
- Track is located within 3 miles of a major airport (TUS - Tucson Intl) w all of the major hotel chains
Vegas is an 8 hour drive from Tucson
Kayak.com has: Indy to Tucson $169, Tucson to Vegas $83
- Daytime activies near the track include Titan Missle Museum, Pima Air Museum, Copper Mine tour, casinos, Desert Museum
- No infield view obstructions, you can see the entire track from any seat
- Before the mains, pitcarts are allowed in the infield
- Pits open all day to everyone for autographs and pictures until they are cleared mid afternoon
- Large parking area for motorhomes (no hookups)
- All day tailgating in the camping area behind turn 1, bonfires in the camping area after the show

- Track prep has been excellent this year
- Measured at the cushion, USA = .42 mi Perris = .40 Manzy was .52
- Short straights, w wide sweeping corners
- Grandstands were originally from Ascot

Have a great racing year! If I don't see you in Tucson, look for me at Perris, USAC East, sprintweek or TNT!!

Dan Estelle

[AustinSprinter]

Bit'n at da Bit!!. Be headin that way!!...31st to Phx.VFW for some(Rebel Yell) Duke!!.....then on to USA Spdwy for McCluskey Classic!!......
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Brucer'