A huge gathering is in the works this coming Saturday night at I-44 Riverside Speedway. Almost a struggle where to start.
THE Blue River Classic. We direct all patrons to don their best Saturday night blues as we race to raise autism awareness. This is the first auto racing event in OKC to raise autism awareness.
And what a fitting time to blare that blue. This Saturday, April 12th I-44 Riverside Speedway features the best talents in SEVEN classes of competition.
Headlining that lucky number will be the Lucas Oil POWRi West Midget Series. Our first of 9 POWRi West Midget events booked with Eric Fenton’s rowdy bunch. A full field of Midgets will be coming to Oklahoma City hungry after a Friday night serving at Creek County Speedway. Series promoter Eric Fenton will be in action in the Southside Mowers #14, as will AJ Burns in THE University of Oklahoma backed entry.
If you’ve been following dirt track racing in Oklahoma City the past decade, Guthrie’s Michelle Decker hardly needs an introduction. Michelle powered to two champ sprint titles and countless wins back when OKC had two tracks. This will be Michelle’s first race in the OKC area since the untimely demise of our beloved Fairgrounds.
For a full length preview of POWRi West weekend action, check out the Midget preview. The Oklahoma No Fender Network on Facebook is a good place to view it, go ahead and get acquainted as live updates of weekend action will be plenty on the ONFN.
Oh, but the Blue River Classic doesn’t stop there. Not even close.
The Tulsa-based National Open Wheel 600 series (now600) will officially challenge the brand spankin’ new Texas Open Wheel Racing series (TOWR) in the A Class, Non Wing, and Restricted divisions. Not so much a duel when one factors in a healthy and growing contingent of 405/580 west side natives. The natives turned out to the tune of 93 entires just in these classes last week.
One could easily see over 100 regional competitors engage in a beloved geographical battle for the Blue River Classic. Beloved battle? Yep we compete this weekend in support of autism awareness. The notion that all who compete and Go Blue this Saturday are winners is anything but a cliché.
Yet another outstanding addition to the show will be the Outlaw class, also referred to as Multis (in case of future confusion). Demand was high in recent weeks among the Outlaw ranks and they always deliver a high flying show at Riverside’s 1/5th mile high banked red clay battleground.
Another three way battle will be on display here also, well, actually four when you add in Missouri’s Tucker Klaasmeyer making the trip to represent the Show Me State. We may even have reigning 2013 Mini Sprint Nationals champ Nate Fleming make the haul from Great Bend, Kansas.
Kyle Keeler, Blake Dacus (reigning A Class champ), Tyler Gordon, Josh Toho, Micheal Hall, Bobby Springer, and Blake Dewberry will lead the West-siders. While Travis Harris, Layne Heimbaugh, Jason McDougal, and father/son duo Ty and Harlan Hulsey all come in leading the Tulsa team.
Fort Worth’s Scott Evans is our first official Texas Outlaw. Christian Kinnison, a familiar sight to I-44 Riverside in the #82c would be on the Texas team, but instead will be testing ACT (or is it SAT) this Saturday. Good luck C-Man! Possible Texas teammates could be fellow north texas outlaw Drew Salisbury, or the Amarillo trio of Caleb Lovelady, Harold Lewis, and Danny Davidson.
Entry list on Outlaws has wavered between 17-19 confirmed for the past few days with a whole slew of maybe’s and possibilities. This will be the first Saturday night solo for the Outlaw class at I-44 Riverside in nearly three years. Much ambition was in adding a 7th class to the show, but if we’re aiming for one of the best Saturday Night shows in speedway history, and after huge Multi turnouts in our last two ventures - we’ll see if they are up for an occasional (and faster) option.
The Turf Tire and Junior Sprint classes will also be in action. In fact, this will be Champions Cup event #2 for all five weekly classes - as the Now600 vs. TOWR vs. Riverside battle in A Class, Non Wing, and Restricted will be a point event for all three entities.
Start times have been moved up for the Inaugural Blue River Classic. Important to note - gates open at 3pm (wouldn’t fault anyone for arriving sooner!), the track pack will begin at 5pm, sign in/draw for all classes concludes at 515pm ß remember this. Hot laps commence as soon as the track has been packed (520-530pm). Drivers meetings will be held as soon as hot laps conclude (610-620pm). The Blue River Classic gets going with heat races at 630pm.
Pit passes $30. General admission $12 and bring your lawn chairs. We are racing against the clock to have the first section of stands up, so do pack your chairs and remember to sport blue in support of autism awareness!
Only the Junior Sprint main event was completed in last week’s opener, the remaining four main events were postponed by rain until April 19th. Thus, all classes will draw with the exception of the Junior Sprints.
A CLASS, NON WING, and RESTRICTED teams will sign in and draw at the Now600 trailer which will be set up along the back chute. Outlaw and Turf Tire entrants will sign in and draw at the pit gate. Junior Sprints just sign in. POWRi West Midgets will obviously sign in, draw, and report to the POWRi West Midget trailer located in turn 4.
For information regarding I-44 Riverside Speedway, please visit www.i44riversidespeedway.com or contact the speedway at 405.633.1583 or contact Speedway PR Cody Morris at 405.641.1191.
For information regarding the Lucas Oil POWRi West Midget Series, please visit www.powri.com or the official POWRi West Facebook page.
For more information regarding the National Open Wheel 600 Series please visit www.now600racing.com
For more information regarding the Texas Open Wheel Racing series, please visit www.texasopenwheelracing.com
Cody Morris
I44 Riverside Speedway Public Relations
i44riversidespeedway@gmail.com
renegadewriterccc@aol.com