Dart Corn Belt Clash Set To Open 2011 Season At Elko Speedway

[TomLathen]

DART CORN BELT CLASH SET TO OPEN 2011 SEASON AT ELKO SPEEDWAY
Super Late Model Series to participate in Elko’s annual “Spring Dirt Nationals”

By Tom Lathen

(West Union, IA) The Dart Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series is set to open it’s third season of racing competition this weekend at the annual Spring Dirt Nationals at Elko Speedway in Elko, Minnesota.

Over the past week, the pristine 3/8-mile facility, located a half hour south of Minneapolis, has been transformed from a high-banked paved oval into what promises to be a lightning-fast dirt oval for the three-day event which gets underway on Thursday night with a WISSOTA sanctioned under-card event, followed by two nights of action featuring the CBC Super Late Models on Friday and Saturday.

“We are excited to have the Dart Corn Belt Clash selected as one of the premier racing division for this event,” commented series founder and Director Cam Granger. “The staff at Elko Speedway has put a lot of time and effort into making the event a success and we feel honored to be a part of this year’s Spring Dirt Nationals.”

According to Elko Speedway officials, the dirt used to cover the normally paved facility has been stored inside throughout the winter to ensure it is dry, frost-free and ready for this weekend’s three nights of racing action.

Friday night’s Dart Corn Belt Clash 35-lap feature event will pay $2,500 to the winner, with Saturday night’s Spring Dirt Nationals finale to be contested over 40 laps with the winner to receive a $3,000 pay check.

Included on Friday and Saturday night’s card along with the CBC Super Late Models are the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) 360 Winged Sprint Cars, in addition to the Elko Speedway Modifieds, Legend Cars, Pure Stocks and Hornets. Following Friday night’s action live music featuring Critical Mass will be available in the speedway’s Champions banquet facility.

Following this weekend’s series opener at Elko Speedway, the CBC heads to Spring Valley, Minnesota on Saturday night, April 23 for an event at the popular Deer Creek Speedway. This year’s Dart Corn Belt Clash schedule includes 21 dates in four states and concludes with the Fall Dirt Nationals at Elko Speedway on October 14 and 15.

Last year’s Corn Belt Clash series champion Chad Simpson is expected to return to defend the title he won a year ago. The 32-year old Simpson, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, is expected to be challenged by last year’s series runner-up Chris Simpson, in addition to brothers Denny and Dave Eckrich, Jason Rauen, Jason Utter, and numerous other Super Late Model competitors from throughout the upper Midwest.