UMP Summer Nationals adds a few races and new & reopening tracks.

[HoosierDirtFan]

NEW RACE PLACES: Hell Tour Lands New Races in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan
Montpelier and Winston host for first time, Benton returns, Red Hill to reopen

CONCORD, NC – March 11, 2022 – Less than 100 days until its 37th consecutive season begins, the DIRTcar Summer Nationals schedule is getting a boost.

Five new dates have been added, along with two date changes, to the 2022 schedule, creating a 33-race stretch from mid-June to late-July for the DIRTcar Summer Nationals Late Models and DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals.

New Races
Red Hill Raceway (Sumner, IL) – Dirt track racing in Sumner is back. So too are the Late Models and UMP Modifieds in the leadoff day of Week #3 on Tuesday, June 28.

Midwest racing promoter Jeremy Sneed has purchased the 3/8-mile oval and will reopen the facility for racing for the first time since it was closed in 2005. Sneed has plans to make renovations to the facility including track surface work, lighting upgrades and improvements to the guardrails and fencing, among others. A working schedule, which consists of multiple race days and practice sessions, is in the plans for the 2022 regular season.

The Hell Tour has two visits to Red Hill in its history – the first in 1998, won by Rick Aukland, and another in 2000, won by two-time tour champion Bob Pierce.

Benton Speedway (Benton, MO) – For the first time since 1997, the Summer Nationals stars return to Benton Speedway for a Wednesday night showdown on June 29 to kickoff Week #3. Closed in 2014, owner Rob Russell reopened the 3/8-mile oval last fall and will host both the Late Model and Modified tours in the third and final visit to the Show-Me State.

The Hell Tour has three prior visits to Benton – formerly known as Missouri International Racepark – in 1991 (Bob Pierce), 1992 (Scott Bloomquist) and 1997 (Randy Sellars).

Montpelier Motor Speedway (Montpelier, IN) – A weekly hotspot for Indiana UMP Modified racing, this 3/8-mile oval gets its first chance to host both divisions in the kickoff to Week #5 on Wednesday, July 13. This will coincide with the track’s return to a full-season schedule this year under new promoter Larry Boos, who reopened the track in mid-2021 for owner Harold Hunter.

Shadyhill Speedway (Medaryville, IN) – In 2018, the Late Models returned to Shadyhill for the first time in 18 years, taking the Modifieds along for their debut. Both tours will visit the banked quarter-mile oval once again on Thursday, July 14. Bob Pierce won the Hell Tour’s inaugural visit in 2000 and Frank Heckenast Jr. won the return in 2018.

While the track hosts weekly DIRTcar Pro Late Model, UMP Modified, Factory Stock and Sport Compact racing, the Summer Nationals event is one of only two DIRTcar Late Model events on the track’s 2022 schedule.

Winston Speedway (Rothbury, MI) – As one of the newest tracks on DIRTcar’s weekly sanctioned list, Winston joins the Hell Tour schedule for the very first time to kick off Week #6 on Tuesday, July 19.

It’s the first in a five-race series in the state of Michigan, where the Summer Nationals stars will battle a fierce group of weekly Late Model racers on their home turf to decide the 2022 Hell Tour champion. Summit Modifieds are also on the card, but will take their championship chase one weekend further to Fairbury Speedway’s Prairie Dirt Classic.

Date Changes
Knox County Fair Raceway (Knoxville, IL) – Originally slated for a July 12 race date, the Summer Nationals and Summit Modifieds’ second appearance at the Knox County Fairgrounds has been moved forward one week to Tuesday, July 5, to begin Week #4.

Fayette County Speedway (Brownstown, IL) – The tours’ second visit of the season to Fayette County has been pushed back two days to Wednesday, July 6. While it was originally scheduled for July 4, the Late Models will still race for a $5,000 grand prize alongside the Modifieds, going for a $1,500 check.


Updated Tour Schedule

Date Day Track City, State To-Win (LM/Mod)
Tue., June 14 - Kankakee Co. Speedway - Kankakee, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Wed., June 15 - Peoria Speedway - Peoria, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Thur., June 16 - Davenport Speedway - Davenport, IA - $5,000 (LM only)
Fri., June 17 - Tri-City Speedway - Pontoon Beach, IL - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Sat., June 18 - Fairbury Speedway - Fairbury, IL - LM $10,000 / MOD $2,000
Sun., June 19 - Sycamore Speedway - Maple Park, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Mon., June 20 - Off
Tue., June 21 - Springfield Raceway - Springfield, MO - $5,000 (LM only)
Wed., June 22 - Adams Co. (IL) Speedway - Quincy, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Thur., June 23 - Spoon River Speedway - Lewiston, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Fri., June 24 - Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 Raceway - Pevely, MO - LM $10,000/ MOD $1,500
Sat., June 25 - Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 Raceway - Pevely, MO - LM $20,000 / MOD $1,500
Sun., June 26 - Off
Mon., June 27 - Off
Tue., June 28 - Red Hill Raceway - Sumner, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Wed., June 29 - Benton Speedway - Benton, MO - LM $5,000 / MOD$1,500
Thur., June 30 - Fayette County Speedway - Brownstown, IL - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Fri., July 1 - Paducah International Raceway - Paducah, KY - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Sat., July 2 - Clarksville Speedway - Clarksville, TN - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Sun., July 3 - Lincoln Speedway - Lincoln, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Mon., July 4 - Off
Tue., July 5 - Knox County Fair Raceway - Knoxville, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Wed., July 6 - Fayette County Speedway - Brownstown, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Thur., July 7 - Macon Speedway - Macon, IL - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Fri., July 8 - Farmer City Speedway - Farmer City, IL - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Sat., July 9 - Highland Speedway - Highland, IL - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Sun., July 10 - Tri-State Speedway - Haubstadt, IN - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Mon., July 11 - Off
Tue., July 12 - Off
Wed., July 13 - Montpelier Motor Speedway - Montpelier, IN - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Thur., July 14 - Shadyhill Speedway - Medaryville, IN - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Fri., July 15 - I-96 Speedway - Lake Odessa, MI - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Sat., July 16 - Oakshade Raceway - Wauseon, OH - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Sun., July 17 - Wayne Co. Speedway - Orrville, OH - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Mon., July 18 - Off
Tue., July 19 - Winston Speedway - Rothbury, MI - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Wed., July 20 - Thunderbird Raceway - Muskegon, MI - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Thur., July 21 - Butler Motor Speedway - Quincy, MI - LM $5,000 / MOD $1,500
Fri., July 22 - Tri-City Motor Speedway - Auburn, MI - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Sat., July 23 - Merritt Speedway - Lake City, MI - LM $10,000 / MOD $1,500
Fri., July 29 - Fairbury Speedway - Fairbury, IL - $500 x4 (MODS only) PDC
Sat., July 30 - Fairbury Speedway - Fairbury, IL - $5,000 (MoODS only) PDC