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December 21, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hesston Speedway Unleashes the $200,000 Speedmonster and 2012 Schedule!
(Hesston, PA) Hesston Speedway has released its spectacular 2012 schedule of events headlined by the 5-race Speedmonster Championship. Hesston Speedway has undergone mass renovations and improvements over the past 2 years and established itself as a premier special events racing venue in 2011. “Motor Mountain†will continue this successful formula and will be in action in 2012 for 11 car races and 1 motorcycle event plus a season-ending flea market. Rules have also been released for 5 of the classes competing at the track.
Hesston will be home to the Speedmonster Championship mega-events in 2012, with the premier Super Late Model division headlining the racing program at these races. Speedmonster events include “Mega-Blitz Mach 3†on Sunday, May 27, “Revolution 2012†on Tuesday July 3, the “Sonny & Peggy Eriksen Grand Prix†on Saturday, August 4, “Super Thunder by the Lake†on Sunday, September 2. 3 races will pay $5,100 total to win in celebration of the tracks 51st anniversary with the “Grand Prix†paying $4,100 to win.
“The Ultimate†on Friday and Saturday, October 12-13 will be the 2012 Speedmonster finale paying $10,000 total to win for the Super Late Models and mega-payoffs for the other divisions. This event that was launched at the Challenger Raceway moved to Hesston in 2011. The 2011 version at Hesston received rave reviews from fans and race teams in attendance. In 2012, “The Ultimate†moves back to the traditional Challenger weekend.
The Speedmonster championship events will pay out almost $200,000 to the participating classes. All 5 events will feature Super Late Models, Late Model Sportsman, Cadet-Street, Hobby-Modified and Roadrunner 4-cylinders utilizing combined rules that will make virtually every car in the region in those divisions legal and competitive. All Speedmonster events will be a bonanza for late model fans as they will showcase the fastest 2 late model divisions in the nation. Additional co-sanctioning of Super Late Model series is currently being negotiated for these events.
The season will kick off on Saturday, May 12 with the “Ice Buster.†The PASS 305 Sprint cars will make their 1st appearance of 2012 on Saturday June 9 at the “Blade Runner†“Kidz Nite to Ride†on Saturday June 23 will feature race car rides and prizes for children. The Penn-Mar Vintage Cars will visit along with being a “Senior Gold†night where 2 senior citizens are admitted for the price of 1 in the grandstands with ID. “Motor Mountain Mayhem†on Saturday July 14 will be another Senior Gold night with the Penn-Mar Vintage Cars. “Kidz Wild Wheelz†on Saturday, July 21 will allow the kids to race on the 4/10 mile supertrack on their bikes along with great prize giveaways. The PASS 305 Sprints will return for “Sonic Flight†on Saturday August 18.
The “Dirt Driving Experience†has been scheduled for May 28, July 4 (if not needed for rain date) and September 3. This unique opportunity allows race fans to become race drivers as they receive training and laps in a real Super Late Model car. Full information on this program may be found at www.dirtdriving.com.
“Cycle-Rama†will take place on Saturday September 22. This 2-wheel event will feature motorcycle dirt drag racing on the front straight along with wheelie contest and a bike show. The “Motor Mountain Racer’s Flea Market & Swap Meet†will finish out 2012. All vendors and products are welcome to attend this event.
2012 rules have been posted for the Super Late Models, Late Model Sportsman, Cadet-Street, Hobby-Modified and Roadrunner divisions. The weekly rules have been integrated with the special events rules for 2012. This will allow drivers to run the same combinations and set-ups at all events during the season. The “Top†category, which allows more open motors and equipment, will only be permitted at the 5 Speedmonster events.
Super Late Model, Late Model Sportsman and Roadrunner rules are nearly identical to 2011 rules. The GM CT525 motor in the Super Late Models has been given some additional motor setback and spoiler width to make it more competitive. Some additional heads have been made legal for the 358 limited motors in the Late Model Sportsman to be in line with rules of tracks to the East, along with a slight weight reduction in all weight categories.
Cadet-Street will have slightly lowered weight limits in 2012 so the racers will be under the same weight limits at all events. With the last GM metric frame being produced in 1987, the Johnson Chassis replacement frame and lower A-arms will now be legal in this class. This frame is a near-exact duplicate of the GM metric frame. The former Super Stock rules have also been integrated into the Cadet rules where drivers can have an all rectangular tubing frame if competing on 8†tires. Both options will provide an unlimited new source for race cars for this class into the future, while maintaining the integrity of the division.
Some additional heads legalized on the spec motor category in the Cadet class to align with other tracks in the region. 12†wheels are now legal for that same reason. Aluminum bodies are legal as long as they conform to the body specification diagram in the rules. This will allow racers more ease in body maintenance.
Hobby-Modified will also have slightly lowered weight limits in order to keep identical weight limits at all events. The Holley 2-barrel carburetor will be legal at all races, but lightweight clutch assemblies will not be permitted. Bead locks will be legal on passenger side wheels for safety purposes. Drivers may also use OEM stock disc brakes for rear braking on cars that originally had drum brakes, also for safety reasons. Aluminum sheet metal will be allowed for body panels, but those panels must have stock contours.
Roadrunner 4-cylinder rules will remain the same as those that were published at the end of the season in 2011. Mod-4 rules have not been released yet, but will be identical to the other tracks running this division.
Reserved hillside parking spaces are currently on sale for 2012. Fans that held those spaces in 2011 have until January 31 to renew and pay. Any available spaces will go on sale to the public on February 1. Reserved regular season hillside spots in 2012 include 10 events from the “Ice Buster†to “Super Thunder by the Lake.†Reserved parking for “The Ultimate†and “Moonsault Scramble†in October will be available separately.
“Motor Mountain†is located in the scenic Raystown Lake and mountain country of central PA and provides a wonderful opportunity for race fans and race teams to make a complete weekend getaway when attending the racing events at Hesston. Promoter DR Eriksen has transformed Hesston into a showplace in just two short seasons, with additional improvements on the drawing board. Major expansions have given the track more seating, parking and pit space to accommodate these major events. All fans are provided an excellent view of the action, with grandstand seating and drive-in viewing built high above the racing surface. Hesston welcomes campers and now offers in track-camping on the back straight viewing ramp. Full information about the Hesston Speedway may be found at http://www.hesstonspeedway.com or by calling 814-658-3639.