Winter Dirt Games Will Open 2018 USAC Sprint Season: Feb. 15-17

[Highwayman]

https://speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/usac/2018-usac-winter-dirt-games/

The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series will once again open its season at Bubba Raceway Park in 2018. (Chris Seelman Photo)

INDIANAPOLIS – For the eighth consecutive year, the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car season is set to launch in Ocala, Fla., at Bubba Raceway Park where Winter Dirt Games will open the 2018 season.

Dates have been set for the annual three-race weekend at the D-Shaped dirt oval on Feb. 15-17, with an open practice beginning the festivities on Feb. 14.

“One of USAC’s great traditions over the last several years has been kicking off its season at Bubba Raceway Park,” said Levi Jones, USAC Series Coordinator. “Over the last seven years, ‘Winter Dirt Games’ has quickly become one of USAC’s marquee events and has annually produced some of the best racing action we see all season.”

Eighteen USAC National Sprint Car events have been held at the Ocala, Fla., track since 2011 and it has proven to be a harbinger of good things for drivers who’ve won the season opener there in recent years. In fact, three of the four most recent USAC National Sprint Car champions have begun their season as a winner in Ocala: Bryan Clauson (2013), Brady Bacon (2014) and Robert Ballou (2015). Current series point leader Justin Grant won the 2017 season opener at Bubba Raceway Park.

Clauson is the winningest USAC Sprint Car driver at Bubba Raceway Park, with four victories in four different seasons. Damion Gardner has won three times while Tracy Hines, Bacon and Ballou have each scored a pair of victories. Darren Hagen, Dave Darland, Thomas Meseraull, Grant and Hunter Schuerenberg have all won once.

“Winter Dirt Games is one of those events fans and teams circle on their calendars each year,” track owner Bubba Clem said. “We can’t wait to have the USAC Sprint Cars back at Bubba Raceway Park once again in 2018 to kick off the start of a great racing season.”

Further USAC dates in Florida during February 2018 are under discussion.

[CIRF]

We'll be at Bubba all three nights for the USAC Sprints. They put on a great show. Hoping the weather is good.

I'm not a big fan of Bubba The Love Sponge but this track he owns is a great venue, especially for the dirt open wheel cars.

[Krooser]

Great show those USAC buys put on...

Raced my modified there in '87 during Speed Weeks.

[CageFaraday]

Made our reservations and plan to hit all 3 USAC shows.
I saw where other Florida dates were in discussion, does anybody know if or where they are considering?

[CIRF]

Made our reservations and plan to hit all 3 USAC shows.
I saw where other Florida dates were in discussion, does anybody know if or where they are considering?

If no dates have been announced by now I seriously doubt that there will be any.

[CageFaraday]

If no dates have been announced by now I seriously doubt that there will be any.

Maybe next year.

[CIRF]

Maybe next year.

Maybe. However, the USAC National Sprints raced at East Bay 2 or 3 times over the past 6 or 7 years and for whatever reason they didn't schedule them again. Don't know what the problem was/is.

It would be nice if USAC would race in Florida during Speed Weeks more than just the 3 nights at Bubba. It would make the long pull down for the teams from Indiana and Ohio a little more worth their while.

I think Volusia is out of the question for several reasons. Their Speed Weeks schedule is jam packed year in and year out and that track has to be hard on engines.