Wi Dirt Racin

Ashland, WI — In July of 1965, the Ashland-Bayfield County Racing Association, made up of a group of ardent race fans who volunteered their time and efforts, hosted its first-ever organized stock car racing event at the old Chequamegon Raceway just south of Ashland.
The 2014 season marks the 50th anniversary of continuously-scheduled stock car racing action at what is now the ABC Raceway under the guidance of that group, marking one of the longest tenures of any organization of its kind in the country.
In celebration of its Golden Anniversary season, the Raceway will host one of the most enthusiastic and exciting schedules in its history, with the racing action every Saturday night from mid-May until late August spiced up by themes associated with the milestone.
“This will be a very special season for everyone who is now and ever has been associated with the club and the track,” stated Raceway president Kurt Beeksma recently. “There’s a lot of history in that red-clay oval, and our organization is planning to do all we can to make this a very memorable summer of racing.”
Among the celebration-themed activities planned at the venerable three-eighths-mile oval are a 50-bike giveaway night for the kids, as well as nights in which the track will give away 50 racing t-shirts to its fans in attendance. In addition, a special bonus program has been set up for drivers competing at the track this summer whose cars sport a special 50th Anniversary decal.
Foremost in the ABC Raceway’s efforts to make this a stand-out summer is the establishment of a Hall of Fame, and the induction of its first-ever class, to honor the drivers, volunteer workers, and fans who have helped in the success of the facility over the past half-century.
“An ABC Raceway Hall of Fame is long overdue,” explained HoF committee spokesman Eric Erickson. “There have been so many people who have worked, contributed and donated so much to our track’s long history, and we as a club felt the need to recognize those people, thank them, and remember them.”
The inaugural inductees into the newly-formed Hall of Fame will be announced during the track’s opening night of racing action, on May 17, and formally inducted as part of the July 19 race program.
As in years past, the season kicks off on Saturday, May 10, with the annual car show and swap meet at FastLane Motorsports on Highway 2 East in Ashland. Many area drivers will put their racing machines on display, and the general public is welcome to get an up-close look at the cars, visit with the drivers, and enjoy a great picnic lunch. Area car enthusiasts with classic cars and hot-rods are also welcome to display them in FastLane’s front parking area.
Regular weekly Saturday night action features the WISSOTA-sanctioned Modified, Super Stock and Midwest Modified divisions, as well as the Raceway’s Six-Cylinders and entry-level Pure Stocks. Along with the season opener on the 17th, the May portion of the schedule includes a full five-division racing program on the 24th, and free admission for all drivers competing at the track on the 31st.
During the month of June fans will enjoy some of the track’s most popular and longest-running events, including the kids’ “Meet the Drivers” night on the 7th. “Turn Back the Clock” night on June 14 will include presentation and recognition of many of the track’s past champions, as well as the annual appearance by the Northern Vintage Stockcar Racers. The program on the 21st will include a “Race to Win the Fight Against Cancer” fundraiser, while the half-price-admission “Jam the Stands” night is set for June 28.
Things will continue to get interesting in July, when the ABC Raceway begins its popular series of division-specific special events with the Six-Cylinder “Summer Sizzler” on the 5th, which will be run along with the AmsOil Qualifer features for the three WISSOTA classes. After the kids’ bike race night on July 12, the annual “Modified Mayhem” special will be held in conjuction with the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on the 19th. Then on July 26 the Interstate Racing Association’s mighty 410 winged sprint cars will again fly around the three-eighths-mile red-clay oval at triple-digit speeds, while the Super Stocks will compete in their annual “Challenge” event on that same night.
The action comes to a boil in August, as the Mid-Mods get their night in the spotlight during their “Madness” event on the 2nd, followed a huge 50th Anniversary Celebration night planned for the 9th. The 11th annual “Pure Excitement 25” for the Pure Stocks on the 16th will again draw a huge crowd of cars going for big money, and the regular season wraps up with Championship Saturday on August 23.
The ABC Raceway will then host its crown jewel event, the Red Clay Classic, to cap off the 2014 stock car racing season in the Northland. The 39th annual running of the prestigious event is set for Friday and Saturday, September 26-27, and will again draw upwards of 200 WISSOTA Mid-Mods, Super Stocks, Modifieds and – in their only appearance here all summer – Late Models. Drivers from throughout the Upper Midwest and Canada will be on hand to compete for their share of one of the richest purses in short-track racing, in excess of $80,000.
Once again supporting the action and activities at the red-clay oval is another outstanding group of generous local businesses. A welcome new sponsor, the Lake Shore Cafe of Ashland, will join the many long-time supporters, including the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce; the Ashland-Bayfield County Sportsmen’s Club; the Bad River Lodge, Casino & Convention Center of Odanah; Chicago Iron & Supply of Ashland; FastLane Motorsports & Custom Powdercoating of Ashland; Heartland Communications of Ashland; Little Caesar’s Pizza of Ashland; the NAPA Auto Parts Stores of Ashland and Washburn; Northern Clearing Inc of Ashland; Northern Finnish Mutual Insurance of Marengo; the Northern State Bank of Ashland and the surrounding communities; Northern Wisconsin Fence of Phillips; Pepsi and Northstar Beverage of Hurley; PetroChoice; WIMI-FM of Ironwood, MI; and Xtreme Sign & Graphix and X-Wraps of Ashland.
For all regular weekly shows except July 26, admission tickets for adults (ages 13 & older) are only $10, while fans ages 12 and under are welcome for free when accompanied by a paying adult. Fans can also purchase a grandstand “punch pass” at the track for just $90, which will offer one paid-adult admission to any ten of the race nights from May through August with the exception of the IRA sprint car special.
During the summer portion of the schedule the pit admission price will also remain as last year, at $25 per person.
The grandstand and pit gates will open every Saturday night during the regular season at 5 pm, with hot laps starting at 6:15 and racing set for around 7 pm. “Race Night,” the region’s only weekly live pre-race radio program, will again provide up-to-date track news and weather information airing on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, and streamed online at www.wbszfm.com, from 4:30-6 pm.
The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call (715) 682-4990, or log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com.

ABC Raceway – 2014 Schedule
May 10 – car show & swap meet at FastLane Motorsports, Ashland, 10 am-2 pm
May 17 – season opener, Hall of Fame announcements pres by Northern Wisconsin Fence
May 24 – race program pres by Lake Shore Cafe
May 31 – free driver admission pres by Xtreme Sign & Graphix
June 7 – kids’ “Meet the Drivers” night pres by Little Caesar’s Pizza
June 14 – “Turn Back the Clock” night, past champions’ recognition pres by Northern Finnish Mutual Insurance
June 21 – “Race to Win the Fight Against Cancer” fundraiser night pres by Northern Clearing Inc
June 28 – “Jam the Stands” night pres by WBSZ 93.3 FM & Heartland Communications
July 5 – 50-bike giveaway, Six-Cylinder “Summer Sizzler,” AmsOil Qualifiers pres by Bad River Lodge, Casino & Convention Center
July 12 – kids’ bike races pres by Chicago Iron & Supply
July 19 – Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, “Modified Mayhem” pres by PetroChoice
July 26 – IRA sprint car special pres by Northern State Bank, “Super Stock Challenge” pres by FastLane Motorsports (no modifieds)
August 2 – “Mid-Mod Madness” pres by NAPA Auto Parts
August 9 – 50th Anniversary celebration pres by Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce
August 16 – “Pure Excitement 25” pres by ABC Sportsmen’s Club
August 23 – Championship Saturday pres by Pepsi, Northstar Beverage and WIMI 99.7 FM
September 26-27 – 39th annual Red Clay Classic

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