Rice Lake Speedway Plans April 20th Opener
By Ed Reichert
Rice Lake WI – Despite some set backs on projects due to the less than ideal weather recently, the Rice Lake Speedway is still planning on opening on April 20th. According to Rice Lake Speedway LLC spokesman Dean Kiehl, they are still aiming for the April 20th opening.
“We have the new lights up and also the speakers for the new sound system. The fencing will be completed this week also and with any break in the weather, some sun and warmer temperatures will help dry things out.”
Other construction projects near completion also. “The new tech building has the slab already poured and the construction team still claims they can have it up and ready. The scales are being moved this week also.”
And if a few of the fine details are not quite completed by the 20th, contingencies are being prepared so that the program will be able to be held. An employee meeting was held so that the new and existing team members are clear on how the new ownership team wants the speedway run.
A fair program for all and a quick program for the fans will be utmost in importance for the new owners and they have gone to great length to see that goal fulfilled. A 6 pm start time will help to make sure that the program gets completed earlier. The good news for the fans and competitors is that admission prices will remain the same as last year and that the pit fees will not rise either. The racers purse will see an increase for 2024 as well as a redistribution of the prize money and for the first time in many years, the racers will be paid in cash for their efforts.
The race program will feature five classes in weekly action with WISSOTA sanctioning for the Pure Stocks, Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks and Modifieds. Special events during the year will be held for the Late Models and Sprint Cars and the Street Stock Little Dream in its thirtieth year is expected to break all records for that event.
The first on track activity is tentatively slated for Tuesday night, April 16th and Wednesday night, April 17th when a pair of practice nights will be held at the track from 6 pm to 9 pm. Drivers and fans should continue to monitor updated announcements on those events.
The Rice Lake Speedway is a third mile banked clay oval located one mile North of Rice Lake midway between state highway 48 and Barron County SS. The track phone number is 715-236-2002 and the latest information is always available on the speedway website along with the track face book page.
