ABC Raceway’s ‘Prelude to the Clay’ to Kick Off Northland’s Invitational Season

by Nick Gima

                Ashland, WI, August 15 — The ABC Raceway has released additional information regarding its upcoming “Prelude to the Clay” on Thursday, September 3.

                With title sponsorship from Ashland Ford-Chrysler Center, the “Prelude” will be the first of the region’s stock car racing post-season specials. WISSOTA Late Models, Modifieds and Super Stocks will be in action for a complete program of heats, semi-features and A-features.

                For the past 47 racing seasons, the honor of opening the invitational season in the Northland has gone to the Proctor (MN) Speedway’s Silver 1000. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced officials of that track – renamed Halvor Lines Speedway earlier this year – to close for the entire 2020 season. Thus, the continuity of one of the Nation’s longest continually-running stock car racing invitationals was in jeopardy.

                As a gesture of goodwill between neighboring race tracks, a portion of the proceeds collected from ABC’s “Prelude” event will be donated to Halvor Lines Speedway to help defer expenses from their lost season.

                “We feel that it is important for racing in our region for Proctor’s track to be open and operating,” said Ashland-Bayfield County Racing Association Board president Eric Erickson recently. “Our tracks are only about 70 miles or so apart. We share many of the same racers and fans.

                “We feel that it is equally important for the Silver 1000 to retain its tradition as the official start of the invitational season in our area. Our Board felt that it was in the best interests of local racing to maintain in some way the integrity of the Silver 1000 and the tradition of its date (historically the Thursday before Labor Day weekend).

                “This event is a one-year-only deal. We are hoping that Halvor Lines Speedway can host its 48th Silver 1000 in 2021.”

                The Late Models’ portion of the program will be sponsored by Van House Construction of Silver Bay, MN. The drivers in WISSOTA’s premier division will run a 40-lap feature to headline this event, which pays $3,000 to win and a minimum of $250 to all feature qualifiers. Last year Pat Doar of New Richmond was the Silver 1000 Late Model winner. 

                Rivord Auto Center of Superior will be the sponsor for the Modified races on this night. The “big Mods” will run for a chance at a $2,000 feature winner’s paycheck, while all drivers that make the feature will earn at least $150 to start the race. Ashley Anderson of Elk Mound took home the win at last Fall’s Silver 1000 in Proctor.

                The WISSOTA Super Stocks, which have never run at the Silver 1000 but have been added for the event at Ashland, will be presented by Rapid Performance of Sauk Rapids, MN. The Super Stock feature will pay $600 to win and $80 to start as of press time, and Rapid Performance will also present a $500 certificate toward the purchase of a new Affordable chassis to the last driver still running at the end of the Super Stock feature.

                For fans wishing to attend the “Prelude to the Clay,” adult grandstand ticket prices are just $28, and kids ages 12 and under can get in for just $8. Reserved seating is available for an additional $10 per ticket, and a limited number of reserved overnight camping sites at the track are also available for just $15 each, by calling Mary at (715) 292-2672. Other general grandstand admission tickets can be obtained via www.myracepass.com or at the grandstand gate on race day.

                For race teams, pit admission is $35 per person. Draw fees will be waived for drivers who pre-enter via the My Race Pass website before September 2. Reserved pit sites are available for $15 each by calling Cheryl at (715) 209-1373.

                The pit gates will open that Thursday night at 3 pm and the grandstands will open at 4, with hot laps set for 6:15 and the first heat race of the night getting the green flag at 7 pm. “Race Reports” will air on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, as well as online at www.wbszfm.com, from 4:30 until 6 pm with the latest news and weather information from the track.

                The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For more information call (715) 682-4990 on race days, log on to the track’s website, www.abcraceway.com, or check out the track’s FaceBook page.