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Madison International Speedway | |||||||||||||||
Madison International Speedway | |||||||||||||||
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MIS Announces 2008 Racing Schedule Five Weekly Divisions Highlight Racing Program By John Wells Madison International Speedway has released its 2008 racing schedule that will feature five weekly divisions along with some major special events. Highlighting the special event portion of the schedule will be the return of Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart. The weekly Friday night racing program is slated to begin on May 9th and will include the return of the Super Late Models along with Limited Late Models, Area Sportsman, Bandits, and Legends. The Bandits and Legends will race on the quarter mile with the other divisions taking on Wisconsin's Fastest Half-Mile. For the Super Late Models it marks a return after a two year absence. “We are excited to have the super lates back on a weekly basis,” said MIS General Manager Dave Grueneberg. “We are working on the rules so that our former Madison Late Model teams will have the option of running with the super lates or the limited lates. We also want the rules to allow drivers from tracks such as DRP and Slinger to be able to come to Madison and race without having to make major changes.” The highly competitive Limited Late Models will be back in action in 2008. “There are some great drivers in this division and we are expecting a very competitive field to join us weekly in 2008,” added Grueneberg. The Area Sportsman will also return after a one year absence, but this year they will be on the half-mile. “This is what the guys wanted after we met with them in November” said Grueneberg. After running a limited schedule in 2007 the Legends will be a weekly division in 2008 along with the four cylinder Bandits. “The quarter mile will be slightly reconfigured this season. The front stretch will come out closer to the flagstand similar to what we did at the Fall Classic,” said Grueneberg. Champions in all five weekly divisions will be crowned on Season Championship Night on August 29th. The Wayne's Custom DIECAST Dash Series returns with events scheduled on May 23, June 13, June 27, July 18, August 15, and August 29. This year's events will be for the top eight qualifiers and will be eight laps. This program along with the Hard Charger Program will be for the Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models. The Wayne's Custom DIECAST 40 will be held on May 30th. All five weekly divisions will qualify in 2008. “This is a change we definitely wanted to make based on driver feedback,” noted Grueneberg. The Friday night racing program will once again begin at 4:45 with hot laps, qualifying at 6:30 with racing at 7:30. There will be two open nights in 2008 on May 16th and July 4th. “A special event is in the works for July 4th,” added Grueneberg. The USST Super Trucks will be at Madison on four nights in 2008. The trucks are scheduled for June 6th, July 18th, August 8th, and during the Fall Classic. American Short Trackers, International Four Cylinders, Bandoleros and Hobby Stocks will also make appearances during the season. Highlighting the special events will be the RK Race Promotions The Swiss Colony All Star Challenge on Tuesday, June 24th featuring Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart. This will be a super late model event that will also include an appearance from the Big Eight Series. “Everyone is really excited to have the All Star Challenge back at MIS. This will be one of the biggest short track racing nights anywhere in the country in 2008,” commented Grueneberg. Rain date for this event will be June 25th. The racing season will get a high-speed start when the ASA Midwest Tour and Big Eight Series come to town on Sunday, May 4th. The series that has taken the Midwest by storm in just one year will feature the top drivers from several states coming to take on the half-mile. “This series will bring a solid car count and the top drivers from the midwest to Madison,” added Grueneberg. Other special events include the ASA Late Model Northern Series at Madison on Friday, July 25th, Open Wheel Extravaganza returns for 2008 with action scheduled for Saturday, August 2nd, and theTribute to America Night featuring super late models that is scheduled for Friday, September 5th and will include a fireworks program. The second annual MIS Fall Classic returns with twelve racing divisions taking to the track on September 19th-20th. Despite the rain forcing the entire program to be run on one night in 2007, the response from drivers, teams, and fans was overwhelmingly positive. “We're really looking forward to making the Classic an annual event. Last year was our first try at it and things went pretty well. This year will be even bigger and better,” said Grueneberg. Two never before seen events at Madison include the Badger State Tractor Pull on Saturday, May 17th and the Lucas Oil Pro Pullers on September 12th and 13th. “These are major tractor pulling events in the Midwest. We'll need to haul in some dirt and will be using the pit lane area going from turn four towards victory lane,” said Grueneberg. The Lucas Oil event in September will be that series national championship pull. Novelty events such as the train race, trailer race, and celebrity challenges will also return in 2008. A two-day car show is scheduled for July 5th and 6th. “It's going to be a big year. We believe that we have put together an outstanding weekly racing program along with some top notch special events. Fans are going to get their money's worth again in 2008,” said Grueneberg. Madison International Speedway is located on Sunrise Road just south of Highway 138 between Oregon and Stoughton. For the complete 2008 MIS schedule, please click here.
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02.13.08 | |||||||||||||||
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