VADO, N.M. — While 2022 edition of the Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will have a new home at Vado Speedway Park in Vado, N.M., next January, the track naming rights will be retained by industry leader FK Rod Ends.
FK Rod Ends began its relationship with the Wild West Shootout in 2017 by sponsoring the event’s pace truck before taking over the track naming rights in ’18 at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz.
The 16th installment of the event is scheduled for Jan. 8-9, 12 and 14-16 at the New Mexico clay oval.
“Maria [Melillo] and the team at FK Rod Ends have been an absolute rock for the Wild West Shootout. They go out of their way to help us each-and-every year, and you can’t put a price tag on that kind of support,” Wild West Shootout promoter Chris Kearns said. “Having FK Rod Ends as an annual supporter of the Wild West Shootout not only allows us to pay out over $250,000 in prize money every year, but it also adds another level of credibility to what we do. We are beyond grateful for what they do for us.”
Based in Southington, Conn., FK Rod Ends quietly came on the motorsports scene three decades ago. Since then, the parts manufacturer has become prominent throughout the sport. The firm offers nearly 10,000 combinations of rod ends and spherical bearings, all crafted at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.
Online sales of single and multi-day tickets have officially begun for the Southwest’s popular miniseries, featuring six nights of racing Jan. 8-16 for Super Late Models, Modifieds and X-Mods at FK Rod Ends Vado Speedway Park.
Tickets are $25 per night for adults and $10 for kids (ages 6-12) with children 5-and-under free of charge. A six-day general admission package is available for $150 and includes a one-night pit pass upgrade as well as a free Wild West Shootout seat cushion.
More than $250,000 in prize money will be on the line during the 16th Annual Wild West Shootout presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts. The event includes six complete programs for three divisions.
Competing each night are the Dirt Track Bank Super Late Models presented by Black Diamond Race Cars, Mesilla Valley Transportation/ Border Tire Modifieds, and RHRSwag.com X-Mods presented by Barnett Harley Davidson.
Additionally, an open practice session is slated for Jan. 7 and Jan. 11.
Lastly, each division will compete for a miniseries points championship and accompanying point fund.