DENISON, Iowa — Night two of the Spring Fling special marks the return of IMCA Sunoco Late Models to Crawford County Speedway.
The Saturday, April 22 show is the first for the division at Denison in a decade. The first of seven Friday night shows is May 19, with the season championship program set for July 28.
“Late models can race here on Friday nights and Shelby County Speedway (in Harlan) on Saturday nights,” said promoter Rod Olson. “There are already a number of these cars in the area and we’ve reached out to drivers who raced at (now closed) I-80 Speedway in Nebraska last year.
“We’ve also heard from drivers from around the Des Moines area who are interested in racing here,” he added. “I’ve always wanted to bring them back and sanctioning the Late Models here is a great way to give more guys the opportunity to race multiple nights a week.”
Sunoco Bonus Night at Denison is May 19 and the county fair show is July 21.
Late models become the seventh sanctioned division at Crawford County, alternating weeks with the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds.
Also sanctioned are IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts.
What’s in the works for all those divisions in 2023 is a new look around one end of the racing surface and pit parking outside the infield.
“This used to be a big half-mile track. It was shortened to a three-eighth’s and what we’re going to do before opening night is move the retaining wall and catch fence in in turns three and four,” Olson explained. “We’re going to move haulers from the infield to a pit area outside the track and that will make it easier for fans to see what’s happening on it.”
“We’re not trying to re-invent the wheel or anything this year,’ he continued. “We’re just trying to make a lot of things better.”