It looks like this year is going to mix things up a little in the sprint car racing world.
It looks like this year is going to mix things up a little in the sprint car racing world.
Two established sanctioning bodies are branching out with a winged 410 sprint car series adding a non-winged sprint car series and a non-winged series adding a winged 410 sprint car series. Both are scheduling most of their new shows in the same part of the country, and even working together while doing it.
When the World of Outlaws started in 1978, it had winged and non-winged shows. Tracks could run either winged or non-winged events. That only lasted until 1982 when all shows were for winged sprint cars. For 2022, World Racing Group, the parent company of the World of Outlaws, is starting the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series and Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series. Both series will run all shows without wings.
Each series is starting with a 12-race schedule and a combined point fund approaching $100,000. The two new series are working along with POWRi and USAC to expand the sport of non-winged, dirt-track racing and provide more entertainment for the fans.
Most of the shows for the two new series are booked in the Midwest. The Xtreme Outlaw sprints started their season at Florida‘s Volusia Speedway Park in February, with $5,000 to win night one and $10,000 to win on night two.
The midget series begins April 1 at Farmer City Raceway in Illinois. Both series have many drivers signing up to run their full schedule.
I believe these two new non-winged series have huge potential to grow and book many more events throughout the country. The World Racing Group has the connections with tracks and sponsors to make this into something really big for non-winged, open-wheel racing.
POWRi, meanwhile, a mainstay in midget and non-winged sprint car racing, has created the POWRi 410 Wing Outlaw Sprint League.
Starting with midgets, POWRi grew to include non-winged sprint cars, micro sprints, 305 sprint cars and 360 sprint cars. Now, 410 sprints are in the picture.
Competing throughout the Midwest, there are 32 events at 13 venues on the inaugural schedule for the POWRi 410 Wing Outlaw Sprint League.
The series will call Missouri‘s Lake Ozark Speedway home, with 12 shows scheduled there.
The rest of the schedule is set in the Heartland of America. Some of their shows are co-sanctioned with the World of Outlaws or the All Star Circuit of Champions. This series also has potential in bringing winged 410 sprint car racing back to a part of the country that hasn‘t had it on a regular basis.
With $5,000-to-win nd $500-to-start features a, the POWRi series should attract race cars. Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 Raceway in Missouri has a unique position in that they are the only track booking all three of these new series this season.
It will be interesting to see how this first season woks out for three new series. I don‘t believe POWRi or World Racing Group are making a mistake by taking this step in a different direction.
In the long run it will benefit everyone involved, especially the drivers and fans.