INVERNESS, Fla. — Davey Hamilton Jr. continues to expand the reach of the Open Wheel Showdown brand with the announcement of an event scheduled for Florida.
The Children’s Dream Fund Open Wheel Showdown will be run Feb. 27-March 1 at Citrus County Speedway.
The race joins this year’s Open Wheel Showdown races at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.
However, the Florida stop for the Open Wheel Showdown tour will feature only winged pavement sprint cars. Midgets and supermodifieds will not participate.
“This is great for our sport,” Hamilton said. “J.J. (Dutton) called me and told me his ideas, and it was all about putting the logistics together to bring our partners and staff in for this. This is not only good for Open Wheel Showdown, but it’s exciting to do it same weekend as the IndyCar Series race at St. Petersburg, so we can have those guys come out and support what we’re doing. My goal is to see Open Wheel Showdown grow into a national tour in 2025 and this is a great kick off to it.”
Purse and event format will be announced soon. Plans include a Thursday practice night, followed by two complete nights of racing. If a driver can win both nights, a bonus will be awarded.
Registration for the event will start after the 2024 finale of Open Wheel Showdown. The Las Vegas Open Wheel Showdown will be Nov. 14-16, followed by Open Wheel Showdown Los Angeles on Nov. 22-24 at Irwindale Speedway.
This Children’s Dream Fund Open Wheel Showdown is a collaboration among J.J. Dutton, Citrus County Speedway owner William Ray and Davey Hamilton Jr.
“Citrus County Speedway could never be prouder to host the Children’s Dream Fun Open Wheel Showdown,” explained Ray. “We’ve come a long way in a short time. From a helmet walk during the Sandi DeCaire Classic 41, to the first Children’s Dream Fund 50 with the Southern Sprint Car Shootout.”
“Hopefully, the awareness of the Children’s Dream Fund Organization has opened a lot of new doors for the less fortunate and families in need. The Children’s Dream Fund is an amazing organization and has helped many families. With J.J. Dutton and Davey Hamilton Jr. at the wheel, you can only be successful.”
“To the drivers, teams, and fans, I want to say thank you for your participation in last year’s Children’s Dream Fund 50,” Dutton said. “We want to say thanks to Davey Hamilton Jr. and Citrus County Speedway for working together to make the event possible in 2025.
“This race is very dear to my heart. My daughter had been in a fight for her life the last three years,” Dutton continued. “Through the tough times of her treatment, the Children’s Dream Fund reached out to me and my family and just wanted to help put a smile on Sadie’s face to pick her up. They sent us to Las Vegas to meet Gordon Ramsay. If you think last year was big, I promise you: you haven’t seen nothing yet.”
Rules, race format and officiating will all be provided by Open Wheel Showdown. Tires will be available on site through the Open Wheel Showdown’s partner Hoosier Racing Tire.
The event will also be broadcasted on SPEEDSPORT.tv.