POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints
The schedule has been set for the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Series. (POWRi photo)

POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints Set For 19 Races

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Entering its second season under Performance Open Wheel Racing Inc. sanctioning, the POWRi Lucas Oil Southwest Lightning Sprints have set a 19-race schedule.

With events slotted from late March until early October, SWLS drivers will venture to six states, with both winged and non-winged racing on the agenda throughout the year.

Based out of southern California, the POWRi Lucas Oil Southwest Lightning Sprints will kick off its new campaign with winged competition at Pahrump Valley Speedway for three days of racing action.

The season-opening weekend begins Thursday, March 25 with a practice day and continues with feature racing on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27.

Memorial Day Weekend, May 29-30, will mark the return of the POWRi Lightning Sprint Nationals, hosted this year at Central Missouri Speedway with the POWRi Midwest Lightning Sprints.

After a successful event at Lake Ozark Speedway in 2019, the POWRi Lightning Sprint Nationals were removed from the schedule at Belle-Clair Speedway last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, making the event’s return in 2021 even more highly anticipated.

Doubling down on the number of POWRi National Lightning Sprint events this year, Southwest Lightning Sprinters could make the long journey to the north for the inaugural POWRi Lightning Sprint Summer Shootout.

From Aug. 12-15, venues in North Dakota and Minnesota as well as the POWRi Lucas Oil Minn-Kota Lightning Sprint Series, will host top-notch sprinters in a test of their talents over a challenging, two-state, four-day sweep of action.

California’s Barona Speedway will once again serve as the host facility for the POWRi SWLS, with 10 Saturday race dates on the new schedule, including April 3, April 17, May 15, June 12, June 26, Aug. 7, Aug. 21, Sept. 4, Sept. 18 and Oct. 2.

The May 15, June 26, Aug. 21 and Sept. 18 dates at Barona will all be non-winged events.

Stepping outside of California on May 1, the POWRi Lucas Oil Southwest Lightning Sprints will make their lone appearance at Mohave Valley (Ariz.) Raceway.

2021 POWRi Lucas Oil Southwest Lightning Sprint Schedule

March 26 – Pahrump Valley Speedway – Pahrump, Nev.
March 27 – Pahrump Valley Speedway – Pahrump, Nev.
April 3 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif.
April 17 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif.
May 1 – Mohave Valley Speedway – Mohave Valley, Ariz.
May 15 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif. (NW)
May 29 – Central Missouri Speedway – Warrensburg, Mo.
May 30 – Central Missouri Speedway – Warrensburg, Mo.
June 12 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif.
June 26 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif. (NW)
Aug. 7 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif.
Aug. 12 – TBA – TBA
Aug. 13 – River Cities Speedway – Grand Forks, N.D.
Aug. 14 – Greenbush Race Park – Greenbush, Minn.
Aug. 15 – Sheyenne Speedway – Lisbon, N.D.
Aug. 21 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif. (NW)
Sept. 4 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif.
Sept. 18 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif. (NW)
Oct. 2 – Barona Speedway – Lakeside, Calif.