This message was edited on
February 11, 2007 at
03:45:42 PM by ljennings
Kings Speedway wil pack 'em in
Hanford track unveils a 36 date schedule for 2007 By Nick Giannandrea / The Fresno Bee Kings Speedway sat dark for most of 2006. That won't be the case this year.
Promoter Frank Dias has scheduled 36 dates of racing — everything from 410 sprint cars to monster trucks to motorcycles and quads — for the three-eighths-mile dirt track in Hanford.
The season opener is Feb. 24 with a night of racing featuring 360 sprint cars, American Late Models, Super Streets, IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Super 4s.
"It's a pretty aggressive schedule," said Dias, who initially said he would stage about 26 races in 2007 after taking over as the track's promoter in July.
The expanded schedule features 20 different classes.
"Over our short term last year, we talked to a lot of different racers and race fans and got a lot of requests," Dias said. "We're trying to fulfill those requests."
Highlighting the schedule are seven dates of 410 sprint car racing — three Golden State Challenge dates (March 16-17 and July 21), three stops by the United States Auto Club/California Racing Association (March 31, June 30 and July 28) and the season-ending Cotton Classic (Oct. 27).
The GSC is back in Hanford after having its date canceled last year because the track was without a promoter. "We're very excited about getting the GSC back. [Series promoter] John Padgen has a great program," Dias said. "And we're very fortunate to get USAC races in again."
Kings Speedway will be the home track for the Sprint Car Racing Association's wingless 360s this season. Other classes that will run at least one date at Kings include Late Models, Super Streets, IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Super 4s, IMCA Stocks, BCRA Midgets, NMRA TQs, ATVs, Dwarfs, Spec Sprints, Enduros, Focus Midgets, monster trucks, mud boggers, motorcycles and destruction derby cars.
The extra car classes aren't all that's new at Kings Speedway.
The scoreboard has been upgraded for use with transponders, which will be mandatory for all cars this season. The old railing on the front straightaway has been replaced with concrete, which added a couple of feet of width to the track. And the concession stands have been renovated.
"We're just trying to make it user friendly and someplace where you're proud to enjoy your evening," Dias said. "I am very serious when I say that in three to four years, I want to be in the top 10 tracks across the nation."
Kings Speedway hosts Gasoline Alley between noon and 6 p.m. Saturday at the Kings Fairground Commercial Building. The event features drivers' meetings for many of the car classes, as well as sponsors' booths. And on Sunday, the tracks hosts its second practice session from 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. The third practice session is scheduled for Feb. 17.
KINGS SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE
Feb. 24th: 360s, American Late Models, Super Streets, IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stock, Super 4s
March 10: SCRA 360s, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stocks, Hobby Stock
March 11: Western ATV TT Nationals
March 16: Golden State Challenge 410s, IMCA Modifieds
March 17: Golden State Challenge 410s, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stocks, NMRA TQ
March 24: SCRA 360s, BCRA Midgets, Dwarfs, Super Streets, Super 4s
March 31: USAC/CRA 410s, WAS Late Models, IMCA Modifieds
April 7: Monster Trucks, Mud Boggs, ATV Challenge, Super 4s
April 14: SCRA 360s, Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Spec Sprints, Hobby Stocks
April 21: Super Streets, IMCA Stocks, Enduro
April 28: SCRA 360s, IMCA Modifieds, Dwarfs, Super Streets
May 5: SCRA 360s, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stocks, Super Streets
May 12: WAS-Late Models, Focus Midgets, Spec Sprints, Super 4s
May 18: SCRA 360s, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stocks
May 19: Western ATV TT Nationals, Gene Romero West Coast Flat Track Series
June 2: SCRA 360s, American Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stocks
June 16: SCRA 360s, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stocks, Super 4s
June 23: SCRA Sprints, Spec Sprints, Super 4s, Enduro, TQ
June 30: USAC/CRA 410s, WAS Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Hobby's
July 7: SCRA 360s, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stocks, Hobby Stocks
July 12: TBA
July 13: Hobby Stocks, IMCA Stocks, Super 4s, Enduro, IMCA Modifieds
July 14: Western ATV TT Nationals
July 15: Destruction Derby
July 21: Golden State Challenge 410s, IMCA Modifieds, Super Streets
July 28: USAC/CRA 410s, SCRA 360s, American Late Models
August 4: WAS-Late Models, Spec Sprints, Focus Midgets, BCRA Midgets
August 11: SCRA 360s, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stocks, Super 4s
August 25: American Late Models, Super Streets, BCRA
Sept. 8: SCRA 360s, IMCA Modifieds, Super 4s, Hobby Stocks, Spec Sprints
Sept. 15: SCRA 360s, WAS Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Super Streets
Sept. 22: SCRA 360s, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stocks, Super 4s
Sept. 28: SCRA 360s, BCRA & USAC Midgets, NMRA Midgets, Spec Sprints, Winged 360s
Sept. 29: SCRA 360s, BCRA & USAC Midgets, NMRA Midgets, Spec Sprints, Winged 360s
Oct. 6: Monster Trucks, Mud Boggs, ATV Challenge
Oct 19: Western Dirt Nationals, Late Models, IMCA Stocks, IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Super 4s, Super Streets
Oct. 20: Western Dirt Nationals, Late Models, IMCA Stocks, IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Super 4s, Super Streets
Oct. 27: Cotton Classic, 410s
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