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2009 NATIONAL SEASON OPENS ON THE WEST COAST WITH EVENTS AT PHOENIX, LAS VEGAS & PERRIS

NOVEMBER 17, 2008 --- USAC's 2009 National racing season will debut with a flair like never before, with a trio of February events unfolding at facilities in the Western United States.

The "Copper on Dirt" at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz. February 20-21 kicks off the calendar, incorporating all three National racing series, the Silver Crown, Sprints and Midgets, in addition offering points toward USAC's 2009 CRA Sprint Car and Western Midget Car championships. The event packed in 123 total race cars last February and produced some of the finest competition of the 2008 season.

The action-packed Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track serves as the second venue, with a Wednesday night, February 25 "doubleheader." The National Sprints and Midgets combine for the event on the 1/2-mile dirt oval, with points also awarded to the CRA Sprint and Western Midget series.

Three nights later, Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway hosts a similar "doubleheader" for the Sprint cars and Midgets on its spectacular 1/2-mile dirt.

This marks the first time that Manzanita Speedway has hosted all three National series in a single program, while the National Sprint Cars have never competed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dave Darland won the last National Midget race at LVMS, in 1997.

The last time Perris Auto Speedway hosted a National USAC Midget race was in 1996 when Billy Boat won the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at the PAS.

Wow! USAC Midgets at the PAS!

Great news, seems to make great sense for everyone.

Is there rain dates built into the schedule I hope (Just in case)

But this is really big and spectuacular news for everyone in Midwest and the WestCoast. I guess the new guys in Indiana are making some good changes. The races are on the internet, 3 National shows to start the season off on the West Coast, its a positive direction, plus there was a crap load of 410's at Perris and Manzy for the National shows even during bad economic times.

Let's see what CRA can do to get the car counts back up next year and put their thinking caps on. Maybe less races will mean more quality races and/or more cars at the events (or maybe not). But the year sure is ending on a good note with good quality fields and great racing . And with just one more dirt race, the infield and stands should be full I hope.

(I know racers just want to race every weekend, but I guess they can always stick a 360 in and come out to play at Ventura once in awhile for less money, should be interesting and exciting in 2009, plus has it ever been a dull year in sprint cars anyway)

Thats good news. A chance to see the national guys before the Ovals running a full show without having to combat weekday traffic.

I like me some midgets. I just dont really like them at the PAS. Hopefully a full field is a much better spectacle. Even with my doom and gloom its got to be better than whatever else I had planned on the 28th. Unless VRA is running.

YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH...midgets back at Perris...we've tried for so long guys and we finally pulled it off...

Hey Buzzard You better talk to Naylor and he BETTOR NOT SCHEDULE A RACE against the National USAC show at Perris, and if he does , you should still go to Perris !

I think many guys will try to get rides in something for all these shows, whether it be midgets or sprints. (Now for track conditions, with all these cars I would expect what we saw at Manzy, Perris and Ventura dry slick and dusty, but hey we did see some great racing, and some might not agree, but I gotta think the best drivers and teams come out on top in the end- Jesse, Kevin Swindell, and Brandon, and least we forget Brad Sweet won at Tulare in thriller which probably had the best track conditions of all 4 tracks, now who would of thunk that a wing track with the winner coming from the last row.

I know fans will boycott Turkey night cuz its on the dreaded pavement, but have an open mind, some the best drivers, equipment, and 2 (actually 3 divisions) of racing will take place and I think even Kasy Kahne, maybe Leffler will join the fun on Turkey Night, and than Perris will close out the season on Saturday Night. What a way to finish the year out on a high note after some less than stellar car counts and bickering we have had this year. 2009 looks promising even in these bad economic times as the sanctioning bodies, race promoters, and teams are working together hopefully, and even the fans like Raphie and Wags and All Coast Construction make this sport stronger.

WOW ONLY WAY COULD BE MORE EXCITING START TO THE SEASON WOULD BE A DOUBLEHEADER ON FRI SPRINTS & MIDGETS ON WAY BACK FROM VEGAS IN VICTORVILLE!!!!!!!!!! THAT WOULD BE INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!