Full Speed Ahead for 2012 at MIS
By John Wells
Oregon, WI (Sunday, January 22, 2012)- It’s time to get excited about the 2012 racing season at Madison International Speedway as track officials have released the schedule for the upcoming season.
The 2012 racing season will feature three weekly racing divisions, many special events, and six appearances by the division that made the track famous, the super late models.
Weekly racing divisions in 2012 will be the Late Models and Sportsman who will compete on Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile and the Legends who will battle it out on the “Ring of Fire.”
“We are looking at an exciting new racing format for our weekly program,” said MIS General Manager Dave Grueneberg. “We think the drivers and fans are going to like the change.” More specifics on this new format will be released in the upcoming weeks.
The weekly racing program begins on Sunday, May 27th and then moves to Friday nights starting on June 1st. A total of eleven weekly events are on the schedule culminating with the Bob Schmelzer Memorial Season Championships on August 17th.
The biggest news by far is the return of the super late models for six events in 2012. The ASA Midwest Tour will be at MIS for the season opener on Sunday, May 6th and the Joe Shear Classic and will return on Sunday, August 5th. A Triple Crown Challenge will find the Super Late Models joining the weekly program on June 8th and July 6thand then competing in the Sixth Annual MIS Fall Classic on September 22nd and 23rd.
“The Triple Crown Challenge will consist of three racing events with point standings kept to determine who will be in the Race of Champions on the final day of the Fall Classic,” added Grueneberg. “We are excited about the drivers who are planning to race in 2012.”
The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will be back in 2012 for a Sunday, August 26thafternoon race at MIS. “We feel the move to Sunday will allow for more fans who travel from throughout the country to get to Madison,” said Grueneberg. “It was a great race last year and we are looking for an even better show this year.”
The Fireworks Extravaganza returns in 2012 on Friday, June 29thwith the Big 8 Late Models, ASA Midwest Trucks, and Mid American Stock Car Series in action.
The MIS Fall Classic will have an entirely new look in 2012 as it moves to a Saturday / Sunday format. “We wanted to make some changes to make it a better format for the teams and fans,” added Grueneberg.
Tractor and truck pulls, concerts, and other special events will be added and are still in the planning stages.
Here’s a closer look at the 2012 racing schedule at MIS. Please note it is subject to change.
2012 Racing Schedule (Subject to change)
Sunday, May 6 ASA Midwest Tour Joe Shear Classic
Sunday, May 27 Weekly Racing Season Opener
Friday, June 1 Weekly Racing
Friday, June 8 Triple Crown Challenge Super Late Model Round 1 plus Weekly Racing
Friday, June 15 Weekly Racing
Friday, June 22 Weekly Racing
Friday, June 29 Fireworks Extravaganza featuring Big 8 Late Models, ASA Midwest Trucks, and Mid American Stock Car Series
Friday, July 6 Triple Crown Challenge Super Late Model Round 2 plus Weekly Racing
Friday, July 13 Weekly Racing
Friday, July 20 Weekly Racing
Friday, July 27 Weekly Racing
Friday, August 3 No Racing
Sunday, August 5 ASA Midwest Tour
Friday, August 10 Weekly Racing
Friday, August 17 Bob Schmelzer Memorial Season Championships (Weekly Racing)
Sunday, August 26 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards
Friday, August 21 Season Championship Raindate
Saturday, September 22 MIS Fall Classic with Triple Crown Challenge Super Late Model Round 3
Sunday, September 23 MIS Fall Classic with Triple Crown Super Late Model Race of Champions
Madison International Speedway is located two miles east of Oregon, Wisconsin, just south of Highway 138 on Sunrise Road.