Track promoter plans 15-race schedule in '03

The new promoter at McCook Speedway plans changes at the race track that will excite not only the racers, but also the fans in the stands.

McCook businessman Dennis McFarland plans a 15-race schedule that starts in April and will increase the pay-out in feature races.

For die-hard fans, McFarland will sell season passes and a chance to win a three-day trip to the IMCA "Super National" finals in Boone, Iowa, in September 2003.

McFarland has been a race fan all his life, and is excited about promoting the McCook track. He said he doesn't plan a lot of changes, but is adding some new features.

Season passes for adults, 13 years and older, will cost $80; for kids, 5-12, $40; and for senior citizens, 60 and over, $45. The passes will save about 20 percent over gate admission, McFarland said.

Season passes will not be available after the second race, McFarland said, and there will be no refunds for rained-out or canceled events. The passes can not be used for admission to races during the Red Willow County fair.

Call 345-2249 (D&L Pest Control) to purchase the passes.

Race fans can register throughout the season to win a trip to Boone, Iowa, for the annual IMCA "Super National" finals Labor Day weekend. The package will include admission to the races and motel room Thursday, Friday and Saturday, reserved seating and $125 spending cash.

Another new feature for fans will be chances to ride as the passenger in a two-seat IMCA modified race car. McFarland also plans giveaways of T-shirts and/or hats during all the races.

McFarland will implement a different track-watering procedure, and will allow no hot laps after 7:40 p.m. Both practices should allow races to start at 8 p.m., he said.

McFarland plans no intermissions. "If there's a wreck, then that's intermission," he said.

McFarland said he will try to finish racing between 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., and clear the pits between midnight and 12:30 a.m.

Classes will include IMCA modifieds, stock cars, hobby stocks, wide bodies, mini-trucks, mini-sprints and occasionally, 305 sprint cars.

New this year, McFarland will increase the pay-out, top-to-bottom, in feature races.

McFarland said, for safety's sake, he is implementing some changes, particularly in the tires, in the truck division. He encourages all races to check for other changes, some from IMCA, on the McCook Speedway web site: www.mccookspeedway.com

Pit passes will increase, from $15 to $20.

McFarland plans races every Friday in April, May and June, with a special two-day event June 20 and June 21.

Tentatively, the last race in McCook will be July 11.

Starting in July, McFarland's attention will turn to the track in Culbertson, which he will co-promote with Jim Lewis, president of the Hitchcock County fair board.

Races in Culbertson will run through August.