By Jimmy Dearing
Farmer City, IL (March 6, 2011) – Farmer City Raceway has a long storied history that includes being known as one of the best racetracks in the Midwest. Great finishes and side-by-side racing has been part of the ‘norm’ that Farmer City Raceway became famous for. However, in the past couple of years, the track has fallen into dis-repair and fewer fans had been showing up, which all led to the track closing early to end the 2010 season. For most of the winter, it has been unclear if Farmer City Raceway would even open for the 2011 racing season. The promotion team of J.K. Promotions stepped up and reached a deal with the Farmer City Fair Board to promote the track in 2011. J.K. Promotions is owned by some familiar names in the racing circle around central Illinois. One half of the promoter team is Jeff Hammer, although he is the cousin of former promoter Don Hammer, is in no way affiliated with Don Hammer Promotions. Jeff Hammer will handle most of the business side of the promotions with Farmer City Raceway. The half of the promotion team is Late Model and Modified driver Kyle Logue. Logue will handle the racing aspect of the promotion team at Farmer City Raceway.
Hammer and Logue are already hard at work making improvements to the facility. They are building some new concession buildings along with repairing and painting existing buildings and structures. They are also working on the track itself as they want it to return to being one of the raciest facilities in the Midwest.
The new promoters will have a track meeting with drivers and fans on March 13th at 3pm at the American Legion Hall at 755 Stensel Drive in Farmer City. This is located right out in front of the track entrance. Those interested in working at Farmer City Raceway in 2011 are encouraged to attend this meeting.
There are three practice sessions scheduled before the season opener on Friday, April 8th. The first practice session will be on Sunday, March 27th at 1pm. The second practice will be on Wednesday, March 30th at 5pm and the final practice before opening night will be on Sunday, April 3rd.
Farmer City Raceway will feature five divisions during the weekly racing program that will be held every Friday night throughout the season. The five divisions include UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, UMP DIRTcar Sportsman, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks and UMP DIRTcar Sport Compacts (Hornets). The season opener on April 8th will feature a $1,500 to win UMP DIRTcar Late Model special along with the other four divisions that race weekly. Mini-Sprints will also join the regular classes on opening night.
Although they are still working on setting up more special events on the schedule, the current list of special events include a $2,000 to win Northern Allstar Late Model Series event on April 29th, a $5,000 to win UMP DIRTcar Modified event on May 29th, a $10,000 to win UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals event on July 8th and another Northern Allstar Late Model Series event paying $2,000 to win on August 5th.
There are also two POWRi Midget/Micro shows on the schedule on July 22nd and August 12th. Fair week at the Farmer City fairgrounds will see action at Farmer City Raceway on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (July 20th-22nd). Wednesday’s action during fair week will feature a Demo Derby, Monster Truck event and a Skid Steer Rodeo (Bobcats). Thursdays action will feature ATV’s, Motorcycles and Kart racing on the big 1/4 mile. Followed up by Friday nights POWRi Midget and Micro show!
Other special events for Hornets and Street Stocks will wrap up the 2011 season. A Fan Appreciation Night on July 29th will feature just $5 grandstand admission.
Farmer City Raceway hopes to win back the support of fans in 2011 with the new promoters and they look forward to a great racing season in 2011.
Weekly racing events will start with hotlaps at 6:30pm and racing at 7pm with general admission just costing $10 with kids 12 years old and younger getting in general admission for free. Pit passes for weekly racing events will be $25 with kids 4 years old and younger being allowed in free with their parent(s). Special event pricing will vary based on event.
Farmer City Raceway is located at 850 North Grove Street in Farmer City, Illinois. A new website is available for Farmer City Raceway at www. farmercityracing.com and they also have a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Farmer-City-Raceway/197060296984680