(LEBANON, Missouri) Lebanon I-44 Speedway will open the 2011 season of ASA-sanctioned stock car racing this Saturday night, May 7, on the track’s 3/8-mile high banked asphalt oval. Spectator gates are slated to open at 5:00 pm, with the five-division stock car racing program scheduled to begin at 7:30.
“We are really excited about this new season of racing at Lebanon I-44 Speedway,” said new track promoter Craig Armstrong. “There has been some confusion in the past about whether or not we’re a dirt or pavement oval track, but I can assure you that we will be ‘Kickin Asphalt’ this season and for many years to come.”
Headlined by the fast and powerful Late Model Stock Cars, Saturday’s show at one of the only paved oval tracks in the state of Missouri will also feature a big field of Modifieds, which are stock appearing racecars with open wheel front ends, Sportsman stock cars, Road Warriors – big, steel bodied pure stocks – and a four-cylinder “tuner-type” class of cars called Chargers. The ever-popular Outlaw Mini Stocks will also be on the racing card for one of only eight 2011 appearances on the Laclede County oval.
“I’m really enthused about the number of quality racecars that I saw at practice last Saturday,” Armstrong said. “We’re going to see full fields of really good racecars, especially in our Late Model and Modified classes, which have always been fan favorites. With a good weather forecast for this weekend, and a lot of enthusiastic drivers ready to put on a great show, our race fans are in for a treat when we kick off the new season on Saturday night!”
In addition to the ‘family friendly’ alcohol-free grandstands, Lebanon I-44 Speedway features tier parking for cars, pickup trucks and RV’s around the turn one and backstretch areas, where patrons may park, tailgate and view the races. Known as the ‘Budweiser Wild Side’, beer may be brought in by fans in the tier parking areas, while full food and non-alcoholic beverage concessions are available in both the grandstands and tier parking, along with a Souvenir and track apparel booth.
Grandstand admission is $10 for Adults, ages 16 and older, while Adult admission in tier parking is $12. Discounted admission for Seniors (ages 65 and older), Military personnel, and Juniors (ages 11-15) is offered in both locations. A grandstand Family Pass for 2 Adults and 2 Juniors, plus any number of Kids 10 and younger, is available for $25, while six Adults entering in the same vehicle on tier parking can join the party on the ‘Budweiser Wild Side’ for $60.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway is located four miles east of the Lebanon city limit on Historic Route 66. Patrons using Interstate 44 may take Exit 135, and then drive one mile east on Route 66 to the track’s main entrance. Additional information about the track’s 2011 ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ racing schedule may be found of the facility’s official website, www.i44speedway.net.