by Dusty Wiegert
SALINA, Kan. — What for some has been a long winter seems to be getting shorter by the day as details have been released on the Inaugural International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) Spring Fling at the Salina Speedway in Salina, Kansas.
The event will take place on April 12-14, 2012 at the 3/8 mile speed plant in Central Kansas, and is a successor to the Fall Fling that capped off the return season for the Speedway in 2011. The Spring event will kick off the 2012 season at the Speedway.
On Thursday night April 12 an open practice session will be held for all classes at the Speedway. Gates for the practice will open at 5PM with practice taking place from 6PM-9PM. Thursday’s admission to the grandstands will be FREE with $10 for a pit pass. Concessions will be available as well.
The event officially kicks into gear on Friday April 13 with qualifying heat races followed by an A Scramble to determine the top 5 starters for the Championship event. Friday’s heat races will be lined up by draw, with a car count determined amount of drivers advancing to the Scramble. Pit gates will open at 4:30PM, with Grandstands opening at 5:30PM, Hot Laps at 7:00PM, and Racing at 7:30PM. Grandstand admission for Friday night will be $10 for adults, High School Students $5 (with ID), and Youth 12 & Under FREE. Pit passes will be $30.
Champions of the event will be crowned on Saturday April 14. Last Chance Qualifiers, lined up off of heat race finishes on night one, will be ran with a car count based number of drivers advancing to the Championship Feature, along with the Championship feature in each division. Pit Gates will open at 1:30PM, with Grandstands opening at 2:30PM, Hot Laps at 4:00PM, and Racing at 5:00PM. Grandstand admission will be $15 for Adults, High School Students $5 (with ID), and Youth 12 & Under FREE. Pit passes will once again be $30.
A combined Adult grandstand admission can be purchased for both days for $20. A combined Pit Pass can be purchased for Friday and Saturday for $50 as well.
This will mark the first sanction in 6 years by IMCA at the Speedway. Points will be awarded at the State, Regional, and National levels. The event is also a qualifier for the FastShaft All Star Invitational event at the 2012 IMCA Super Nationals.
The Belleville Motorsports IMCA Modified division will be racing for $2,250 to win and $200 to start with a $100 entry fee. The Coors Light IMCA Stock Cars will compete for $1,000 to win and $100 to start with a $50 entry fee. The Xtreme Motorsports IMCA Northern SportMods will race for $1,200 to win and $100 to start with a $75 entry fee. The Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stocks will compete for a $700 payday and $75 to start with a $50 entry fee. All payouts are based on a 20 car minimum.
Also on the card is the T&R Dirt Construction Mini Stock division racing on Friday night only. They will run for $250 to win and $50 to start with a $30 entry fee.
Two provisionals will be awarded in each division. One will be given to the driver making the longest tow, while the other will go to the driver who has the best 2 finishes in the heats on Friday night and the Last Chance Qualifiers on Saturday.
Pre-entries can currently be submitted online at the official website of the Salina Speedway at http://www.racesalinaspeedway.com by clicking on the Spring Fling link and going to Registration. Pre-entries do not require payment at the time of submittal, payment will be required upon signing in at the track. A $10 late entry fee will be assessed on any entry received after April 7.
Accommodations for the event can be made with a reduced rate at the Salina Country Inn and Suites at 2760 South Ninth. You can reach them by calling (785) 827-1271 or by visiting http://www.countryinns.com/salina-hotel-ks-67401/kssalina . Be sure to mention the Salina Speedway for the racer and race fan rate.
For more information on the event please call or text 785-342-2565 or visit http://www.racesalinaspeedway.com