By Jimmy Dearing
Belleville, IL (March 8, 2011) The historic Belle-Clair Speedway sits in the middle of the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds just one mile from the heart of downtown Belleville, Illinois. The deceivingly fast one-fifth mile high bank clay oval consistently provides tight, side-by-side racing action that keeps fans on the edge of their seats and on their feet. Belle-Clair Speedway’s 63rd season will be under the guidance of a new promoter for the 2011 racing season. Belle-Clair Promotions, headed by Don Hoener, have taken over track promotion for the 2011 season with options for future years. Hoener has been involved with Belle-Clair Speedway for many years now with the Allied Auto Racing Association that has sanctioned and officiated events at the track for several decades now.
The first thing fans will notice is there will no longer be cars pitted on the infield. This will provide for improved safety and provide a better view of the racing action for the fans. With that change, the rear parking lot has been converted completely into a pit area. With the pit area filling up the entire rear parking lot now, the entrance to the back straight grandstands has been moved. The entrance is now down toward turn three to make for easy access from the main parking lot.
Another addition to the facility are handicap accessible bathrooms on both the front straight and rear straight-away grandstands. The VIP suite in turn one is also getting some improvements. These include adding glass and closing in the suite with plans to finish the interior and exterior complete with air conditioning.
Fans have a chance to take home some cash as well. Belle-Clair Speedway has picked up the nickname “BELLE-VEGAS” in recent years and track plans to play a new game at intermission with a lucky fan. “Rolling the Dice for CASH” will allow one fan to go home with an extra $50 to $500 depending on how lucky their dice rolls turn out. At the end of the season, all previous winners will be brought back with a Winner Take All dice roll with the winner taking home $1,000.
Lets talk about the racing program. Five divisions return for the 2011 weekly racing season and those include the UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, UMP DIRTcar/AARA Sportsman, UMP DIRTcar/AARA Factory Stocks(Pure Stocks) and UMP DIRTcar/AARA Pro 4 Stocks. The dashes will return for the 2011 racing season for the Late Model and Modified divisions.
The 2011 racing season kicks off at Belle-Vegas with a test & tune session on Sunday, March 13th from 1pm-5pm. The racing action kicks off the following Friday, March 18th with the Shamrock 40 paying $1,500 to win for UMP DIRTcar Super Late Models. UMP DIRTcar Modifieds will also be on the card, paying $750 to win. The UMP DIRTcar/AARA Sportsman will also be running for $500 to win! Gates will open at 5pm with racing at 7pm. Grandstand admission will be $15 with kids 12 years old and younger free. Pit passes will be $30 for this event.
After taking the following week off, the track comes back on April 1st with the regular season opener featuring all five weekly divisions along with track points beginning.
Some of the highlights of the 2011 schedule include the Valvoline Twin 30’s on May 13th that will feature UMP DIRTcar Late Models and POWRi Midgets & Outlaw Micros racing on the same night.
The UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals, “The Hell Tour”, storms into Belle-Clair Speedway on June 29th for the Illinois Division of Tourism “Mile after Magnificent Mile 40”. The UMP DIRTcar Summit Modified tour will also be action along with the UMP DIRTcar/AARA Sportsman division.
The POWRi Midget & Micro Series make three more stops at Belle-Clair Speedway on July 1st and 2nd during “FAN FEST”. The POWRi Series also comes to Belle-Clair Speedway during Fair Week on Wednesday, August 10th. The POWRi Series makes their final stop on October 1st for the Charlene Meents Memorial.
Fair Week will see action at the track beginning on Tuesday and going every night through Saturday. On Tuesday, August 9th, the AARA Summer Nationals at the Fair will feature UMP DIRTcar/AARA Sportsman, Pure Stocks and Pro 4 Stocks. Wednesday will have the POWRi Series, Thursday, August 11th the motorcycles hit the track for some fast two-wheel action. Then on Friday, August 12th, Bel-Air Bowl and Ray Vinson Mortgage “99” will feature a $2,500 to win 99 lap UMP DIRTcar Super Late Model feature. Fair week wraps up on Saturday, August 13th with a huge Demo Derby.
On the final night of racing on October 8th, Belle-Clair Speedway will host the Short Track Nationals Pro Crate Racers of America (PCRA) Flip Flop 50 which will have two feature events.
There are a lot of other fun nights lined up throughout the 2011 season at Belle-Clair Speedway, including a kids Nickel Race on April 22nd and August 19th.
Along with all of these special events, Belle-Clair Speedway hosts weekly racing every Friday night from April 1st through September 9th, then the two specials in October close out the 2011 season.
Belle-Clair Speedway has an all new website for 2011 that will be up shortly at www.belleclairspeedway.com. The track also has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Belle-Clair-Speedway/142783172444087
Belle-Clair Speedway sponsors for the 2011 season include Ray Vinson Mortgage, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Driverswebsites.com, R & R Sanitation, Sieveking Fuels, Tribout’s Carnival & Bingo, 101.1 ESPN FM Radio, Pepsi, Budweiser, Napa Auto Parts, Dambacher Trucking, Gateway Grizzlies, POWRi, Valvoline, Steve Schmitt Truck Parts, Snap-On Tools, Hooter’s Fairview Hgts, Bel-Air/St.Clair Bowl
2011 Belle-Clair Speedway Schedule
(Tentative)
SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF ILLINOIS IS THE OFFICIAL CHARITY OF BELLE-CLAIR PROMOTIONS
March
Sun. 3-13 Open Practice – All Classes Welcome 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Gate opens at Noon.
Fri 3-18 $“Shamrock 40” UMP Super Late Model $1500 to Win! – UMP Modified $750 to Win! Plus UMP Sportsman $500 to Win!
Fri 3-25 No Racing (UMP Round Up @ I-55 Raceway)
April
Fri 4-1 All div. 2011 Season Opener “PEPSI FREE Schedule Night” (Track Points Begin)
Fri 4-8 All div. UMP Super Late Model “AMP Energy 30”
Fri 4-15 All div. “lLLINOIS Corn Growers Association” Win GAS CARDS
Fri 4-22 All div. (EASTER SPECIAL) Kid’s 10,000 Nickel Race
Fri 4-29 All div “Ultimate Fan Contest” Dress up Contest! /ILLINOIS Special Olympics Night
May
Fri 5-6 All div. MOM’s are SPECIALPure Stock & Pro 4 Powder Puff Trophy Race
Fri 5-13 $ UMP SuperLate Models &POWRi Midgets “Valvoline Twin 30’s” + Micros — SLAR Fan Club Night! Members get in Free w/ID!
Sun 5-15 Vintage Car Show & 2 – Seater Fan Ride Along to Benefit Special Olympics!!!
Fri 5-20 All div.Belleville Human Society Night / Kids Bike Races (5 Div.) Fri 5-27 All div. ” Salute to the Military” Wear your Camo & Fatigues! Free Camo Koolie!
June
Fri 6-3 All div. “Fast & Furious Friday”
Fri 6-10 All div. “Prelude to the Race for a Cure” “Memorial 25” UMP Sportsman
Fri 6-17 All div. Snap-on Tools / Hooter’s Dad’s Night! Late Model & Mod Topless Night
Fri 6-24 All div. Jimmie’s & Jeff’s Get in Free Night “Tribute to Jim & Jeff Eaves”
Wed 6-29 $ILLINOIS Div. Of Tourism “Mile after Magnificent Mile 40”UMP Super Late Model SUMMER NATIONALS Tour UMP Summit Modifieds, UMP Sportsman
July
Fri & Sat 7-1&2 POWRi Midgets & Micros“FAN FEST”
Fri 7-8 All div. Kid’s Bicycle Giveaway! “Hoosier 30 ”UMP Modifieds
Fri 7-15 All div. OFF No Racing Fri 7-22 All div.Scouting Night / Gateway Grizzles “IZZY” Kid Fest – Free Snow Cones
Fri 7-29 All div. “Green Nicotine” Casino Night / Roll a 7 or 11 Get in Free!
August
Fri 8-5 All div. Old Timer’s Autograph / Gateway Vintage Night – “Valvoline Night”
SPEED WEEK
Tue 8-9 A.A.R.A. Summer Nationalsat the “FAIR” UMP Sportsman, Pure Stocks & Pro 4 Stocks
Wed 8-10 POWRi Midgets “Knepper Memorial” Plus Micros
Thur 8-11 Motorcycle Racing
Fri 8-12 $Bel-Air Bowl / Ray Vinson Mortgage ”99”Lap $2500 to Win
Sat 8-13 Demolition Derby
Fri 8-19 All div. “Kid’s Caring for Kid’s with Cancer Night”Kid’s 10,000 Nickel Race
Fri 8-26 All div. 70’s Three Dog Night 70’s Dress up Contest & 3- Hot Dog Special
September
Fri 9-2 All div. Season Championship Races for UMP Sportsman, UMPPure Stock & Pro 4 Stock
Fri 9-9 All div. Season Championship Races for UMP Late Models & UMP Modifieds
October
Sat 10-1 POWRi Midgets & Micro’s“Charlene Meents Memorial”
Sat 10-8 $ Short Track Nationals PCRA Late Model “Flip Flop 50” 2 Great Features, Plus PureStocks & Pro 4 Stocks
Start Times: Pit Gate & Grandstands 5:00 pm – Driver’s Meeting 6:20 pm – Hot Laps 6:30 pm –
Racing 7:00 pm General Admission Adults -$12 / Kids 12&under FREE / Seniors $10 w/Club Pass
$ Symbol indicates an increased admission price for special show
Website www.belleclairspeedway.com Track Phone # 618-233-0052 Promoter – 636-288-2716