(LEBANON, Missouri) Lebanon I-44 Speedway will open the 2012 season of ASA-sanctioned stock car racing this Saturday night, April 28, 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 ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ show 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. “We’re ready to build on the successes of the 2011 season, with new racecars, veteran drivers returning along with a big crop of rookies, and more excitement than ever before. The fans, the racers, the track sponsors – everybody is ready to kick some asphalt and have some fun at our track on Saturday nights!”
Headlined by the fast and powerful Late Models, Saturday’s show at Missouri’s only paved oval track will also feature a big field of Modifieds, which are stock silhouette racecars with open wheel front ends, the newly expanded Sportsman class of late model stock cars, Road Warriors – big, steel bodied pure stocks – and a four-cylinder subcompact class of stock cars called Chargers. Fans will also be treated to a post-race concert by country music star Candy Coburn during the first of six 2012 ‘Budweiser Party in the Pits’ celebrations.
“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 of ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ 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 new Souvenir and track apparel booth.
Grandstand admission is $10 for Adults, ages 16 and older, while Adult admission in tier parking is $15. 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 $75.
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 2012 ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ racing schedule may be found of the facility’s official website, www.i44speedway.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Lebanon-I-44-Speedway, and on Twitter (@i44Speedway).