Action-packed weekend at L A

If anyone wants to hit the track for some action-packed racing this weekend, L A Raceway opens its gates to the USMTS and WOW 360 fans.

Tonight, the USMTS Modified show will open the tack with some roaring, dirt flying fun. Accompanying the will be the local Street Stocks that will begin their battle for the season championship next Friday night (April 16) in the regular racing series.

The USMTS has been to L A Raceway for four straight years and the payout tonight will be $2,000 to the winner with a minimum $250 to start the main event.

According to a press release by USMTS, nine-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock and the Falcon Wind Power Mo-Kan Region's current points leader Jason Hughes will be in the battle for victory at L A this weekend. Also expected to attend is Johnny Bone Jr., Jon Tesch, Dereck Ramirez, Zack VanderBeek, Rodney Sanders, John Allen, Tommy Weder Jr., Bryan Rowland, Steve Holzkamper, Melvin Pilcher, Colt Mather, Mark Dotson, Austin Siebert, Lucas Conley, Scott Green, Mickey Burrell, Brandon Davis, Chris Deaton, Josh Griggs, Johnny Scott, Rick Beebe, Grant and Chase Junghans, Nic Bidinger, Tommy Myer, Danny Charles, Ryan Gustin, Johnny Fennewald, Brian Green, Jeremy Ross, Daulton Greven and more.

Grant Junghans, of Manhattan, Kan., captured the win at L A last August and was named the DandyLand Rookie of the Year by USMTS. Other drivers who have taken the win at the LaMonte track are Jeremy Payne, of Springfield; Shryock, of Fertile, Iowa; and Rodney Sanders, of Happy, Texas.

The Winged Outlaw Warriors will sail around the 3/8-mile oval track on Saturday, with the local 305 Sprints being a support class. This will be the first of five appearances the WOWs have scheduled at L A. (May 7, June 11, July 2, and July 30)

The WOWs season opener will pay $1,500 to win. Expected to show are local favorites including last year's winner, Randy Martin, of California; 2009 WOW point champion Josh Fisher, of Smithton; and 2008 WOW Rookie of the Year Jonathan Cornell, of Sedalia.

Also planning to attend is Kyle Bellm, of Nixa; Mitchell Moore, of Edgerton, Kan.; Steven Cross, of Appleton City; and Cody Baker, of Lone Jack.

A local favorite and no stranger to L A Raceway, Austin Alumbaugh, of Higginsville, plans on getting up on the wheel of both his 305 and 360 sprinters on Saturday. Alumbaugh plans to drive both machines at nine other stops throughout the summer racing season.

Gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps start at 7 for both nights of spectacular fun in the country.

L A Raceway Schedule of Events

For those of you who don't know the statistics of my favorite local track -- here is a little information to start you out.

L A Raceway is located only 12 miles west of Sedalia on 16th Street (Highway Y) and only three miles west of Whiteman Air Force Base on Highway Y. It is a 3/8 mile, semi-banked, clay oval, 90-feet wide track with an outside retaining wall on the front straight away.

They run every Friday night starting April 16 with two additional shows on Saturdays. The regular season shows include 305 Sprints, Hobby Stocks, Street Stocks, A Modifieds and B Modifieds. The 360 Winged Outlaw Warriors will join the regular racing series three times and two more special events throughout the season.

Special shows include the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) taking the track on Friday, April 9, and the final race of the season on Friday, August 27.

The Whites, track owners, are especially pleased to bring local racing enthusiasts the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series on Friday, July 30, with the accompanying Winged Outlaw Warriors 360s and the local 305 Sprints. The ever-so-popular flat-track motorcycles return as well this year on Saturday, July 17.

So this year will be packed full of the usual dirt-flying entertainment with the extra pizzazz of special shows. See schedule below:

Saturday, April 3 - DARE Car Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday, April 9 - USMTS Modifieds Plus Street Stocks
Saturday, April 10 - WOW 360 Sprints Plus 305 Sprints
Friday, April 16 - Season Opener for the Weekly Racing Program
Friday, April 23 - Weekly Program
Friday, April 30 - Weekly Program (double points)
Friday, May 7 - WOW 360 Sprints plus Weekly Program
Friday, May 14 - Weekly Program
Friday, May 21 - Weekly Program
Friday, May 28 - Weekly Program
Friday, June 4 - Weekly Program
Friday, June 11 - WOW 360 Sprints plus Weekly Program
Friday, June 18 - Weekly Program
Friday, June 25 - Weekly Program
Friday, July 2 - WOW 360 Sprints plus Weekly Program and Fireworks after the show
Friday, July 9 - Weekly Program
Friday, July 16 - Weekly Program
Saturday, July 17 - Steel Shoe National Professional Flat Track Motorcycles
Friday, July 23 - Weekly Program
Friday, July 30 - Lucas Oil ASCS National plus WOW 360 Sprints and 305 Sprints
Friday, August 6 - Weekly Program and Season Championship
Friday, August 27 - USMTS Modifieds

For more information about the track, visit the web at www.laraceway.com.