by Jeff Adams
Peoria Speedway and new owners Brandon Dean and Jason Plumer have release a tentative schedule of events for the 2014 racing season. The current schedule stands at 41 races , with NASCAR Night and AMA race dates to be added later.
The season kicks with 2 open practice sessions for all classes on March 22 and 29, going from 3-7 PM. The regular season begins with the Norwood Pub and Grub Season opener on Saturday, April 5. Five classes will race on a weekly basis- UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, Steel Block Late Models, UMP Street Stocks and UMP Hornets. The track will race every Saturday night from April 5 until October 11.
The first special event will be the “Don Bohlander Tribute” on April 12, paying $3,000 to-win for UMP Late Models. The race will be a benefit for Parkinson’s Research. The next week, the track presents the “Gary Cook, Jr. Memorial” on April 19, with $2.064 going to the UMP Modified winner. Cook was a long-time Modiifed competitor who passed away last June.
Other specials at the track will be: APEX Roofing Memorial Day Special, $3,000 to-win Modifieds on Monday, May 26; UMP Summernationals on Monday, June 23; Mid-Season Championships July 12; Herb Shannon Memorial featuring the Vintage Race Cars August 30; Season Championships September 13; UMP Modified 100 Lap State Championship September 20; UMP Late Model 100 lap State Championship September 27, and the “Fall 500” October 11 featuring $500 to-win each for the Steel Block Late Models, Street Stocks and Hornets.
New to the schedule are 6 Wednesday night Mid-Week Specials on May 7, June 11, July 2, July 30, August 13 and September 10. The Mid-Week Specials will include added payouts for all different classes, with one class each night highlighted. The Speedway Motors Illinois Lightning Sprint Series will race at the track on June 28 and October 4. Demolition Derbies are scheduled at the track for June 6 and August 1.
For more information, fans can acess www.peoriapseedway.com or check out the track’s Facebook and Twitter pages.