PRYOR CREEK, Okla. (Oct. 5) – The Salina Highbanks Speedway in Pryor Creek, Okla., will host the inaugural Sooner Showdown, Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 9-12.
The event will be highlighted by the USMTS Modifieds, co-sanctioned by the USRA.
This event will have the same format as the Sunflower Showdown at the Lakeside Speedway, except that Wednesday will be an open practice session with qualifying on Thursday and Friday followed by Saturday’s finale featuring a $10,000-to-win, $1,000-to-start main event.
Fans will get to witness 30 cars start the main event three-wide on the insanely popular high-banked clay oval.
Modifieds will be co-sanctioned by the United States Racing Association and United States Modified Touring Series.
USRA Weekly Racing Series national points will be awarded on Saturday and either Thursday or Friday using each driver’s best night.
The crown jewel event will be a non-points race for the USMTS Modifieds. The USRA Modified 8,000 RPM chip rule will be in effect.
The event will also be broadcast live via pay-per-view on www.RacinDirt.tv.
In addition to the lightning-fast Modified action, fans will get to see Factory Stocks and 360 Mods on Thursday. Factory Stocks will return on Friday along with Pure Stocks and USRA B-Mods. Saturday’s show will have the Pure Stocks and USRA B-Mods back in action. Both nights for the USRA B-Mods will award USRA Weekly Racing Series national points.
An open practice for all classes will be held on Wednesday. An enduro race will be held Thursday after the regular event and a demolition derby will be staged Friday night following the regular program. A pit party will be3 hosted by the track following Friday’s show.
The top eight Modified drivers in overall points on Thursday and Friday will be locked into Saturday’s main event. Last Chance races, along with a “C” Main and “B” Main on Saturday will complete the starting line-up for the $10,000-to-win, $1,000-to-start 30-car “A” Main.
Drivers can download an entry form at www.usmts.com/downloads.
Jason Hughes was the winner when the USMTS Modifieds made their first appearance at the Salina Highbanks Speedway on Aug. 27, 2004. The 2010 USMTS national champion returned to the track’s winners circle when the USMTS visited earlier this year.
Last year, two dates at Salina dotted the USMTS calendar with Terry Phillips and Ryan Gustin each getting a turn in victory lane.
After an off-season in 2010 that was busier than most tracks are during the height of the racing season, the new owners and management of the Salina Highbanks Speedway welcomed fans, drivers, crew members, sponsors and their families to the first night of weekly racing on April 2, 2011.
Thousands of hours and dollars later, dozens of renovations and upgrades have given the popular dirt track new life.
The Salina Highbanks Speedway has over 5,000 new general admission seats, 100 balcony bar seats and 200 VIP seats that are located in the five-star Finish Line Restaurant which gives fans access to the comfort of indoor climate, a full service bar and grill and great views of beautiful Lake Hudson while enjoying the racing action.
The Salina Highbanks Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 7 miles east of Pryor on SR 20. For reservations and ticket information, visit the website at www.salinahighbanksspeedway.com or call 918-434-7223.
To learn more about the USMTS, visit www.usmts.com or call 515-832-6000. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts follow us at www.twitter.com/usmts on Twitter and check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.