The AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars are headed to Missouri August 14 for their inaugural appearance at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley. It marks the first Show-Me State appearance of the USAC series since 2006 and the first for USAC Sprint cars in the Kansas City area since 2001 races at Lakeside Speedway won by Tony Elliott and J.J. Yeley.
Brad Loyet won USAC’s only previous race at Grain Valley’s one-third mile dirt oval, an SMRS Midget event in 2009, but the last USAC Sprint races in Missouri were at Eldon and Wheatland five years ago.
“We’re truly excited about being part of the 2011 AMSOIL series,” says Valley Speedway race organizer Dennis Shrout. “USAC’s move to an all-dirt slate should create an interesting battle for the National title and we plan to be an integral part of the chase. It’s nice to be able to bring the series back to the Kansas City race fans.”
Located on the Old National Road (U.S. Highway 40), Valley Speedway opened in 2004 and is currently the only track in the Kansas City area offering weekly open-wheel racing events.
A total of 16 USAC Sprint races have been held in Missouri, dating back to Gary Bettenhausen’s 1970 victory at I-70 Speedway in Odessa. Other USAC Sprint race feature winners in Missouri have been Tony Stewart, Rich Vogler, Jack Hewitt, Steve Butler, Jerry Coons Jr., Sheldon Kinser, Jeff Swindell, Bob Cicconi, Gene Lee Gibson, Eric Gordon, Tony Elliott and Josh Wise.