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MINOT, N.D. (July 1) – The defending champion will be among the long
distance visitors, while a home state driver with a sanctioned series
title of his own joins other local contenders into the July 8-13 Big
Dog Dakota Classic Tour for IMCA Modifieds.
Six dates comprise the 18th annual tour, which opens at Nodak
Speedway in Minot before traveling to Estevan, Sask., Motor Speed
way, Williston Basin Speedway and Southwest Speedway in Dickinson and
concluding with two events at Dacotah Speedway in Mandan.
Troy Cordes of Raymond, Iowa, topped the 2006 tour point standings
and will chase a second straight tour crown. Other Iowans planning to
follow the series are defending IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals
king Rich Lewerke, Jay Noteboom, Reese Coffee and Mike Hansen.
Kansas clipper David Murray Jr., a four-time national IMCA champion,
will join the field, as will Nebraska drivers Ronnie Wallace, Brandon
Hagan, Jay Steffens and Shane Lewis.
Planning to make the tow from Nevada are Randy Artz, Nick Ayers and
Denny Robblee. Darrell Grebb will come from Idaho and Derek Copp from
Colorado.
Minot’s Joren Boyce scored the tour championship when it was first
sanctioned by IMCA in 1998 and will be among the North Dakota
regulars looking to keep the 2007 trophy close to home.
“The on-track combination of travelers and local drivers has made the
Dakota Tour one of the best series for Modifieds in the nation,” IMCA
Vice President of Operations Brett Root said. “The quality of
competition night in and night out is virtually unmatched.”
Total purse each of the six nights tops $8,000, with $1,200 paid to
win and a minimum of $200 to make the 24 car starting grid.
National, home region and Smiley’s Racing Products state points will
be awarded for each race, with special event contingencies given by
IMCA and tour sponsors. The tour champion also becomes a candidate
for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational race during the 2008 IMCA
Speedway Motors Super Nationals.
Gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps are at 5 p.m. and racing begins at 6
p.m. at Nodak on July 8. Estevan opens the gates at 4 p.m. on July 9,
with 6:15 p.m. hot laps and 7 p.m. racing.
A 2 p.m. gate time is set for July 10 at Williston. Hot laps are at 7
p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 3 p.m. at Dickinson
on July 11. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. and the first heat is at 7 p.m.
Mandan opens the pit gates at 5 p.m., with 6:45 p.m. hot laps and
7:30 p.m. racing both July 12 and 13.
Randy LaJoie, owner of The Joie of Seating and a two-time Busch
Series champion, will follow the series as part of a ‘Safer Racer
Tour’ designed to teach drivers, crew members and car owners about
cockpit safety.
Information about the Dakota Classic Tour is available from director
John Gartner at 701 667-2053.
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