DirtFest jump starts 2016 season at Salina Speedway

By Dusty Wiegert

SALINA, Kan. — It’s been nearly four years since a spring special opened the season at the Salina Speedway in Salina, Kan.

This weekend will mark the second time a special opens the yearly campaign as the April 1 and 2 DirtFest will jump start the sixth season since re-opening in 2011.

Five divisions of racing will highlight both days of competition. The Long McArthur IMCA Modifieds, Coors Light IMCA Stock Cars, M&H Motors IMCA Northern SportMods, Auto House Mod Lites, and Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stocks are on the docket for the doubleheader.

Friday night’s racing will be presented by Rib Crib of Salina, and will feature a full program of qualifying heat races and feature events. The pit area will open at 4 p.m., grandstands at 5 p.m., hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s finale will also feature a full program for all divisions. Everything starts an hour earlier on Saturday, with the pits opening at 3 p.m., grandstands at 4 p.m., hot laps at 5 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.

Admission for adults each day is $10 while kids 15 and under are free with a paying adult. Seniors 55 and older are half-price with ID. Military both current and retired are free with ID. Pit passes will be $30 each day.

Long McArthur Ford of Salina will debut as the local IMCA Modified title sponsor for 2016. The division will be racing for $1,000 to win each night with $100 to start the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying main event. They will have a $75 entry fee that will cover both days of racing, or a one-day entry fee of $40.

The Coors Light IMCA Stock Car division will boast a $750 payday to the winner with $75 to start. There will be a $50 entry fee that will cover both nights or a $30 entry fee for a single night during the weekend.

M&H Motors returns to the IMCA Northern SportMod division as the presenting sponsor for 2016. The SportMods, Auto House Mod Lites, and Budweiser IMCA Hobby Stocks will each run for $500 to win per night with $50 to start. They will have a $40 entry fee that will cover both nights of racing, or a one-day entry fee of $25.

The last time a spring special kicked off the season was in 2012 when the Spring Fling ran one day out of the two scheduled on April 13th due to bad weather. Jeremy Mills of Garner, Iowa picked up the win in the IMCA Modified division while Jeremy Chambers won the IMCA Northern SportMod feature, Kyle Vanover triumphed in the IMCA Stock Car feature, and Pete Beaumont captured the IMCA Hobby Stock feature.

For more information on the Salina Speedway visit www.racesalinaspeedway.com or call 785 292-9220.

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