By Lonnie Wheatley
DODGE CITY, Kan. – All of southwest Kansas and beyond is abuzz about this Friday’s “Driver Appreciation Night” event at Dodge City Raceway Park.
With drivers doling out tickets to the event to enhance their chances at landing the bigger prizes that will be awarded during the evening, a capacity crowd is expected to fill the grandstands and possibly then some.
To accommodate the crowd, the grassy area to the north of the grandstand seating area will be available to use for lawn chair seating on Friday night. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to ensure a good seat in the grandstands or to bring a lawn chair to set up a comfortable vantage point to take in the night’s racing action that includes the Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.
Racing will get underway at 7:30 p.m.
Competitors have been distributing tickets to family, friends and sponsors since the track’s last event on July 15.
Tickets that are returned to the front gate on Friday night will make those drivers eligible for all variety of product prizes including the grand prize Hinchman racing suit.
Only drivers that have competed in at least 80 percent of this year’s Dodge City events will be eligible for the grand prize while all drivers on hand will walk away with something in hand.
Additionally, the six drivers who have the most tickets turned in at the front gate by 8:15 p.m. will be eligible for a special bonus. Again, they must have competed in 80 percent of this year’s events to be eligible for the special bonus.