By Jerry Mackey
FARLEY, Iowa – Farley Speedway is set to host the 40th annual Yankee Dirt Track Classic this week.
The milestone event will be a tribute to Yankee founder Al Frieden. The late-season event was started in 1978 under the direction of race promoter and visionary extraordinaire Frieden. The event has continued to grow and is held annually at Farley Speedway, which was owned and operated by Frieden from 1989 to 2000.
The three-day racing event gets underway on Aug. 31 with Open Wheel Thursday, featuring qualifying racing for the IMCA Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and a full race program for the INEX Legend Cars.
Friday night, Sept. 1 will be billed as Full Fendered Friday with qualifying for the Deery Brothers Summer Series IMCA Late Models and the IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. The Tri-States Limited Late Models will run a full race program.
Following the racing action that evening, a big party will be held in the infield with live music by the popular Tri-States rock band, Hot Mess. A bonfire will also be going on as well.
Saturday, Sept. 2 will be championship night with four classes running, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods, IMCA Modifieds and the Deery Series Late Models. The 100-lap, $10,000 to win Yankee Dirt Track Classic main event for the Late Models is scheduled to take to the 3/8-mile oval at 9 p.m.
In addition, a charity auction of various race-related items will raise funds for the Farley Speedway Kids Club and the Legacies Alive Foundation, which supports the families of fallen US service men and women. The auction will get underway at noon and be conducted by racing auctioneer Greg Kastli.
Following the auction, a past champions round table session of Yankee winners will be held. Race fans will not want to miss this opportunity to hear race stories told by the drivers who have earned the right to be called Yankee Dirt Track Classic champions.
Camping is available on the grounds and the Palace Ballroom will be open for sit down meals both Friday and Saturday starting at 8 a.m.
For more information, please log onto the official Farley Speedway website at www.farleyspeedwaypromotions.com.