By David Smith Jr., OKTidbits
OBERLIN, Kan. – Officials with the Lucas Oil POWRi United Rebel Sprint Series presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing have released the 2020 race schedule that consists of events at 14 different race tracks in four different states.
The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car tour’s 15th consecutive season will kick off at RPM Speedway in Hays, Kan., Thursday-Saturday, March 26-28, with the Thursday night set for practice night. The track will again host the series on Saturday and Sunday night, July 11-12.
The tour will make its first of five appearances at Dodge City, Kan., Raceway Park on Saturday, April 4. The tour will venture into uncharted waters as a pair of West Texas events are slated. First will be Friday, April 24 at West Texas Raceway in Lubbock before making to trip north to Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo.
On Friday, May 29 the tour returns to WaKeeney, Kan., Speedway before a stop at Thomas County Speedway in Colby, Kan., on Saturday, May 30.
Once again, part of the annual Dodge City Raceway Park 305 Nationals highlights the middle portion of June (18-20) and one of the premier events on the season schedule. The tours’ annual trip to El Paso County Speedway in Calhan, Colo., takes place Saturday, June 27.
Independence Weekend kicks off atop the famed Belleville, Kan., High Banks Friday, July 3, before another inaugural event, this coming at Jefferson County Raceway in Fairbury, Neb., for the first sprint car race held at that facility.
The aforementioned RPM Speedway is set for June 11-12 before the final appearance in Colorado takes place Friday, July 17. Rush County Speedway in LaCrosse, Kan., will host its annual two-night series event on Saturday and Sunday night, July 25-26.
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14 and 15 will be the annual Bob Salem Memorial race at Oberlin, Kan., Speedway.
The tour will take off the first weekend of September for the annual RaceSaver Nationals at Eagle Raceway in Nebraska.
Yet another first-time appearance for the Rebels will be Friday, Sept. 11 with the long-awaited trip to Salina, Kan., Speedway. The tour then heads straight south to the New 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan.
The final Dodge City appearance of 2020 takes place Saturday, Sept. 19 before the series closes out the season Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27, at WaKeeney.
URSS president Rick Salem is doing his best to work with track promoters and operators to keep racing as uniform and constructive as possible. One change for 2020 will see no scheduling conflicts between the tour and Dodge City’s weekly events so drivers won’t have to choose which venue to compete.
Information about series sponsorship and contingency opportunities is available from Salem at 785 475-7010.