With the holidays just concluding, and the calendar turning to a new year, the 2013 local race season probably isn’t on too many minds. After all, the local racing season is at least three and a half months away.
The season may be months away, but local tracks are starting to announce information about some of the bigger races that will be coming to their tracks.
Shawano Speedway has already announced that the World of Outlaws Dirt Late Model Series will be returning to the Speedway. After last year’s event was postponed for almost a week because of rain, this year’s event will have a rain date. The show is scheduled for Tuesday, July 30, with a rain date of Wednesday, July 31.
Shawano Speedway will also be hosting a Badger Modified Tour race on Saturday, May 25.
The Badger Modified Tour was created by Joe Verdegan in 2012. The intent of the tour was to get the best drivers from eastern Wisconsin to assemble at a select amount of races and compete head-to-head. The tour held seven events at six tracks in eastern Wisconsin in its inaugural season. Seymour’s Brian Mullen won the championship in 2012.
Verdegan said he plans to have a 10 or 11 Badger Mod Tour races scheduled this season. The entire schedule will be released by mid-January at the latest.
“We have a few promotional deals we’re working on which we hope to announce in the very near future,” Verdegan said.
Verdegan said it was a goal of his to get Shawano Speedway on the schedule.
“Shawano Speedway is one of the most storied dirt tracks in Wisconsin,” Verdegan said. “They were priority number one in terms of securing a date for 2013.”
Having secured Shawano Speedway on the schedule, Verdegan said he is excited about that race on the schedule.
“The place has a huge tradition,” Verdegan said. “I had the privilege of working there over the years. I worked well with Dale Hodkiewicz and we’re looking very much forward to it.”
Verdegan said fans can expect a full field of Modifieds at Shawano Speedway when Badger Modified Tour rolls into town. Modified car counts for the touring races in 2012 were: 52, 58, 39, 45, 46, 36 and 61. A total of 107 drivers competed in at least one touring race last season.
“We averaged 48 cars per show, and realistically for Shawano, we could be looking at a count of somewhere between 45-50 modifieds,” Verdegan said. “Brian Mullen, Benji LaCrosse, Mitch and Joe McGrath, Craig Priewe, Eddie LeMay and Tim Lemirande are just some of the BMT regulars you don’t normally see weekly at Shawano. Throw in guys like former track champ Jared Siefert, former state champion Lance Arneson, and Tom Schaal and the weekly drivers at Shawano and you’ve got a recipe for one great show.”
As one can tell, Verdegan is excited to have Shawano Speedway on the Badger Modified Tour schedule.
“I think the fans there will be in for a real treat that night,” Verdergan said.