Knock On Wood - Volume 16 #4.
By Matt Prieur

Ovid, Michigan (Monday, August 11, 2008): It’s been two weeks since my idea for a proposed traveling series for Outlaw Bodied Pro Late Models and Open-Wheeled Modifieds in the Central / Eastern Region of Michigan was brought up.

The idea is for three tracks in this region of Michigan, Dixie Motor Speedway-Birch Run, Michigan. Owosso Speedway-Ovid, Michigan, and Whittemore Speedway-Whittemore, Michigan is to get the top drivers from every facility in the three track radius going head to head under a common set of rules and a good purse and the experience of racing in a traveling series.

There are obviously a few issues that would, and in some cases already are, being addressed and compromise would be the key for all parties involved for this whole thing to have any chance of getting off the ground in the first place.

The designated time frame for the Short Track Auto Racing Series (S.T.A.R.S.) Late Models and Modifieds is for the start of the 2009 racing season. Here it is August of 2008, can we work together and make this a reality and in a way, save local short track racing as we know it? Time will tell.

Starting on a smaller scale would be the key! You don’t want to involve too many tracks and too many rules. Looking at the three tracks mentioned, the rules for the Pro Late Models / Late Models / Limited Late Models are nearly identical.

Same with the Modifieds, subtle changes to meet in the middle for all three could be done and have already started! Dixie has already taken a couple of steps in that direction with some recent rule changes to their Modifieds to better align themselves with the area tracks.

Both divisions’ at all three tracks run the Hoosier 970 tires on Eight ( 8 ) inch Steel Wheels / Rims. Those two rules are / would be, set in stone. Nothing would change in regards too Tires and Wheels, so that’s already out of the way and done with. Building from the ground up if you will!

We’ve already mentioned a Saturday Morning / Afternoon Meeting sometime in November at a neutral site (Saginaw, Bay City, Midland area) would clear up any differences in the remainder of the rules for the betterment of the sport and for the betterment of this proposed series. Plenty of discussion is already ongoing on the Michigan Short Track Racing Club (http://www.mstrc.com)

This neutral site meeting would also establish those rules and procedures for those three tracks early enough to where drivers and teams could get everything in line to run at their home track as well as in this new 10-race series.

A minimum of $200 to start has been established as a great starting point pay-wise. There was talk of running for a $1,000 to win, but another idea has been brought up to pay $800 to win and spread the wealth throughout the remainder of the field down to the $200 start money. 20-24 car fields would start each event, which is plenty!

These are just a few ideas and all of this wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation and support of the three tracks mentioned and of course, it would take a nice investment to even begin to think about building this from the ground up

There remain a lot of questions that would need to be answered in order to make these concepts and ideas a reality! But we’re working on it and in just two weeks, plenty has already been accomplished, but time will tell though if all of this really does become a reality.

Any comments, questions, suggestions, etc., can go to: mprieur@mph-promotions.com Thanks for reading.