Race Fans and Drivers, Are You Ready for the Dawn of a New Decade at Missouri State Fair Speedway!
By Sam Stoecklin
Public Relations/Announcer
December 30, 2009

Since first announcing the Historic Half Mile Speedway at the Missouri State Fairgrounds would roar back to life on Friday nights in 2010 with weekly racing, promoters Reid Millard and Jason Bodenhamer and the speedway staff have kept busy preparing for the fast-approaching season. The events schedule features fifteen nights of competition for weekly classes, which consists of 360 Sprint Cars, Late Models, and A-Modifieds. A new series kicks things off at the speedway on opening night April 16, when the Mid America Modified Series (MAMS) rolls into town. The Midwest Latemodel Racing Association (MLRA) will make three appearances throughout the year on May 21, July 9, and August 22. The August MLRA date will be a co-sanctioned event during the Missouri State Fair on Sunday evening with the super late model National Championship Racing Association (NCRA). Past NCRA champions include Kelly Boen, Kyle Berck, and Al Purkey, who is also the defending MLRA champion. The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars makes their much-anticipated return to the track with a tentative Wednesday evening date on June 16; there are currently seventeen race nights scheduled.

The official start to the Missouri State Fair Speedway (MSFS) takes place on Saturday, April 10 with a car show and test and tune session. Additional details are forthcoming regarding the car show, the test and tune practice session for all classes will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the speedway after the car show concludes. Area street stock drivers will have at least two opportunities to race at the Historic Half Mile as they are scheduled for April 30 and August 6, which are both nights the 360 Sprint Cars will not be competing. The track’s A-Modifieds will support the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars in a non track points race on June 16. There are still additional events and special race nights to be announced. Mother’s Day weekend at the races takes place on May 7, Kid’s Night at the Races will be June 4, Father’s Day weekend at the races is June 18, and a special night of racing takes place on July 30 with the return of the Al Bodenhamer Memorial. “We’re going to bring back the memorial race night to honor my Dad, who also competed during his racing career at State Fair,” stated co-promoter Jason Bodenhamer. In addition to the MLRA/NCRA co-sanctioned late model event on Sunday, August 22, the Winged Outlaw Warriors (WoW) will also take to the speedway as the Missouri State Fair comes to a close.

The track’s general race and car class rules are currently in the final editing stages and will be ready in time for the registration and rules review meeting and the annual Bodee’s Racer’s Auction and Trade Show. Bodee’s auction takes place on January 30/31 at the Mathewson Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds beginning at 8 a.m. each day. The speedway will have a booth at the event where rules, schedules, and registration forms will all be available and track staff will be on hand to answer questions. All drivers in each car class at MSFS are required to register for the season; the registration fee is just $50 if taken care of prior to March 1, at which time it increases to $60. The rules and registration meeting offers a prime opportunity for drivers to register and complete necessary forms prior to opening night and more importantly gives them an opportunity to review the rules first hand with the track’s officiating and promoting staff. According to co-promoter Jason Bodenhamer, “drivers are in for a completely different operational atmosphere than they may be accustomed to and we want to see maximum participation at the meeting. We believe everyone is really going to appreciate the general racing rules we have come up with for competition.” The rules and registration meeting takes place on Saturday, February 6, 2010 on the Missouri State Fairgrounds at the MoDOT Highway Gardens Building from 10 a.m. to noon. The building is located to the south of the intersection of Elm Street and Missouri Street; for a detailed map of the location visit www.mostatefair.com.

At the track’s end-of-year banquet, drivers competing in at least 75 percent of the scheduled weekly events at the speedway will receive awards and accolades. “We want to honor the drivers who are committed to running at the track on a weekly basis. These drivers work hard each week to put their cars on the track and Reid and I want to ensure they are recognized for their commitment,” stated Bodenhamer. Details regarding the end-of-year banquet will be unveiled at a later date. Speaking of awards and accolades, drivers will find that a very respectable weekly payout schedule awaits them for competing. Sprint Cars will race each night for $1,300 to win the main event; the rest of the top five payout is $900 second, $700 third, $500 fourth, and $400 for fifth, the Sprint Car feature pays $200 to start. Late Models will race for $1,000 to win each week with the rest of the top five going away with $800 second, $600 third, $500 fourth, and $450 fifth, the feature event pays $150 to start. The A-Modifieds will race for $750 to win each week, $500 second, $400 third, $350 fourth, and $300 fifth, the feature pays $100 to start for the A-Modifieds. The entire pay schedule and additional track documents for MSFS will soon be available at www.missouristatefairspeedway.com, please bookmark the official track Web site but note that it is still under construction.

Stay tuned to the Web site and future press releases for additional announcements and track information regarding the 2010 race season at MSFS. If you wish to join the track e-mail group, simply send an email request to PRatSFS@live.com. Potential business partners are urged to call Jason Bodenhamer during normal business hours at (816) 230-8322 or by calling his mobile phone at (816) 522-8343 to make arrangements. Don't miss your chance to be part of the fast-approaching and exciting race season at Missouri's State Fair Speedway! We look forward to seeing everyone at the Auction and Registration Meetings and wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year!

2010 Tentative Missouri State Fair Speedway Schedule

Saturday, April 10 - Car Show (Location & Details to be announced)
Saturday, April 10 - Test & Tune Session All Classes, 1 to 4 p.m.
Friday, April 16 - Mid America Modified Series (MAMS), 360 Sprints, Late Models
Friday, April 23 - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Friday, April 30 - Late Models, A-Modifieds, Street Stocks
Friday, May 7 - “Mother’s Day Race Night” - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Friday, May 14 - “Torch Run Trooper Night” - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Friday, May 21 - MLRA Late Models, 360 Sprints, A-Modifieds
Friday, June 4 - “Kid’s Night at the Races” - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Friday, June 11 - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Wednesday, June 16 - World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, A-Modifieds (non track points)
Friday, June 18 - “Father’s Day Race Night” - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Friday, June 25 - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Friday, July 9 - MLRA Late Models, 360 Sprints, A-Modifieds
Friday, July 16 - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Friday, July 23 - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Friday, July 30 - “Al Bodenhamer Memorial” - 360 Sprints, Late Models, A-Modifieds
Friday, August 6 - “Championship Race Night” - Late Models, A-Modifieds, Street Stocks
Sunday, August 22 - MLRA/NCRA Late Models & WoW Sprints (Fair Week)