Michigan Dirt Cup Series News

Seven-race Michigan Dirt Cup Tour starts in spring


By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press

Bill Long is planning to give the weekend short-track driver a bigger stage to race on this season.

Long, of Flint, has announced the creation of the Michigan Dirt Cup Tour, a traveling seven-race series for dirt UMP Modified open wheel cars. The series will debut April 30 with a $1,500-to-win race at the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa.

Long has been busy this winter working with promoters, drivers and sponsors across the state getting the series jumpstarted.

It means that drivers will have the opportunity to tackle different tracks, square off against some of the best racers in the Midwest, compete for a bigger payday and pad their resumes.

“So far, knock on wood, it has all been positive,” Long said. “The drivers love the idea of having a Modified tour in Michigan, and the promoters have been great to work with. What tracks have done schedule nights off for for their Modified classes when we race so they can come to our events.

“This is not for the weak-hearted because it has been a lot of work. But it has surprisingly gone better than I thought.”

I-96 officials continue to put the finishing touches on its 2011 schedule, which is expected to be completed in the next week. However, the April 30 program will serve as the track’s season opener.

MICHIGAN DIRT CUP TOUR

• April 30 -- I-96 Speedway

• June 11 -- Butler Speedway

• June 17 -- Winston Speedway

• July 2 -- Owendale Speedway

• July 22 -- Cherry Raceway

• Aug 21 -- Mt. Pleasant Speedway

• Oct 1 -- Hartford Motor Speedway

"We're very honored to be hosting the inaugural Michigan Dirt Cup Modified series race at I-96 Speedway,” said I-96 spokesperson and announcer Matt Prieur. “This race makes our 2011 season opener, the 6th annual Ice Breaker, that much more prestigious.

“That race is also our opener for the weekly UMP Modifieds, and add in the fact that it's the season openers for the UMP Late Models, UMP Street Stocks and UMP Sport Compacts as well, this is truly a great way to kick off the 2011 racing season at I-96 Speedway."

Long is a former asphalt racer, starting out in Enduro race before pursuing Street Stocks, Limited Late Models and Super Late Models racing at a number of tracks, including Dixie Motor Speedway, Owosso Speedway, Kalamazoo Speedway and Spartan Speedway in Lansing. Long later went to work at Mt. Pleasant Speedway and learned the promotional side of short-track racing.

Long is now putting his experience as a driver and promoter to work. Prize money will pay $200 to start and $1,500 to win, with the exception of the seventh race at Hartford Motor Speedway, which will award $5,000 to the winner. The 2011 points champion will collect a $5,000 bonus.

“We would like to see a 35-car plus field for each race, but this is the first year, and I expect some bumps and bruises along the way,” Long said. “It’s not just a Michigan thing either. We welcome drivers from other states, too.

“We are doing this for the drivers, and we want to bring back that fan-driver relationship. We are putting together a program, and inside it, we will have each competitor’s picture with the car. We are hoping to see the young fans in the pits getting their programs signed by the drivers after the races.”