Winston Speedway takes racing up a notch, attracts World of Outlaws Late Models

Winston Speedway takes racing up a notch, attracts World of Outlaws Late Models

By Scott Brandenburg | Muskegon Chronicle The Muskegon Chronicle

Auto racing fans will want to keep Aug. 19 open to fill their need for speed.

Winston Speedway will host the World of Outlaws Late Models special event.

The payout to the winner is $10,000, a portion of the biggest purse ever given out at Winston.

“It’s a big gamble for me to put it on,” Winston Speedway owner Tom Sprague said. “But I think the area is ready for a big race like this. Everyone I’ve talked to from spectators to the racers is 100 percent behind it.”

The payout should draw many of the top drivers from throughout the midwest.

Record crowds are expected, so Sprague is considering installing temporary grandstands at some point this summer.

Many of the drivers coming in could be ones race fans can see on TV as the World of Outlaws is one of the biggest late model racing events around.

The Aug. 19 event is part of Sprague’s plan for bigger and better racing throughout the summer at Winston.

“We worked hard throughout the winter and managed to schedule some bigger shows,” said Sprague. “It’s part of taking care of the race fans here, offering bigger and better events. It’s all about getting some drivers in here on our tracks that people have seen on TV so they can see them here.”

Winston will host a record 26 events this year, four on Saturdays and the rest on almost every Friday night throughout the summer.

Things get going Saturday with the fifth annual Intega Shocks/Springs Player Hater 50.

There’s concern about the weather, but the latest forecast indicates drying out early Saturday.

“It’s one of the biggest races we have and we like to have it early,” said Sprague. “We have it before most of the other tracks open up and we’re able to draw drivers from Ohio, Indiana and all over Michigan.”

Another new event is a Michigan Dirt Cup Tour race on June 17.

The Michigan Dirt Cup Tour has seven events and the payout is $1,500.

Other big events making their debut at Winston are two Sod Winged Sprints and Renegade Racing Fuels Pro Sprint Series races, one on July 29 and another on Sept. 2.

As far as regular racing, Sprague added driver response is up and preregistration is strong.