Cherry Raceway Opens 2012 Season on Friday, May 18th with a Full 6 In 1 Show

Cherry Raceway Opens 2012 Season on Friday, May 18th with a Full 6 In 1 Show

Fife Lake, Michigan (Tuesday, April 10th, 2012): Cherry Raceway, the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval located southeast of Traverse City in Fife Lake, Michigan is preparing for a very exciting 2012 racing season under the direction of Owners / Promoters, Roger & Michelle Steig. The Great White North’s Fastest Dirt Track is gearing up for one of the most aggressive and highly anticipated schedules in its 32-year history.

It all starts on Saturday, April 21st as Cherry Raceway, along-with Joe Rokos Racing, and the Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models & Modifieds Tours will all be a part of the “Cans for Race Fans” Food Drive at Tom’s Food Market, located at 1201 South Division Street in Traverse City, Michigan from 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m. 2011 Cherry Raceway UMP Modifieds Track Champion, Joe Rokos will serve as the host for this event with support from his home track and the second year series.

Race fans are encouraged to bring a canned food item to donate in support of the “Cans for Race Fans” organization and check out the racecars that will be in display. NASCAR Steve from Traverse City area radio stations; Real Rock 105fm and 95.5fm Classic Rock, The Bear 98.1fm, and Big Country 102.9fm, will be broadcasting LIVE from the food drive and the “Real Rock” show car will be on display as well. In addition, there will be raffles for various items throughout the morning and afternoon giving fans a chance to win prizes and memorabilia.

Then on the track action takes place beginning with Two Pre-Season Test & Tunes that will help kick off the year on Thursday, May 10th and Thursday, May 17th as these two opportunities will be the only two chances for any and all teams and drivers to shake their machines down in anticipation of the 2012 season opener. Weekly competitors as well as traveling series visitors and even teams that don’t have a car that will be racing at Cherry this season are all invited to attend. On these two Thursdays, the Pit Gates will open at 5:00p.m., and Practice will be from 6:00-9:00p.m., both days.

Opening Night 2012 is set for Friday, May 18th featuring a Huge 6 in 1 show highlighted by the UMP Super Late Models who'll be joined by the UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts. In addition it'll also be the Best Looking Car Contest, which will be held throughout the evening for all six weekly divisions.

Coming into the 2012 racing season, Ben Hidy will pull into the track as the Defending UMP Super Late Models Track Champion in the tracks’ premier division and he will have plenty of stiff competition with hopes of dethroning the reigning champion while Joe Rokos will lead a talented field of UMP Modifieds into battle as the Defending Track Champion in the tracks open-wheeled division.

In the Street Stocks, Brook Brasington is the reigning Track Champion, but will move up to UMP Super Late Models in 2012 leaving the Street Stocks field wide open as to who will claim this year’s crown. Emery Smith leads the charge for the Cruiser Bombers division while Willard VanHaitsma in the Four-Cylinder Warriors and Autumn Beeman in the Four-Cylinder Compacts come into the 2012 racing season as the Defending Track Champions in each of their respective divisions.

Ticket Prices for the 2012 season opener are: Adults (13-59): $12.00 – Seniors (60 and Over): $9.00 – Children (6-12) $6.00 – Kids (5 and Under): FREE – Pit Passes: $25.00. On Friday nights throughout the 2012 racing season, the Pit Gates Open at 4:00p.m. Grandstand Gates Open at 5:30p.m. Practice Starts at 6:00p.m., and then after Pre-Race Ceremonies / Invocation / National Anthem, Racing Begins at 7:15p.m.

Cherry Raceway is located at: 8649 East M-113 in Fife Lake, Michigan. For more information, please call: 1 (231) 468-1477. Don’t forget to check out the track website at: www.cherryraceway.com You can also follow us on Facebook by going to: www.facebook.com/cherryraceway and clicking on the “Like” button as well as on Twitter by going to: www.twitter.com/cherryraceway