2003 SCRA PREVIEW / SCHEDULE By: Robert Mayson LAKEWOOD, CA, JANUARY 5, 2003 - Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) President Ron Shuman recently released the bulk of the 2003 SCRA schedule. The first of 41 dates of scheduled racing will kickoff with at twilight show in Southern California on February 15th at the Perris Auto Speedway. Still considered the "Home Track" for the SCRA, Perris will again have a total of 21 dates slated for 2003. Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix (AZ) will host the SCRA seven times starting with the two-day Gary Sokola Classic on March 21st & 22nd.
After single-day races on May 10th and September 13th, Manzy's SCRA schedule will conclude on November 1st, after three days of competition during the 36th Annual Western World Championships. The "Western" will once again be a big part of Shuman's Non-Wing World Championship (NWWC) tour which will crown it's 2003 Champion one week later during the 8th Annual Oval Nationals (November 6th - 8th) at Perris. Last year's Oval Nationals paid $30,000 to the winner. Another $30,000 check will be handed out on August 12th in Oskaloosa, Iowa after the first round of the NWWC series has been run at Southern Iowa Speedway. Beginning on August 14th at the Terre Haute Action Track (IN), the next three events will not only earn SCRA and NWWC points, but will also be co-sanctioned with the United States Auto Club (USAC). After Terre Haute date, the following two nights of co-sanctioned racing will see stops in Illinois at Farmer City Raceway and Tri-City Speedway. Another race will likely be added before the SCRA visits 67 Raceway Park (Godfrey, IL) on August 19th.
The Midwest portion of the NWWC tour will again conclude in Kansas City, Kansas at Lakeside Speedway on August 22nd & 23rd. The K.C. finale will be worth $10,000 to the winner. Lakeside will also host a "media day" for fans on August 21st. Ventura Raceway (CA) has dates on May 3rd and August 30th before their SCRA season wraps-up on October 18th after the running of the popular Wagsdash.
Another California mainstay on the SCRA schedule, Tulare's Thunderbowl Raceway, will have two dates for the upcoming season (June March 8th & June 14th). Other than Farmer City Raceway, the only other first time stop the SCRA will make will be at Hollywood Hills Speedway in Albuquerque, New Mexico on August 9th. This event will also mark the first ever race for the SCRA in the state of New Mexico. During the year, the Perris Auto Speedway will have 50 lap SCRA races on July 4th, August 31st and on November 22nd when the 2003 season concludes with the running of the 8th Annual Jack Kindoll Classic.
2003 SPRINT CAR RACING ASSOCIATION SCHEDULE
DATE / TRACK / LOCATION / LAPS
*Non-SCRA Point Race + Co-Sanctioned with USAC
Schedule subject to change