Fairmont Raceway is scheduled to open its 2023 season on Friday with all five regular classes set to take the track.
On the docket for the opener are the C&B Operations Modifieds, State Bank of Fairmont Stock Cars, Nutrien Ag B-Mods, Finke Excavating Hobby Stocks, and Extreme Powdercoadting Tuners.
It’s the first of 16 events on the “Friday Night Lights” schedule that officials from Fairmont Raceway and Sports Park Raceway in Fort Dodge have put together for the season.
In addition to the regular Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series track and national points funds, drivers racing at the two tracks this year will compete for a bonus points fund for the top five drivers that acquire the most points between the two tracks about 90 miles apart.
Every scheduled night at each track will count and drivers in all divisions are competing against each other for this extra money.
The driver who earns the most points will pocket a $1,000 cash prize while the second-place finisher will get $800. Rounding the top five, it’s $650 for third place, $450 for fourth $300 for fifth.
The management of both tracks said that they’ve heard from drivers that would like to run both tracks, but both had raced on Friday. Under the current schedule for 2023, June 2 is the only time the tracks run on the same night.
2022 Fairmont Raceway track champions
C&B Operations Modifieds: Josh Ruby, Lakota
State Bank of Fairmont Stock Cars: Luke Sathoff, Jackson
Nutrien Ag B-Mods: Jared Boumeester, Waseca
Finke Excavating Hobby Stocks: Greg Sidles, Fairmont
Extreme Powdercoating Tuners: Alan Lahr, Nicollet
Fairmont Raceway 2023 schedule
Fri., May 5: Opening Night
Fri., May 19: Legends Night
Fri., May 26: Clash of the Tuners
Fri., June 2: Kids/Bike Night
Fri., June 9: Cancer Awareness Night
Fri., June 16: Tri State Late Model
Mon., June 19: Summer Shootout
Wed., June 21: Salute to Ag
Wed., July 12: Teacher Appreciation
Wed., July 19: Vintage Cars
Wed., July 26: Hall of Fame
Wed., Aug. 2: Back to School Night
Mon., Aug. 14: Bacontown Showdown
Fri., Aug. 18: Fair Race
Fri., Aug. 25: Championship Night with Tri State Late Models
Thurs., Sept. 14: Prelude to Stock Car Nationals
Friday Night Lights schedule
Friday, May 5 – Fairmont Raceway
Friday, May 12 – Sports Park Raceway
Friday, May 19 – Fairmont Raceway
Friday, May 26 – Fairmont Raceway
Friday, June 2 – Fairmont Raceway & Sports Park Raceway
Friday, June 9 – Fairmont Raceway
Friday, June 16 – Sports Park Raceway
Monday, June 19 – Fairmont Raceway
Friday, June 23 – Sports Park Raceway
Friday, June 30 – Sports Park Raceway
Friday, Jul 28 – Sports Park Raceway
Wednesday, Aug. 2 – Fairmont Raceway
Friday, Aug. 11 – Sports Park Raceway
Friday, Aug 18 – Fairmont Raceway
Friday, Aug 25 – Fairmont Raceway
Friday, Sept. 1 – Sports Park Raceway
Anderson runs twice
Parker Anderson of Welcome competed in the hobby stock class at both Marshalltown Speedway and Park Jefferson Speedway last weekend.
At Marshalltown Friday, he placed eighth in his heat race after starting second.
That put Anderson 13th to start the B, but he did come on to finish second to transfer to the A, where he was 14th after starting 22nd.
Anderson had planned to race at Webster City on Saturday but after they canceled it was off to Park Jefferson.
He started first in his heat race and won that.
Anderson started fourth in the feature and finished second. He had dropped back to seventh when a yellow flag came out with six laps left. Anderson was able to maneuver up to second in the remaining time.
Gravel claims fourth win
David Gravel guided the No. 2 Big Game Motorsports sprint car to its fourth feature win of the season Friday during the World of Outlaws event at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill.
Gravel placed third in the dash to garner the third starting position in the 30-lap main event. He took over the runner-up position on Lap 8 and powered into the lead near the midpoint. Gravel held the top spot for the remainder of the race to secure his 80th career triumph with the World of Outlaws, a feat only 11 other drivers have earned in the history of the series.
The team traveled to Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind. on Saturday.
Gravel timed in 10th quickest overall and finished fourth in a heat race to line up on the outside of the seventh row in the A Main. He advanced into the top 10 within the first handful of laps before a mechanical problem forced him into the infield with a DNF.
Next up is the #LetsRaceTwo event at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, this Friday and Saturday.
World of Outlaws point standings
Top 10
Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. 2110
Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. 2098
David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. 2062
Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Penn. 2036
Michael Kofoid, Penngrove, Calif., 2016
Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Oho 1980
James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, AU 1928
Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. 1920
Donny Schatz, Fargo 1916
Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. 1916