Fairmont Raceway has finalized its schedule for the 2023 season.
Opening night is Friday, May 5, featuring five weekly classes of USRA sanctioned race cars.
The Tri State Late Models have two dates scheduled in Fairmont, June 16 and Aug. 25. The USRA Summer Shootout is slated for June 19.
Minnesota Corn growers will sponsor the Salute to Ag Night June 28 with Wyffel's Hybrids will sponsoring a cheeseburger for corn grower members in attendance.
The fourth annual Bacon Town Showdown is set for Aug. 14, with $4,000.00 to win and $400 to start for Stock Cars and $1,000 to win and $150 to start for Hobby Stocks.
Area youth are the focus at Fairmont Raceway.
On June 2, 60-plus bikes will be given to area youth in attendance; on Aug. 2, more than 250 backpacks will be awarded; and in between on July 12, $5,000 will be awarded to area teachers to help with classroom expenses.
New this year is a Make a Wish MN fundraiser, in which it’s hoped to raise $20,000 for the Make a Wish MN Foundation.
Fairmont Raceway will be accepting donations and sponsorship from area supporters in an effort to make two wishes come true for terminally ill children in the state. John and Shannon Furst are helping to that event. They also run a Make a Wish event at Mason City Motor Speedway.
Fairmont Raceway 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 Models
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
Two Top 5 finishes
David Gravel guided Big Game Motorsports to a pair of top-five results last weekend at World of Outlaws events.
On Friday at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., at the Talladega Sprint Car Showdown, Gravel set quick time for the first time this season before winning a heat race. A high dash draw lined him up on the last row and he would place sixth.
Gravel on the outside of the third row in the A Main and gained two positions for a fourth-place outing.
“I felt like we had a better car than it showed, but fourth was nothing to hang our head on,” he said. “We passed some good cars. We battled for that fourth. It was good for where we started and the conditions. I think if we started third or fourth or on the front row we would have had a shot to challenge up front.”
Saturday was the Black Ice Brawl at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss.
Gravel timed in 10th quickest overall, which started him fourth in a heat race. A wild opening lap featured Gravel battling for second place entering turn one before getting sideways and falling to eighth. He rallied to secure a fourth-place result to garner the 10th starting spot in the main event.
He would earn the Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars in the A Main as he would place second.
“Starting 10th in the feature wasn’t terrible,” Gravel said. “We were able to get a good jump and get to fifth in a hurry, by Lap 3 I think. We kept moving forward and were able to get on the podium. We chose the right lanes and put ourselves in a good position. I think we had the fastest car on the racetrack. Being the fastest car on the track is a really good feeling for the team. When you can pass all the good cars like we did it’s definitely a confidence builder with this new tire. We’re constantly learning and hoping to be the first team to figure it out.”
Gravel continues to lead the World of Outlaws championship standings, leading Carson Macedo by 28 points and Brad Sweet by 32 points.
Next up for the team will be the Texas Outlaw Nationals Friday and Saturday at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Tex, a track where Gravel has never won.
“I’ve had some good runs and I believe I’ve finished second there twice,” he said. “It’s a tricky place. Track position is crucial. We’ll have to qualify well and put ourselves in position. I don’t think you’ll be able to go from 10th to second at that track.”
World of Outlaws point standings
Top 10
1. David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. 1140
2. Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. 1112
3. Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. 1108
4. Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Penn. 1090
5. Michael Kofoid, Penngrove, Calif., 1074
6. Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Oho 1068
7. Donny Schatz, Fargo 1042
8. Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. 1030
9. James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, AU 1006
10. Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. 996