MIS E-News
Week of January 12, 2009
By John Wells
Happy 2009 Everyone! This is going to be a fast and exciting season of racing at MIS and it's time to start the countdown to the season opener. We hope you like the new format of our website.
Here is the latest information from Madison International Speedway.
It's Banquet Time
The MIS Banquet will be held on Saturday, January 17th at The Heights in Verona, Wisconsin. Downloadable registration forms are available on our website.
Track champions Nathan Haseleu, Bob Wilberg, Jay Kalbus, Chester Ace, and Max McNamara will be honored along with many others. There will be an opportunity for the top three finishers in each division to speak so make sure to prepare those speeches gentlemen! Rookies of the Year and Favorite Drivers will also be honored along with a variety of special awards.
Donna Forsythe will be there to present the Wayne's Custom DIECAST Dash and Hard Charger Awards.
This will be a great opportunity to review the past season as well as look forward to the new year.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone and having a great time.
MIS Announces 2009 Schedule
MIS General Manager Dave Grueneberg has released a tentative schedule for 2009. The season will feature five weekly divisions: Late Models (formerly known as Limited Late Models), Area Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Bandits, and Legends. The Late Models, Area Sportsman, and Hobby Stocks will all race on Wisconsin's Fastest Half-Mile with Bandits and Legends taking to the Quarter Mile "Ring of Fire."
The season opener is scheduled for Sunday, May 3rd with the ASA Midwest Tour and Big Eight Series coming to town. "You can't ask for a better season opener," said Grueneberg. "These are two proven series with talented drivers and great car counts." Prior to the season opener there will be two open practice sessions on April 25th and May 3rd.
The Friday night opener will take place on May 8th. "The weekly program is going to have a slightly different look to it. We've added the Hobby Stocks to the program and they will be running on the big track. The other four divisions return from last year and we're expecting very solid numbers in each," added Grueneberg.
Major special events are on the schedule including the Swiss Colony All Star Challenge on Tuesday, June 30th that will feature Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart. This year's event will once again by a super late model race with drivers from throughout the Midwest expected to be at MIS.
A true MIS tradition and a must see event, the Fireworks Extravaganza, is slated for Friday, July 3rd. Highlighting the racing program that night will be Twin 40s for the Late Models.
The ASA Late Model Northern Series will be at Madison on Friday, July 24th.
Late Model Twin 50s will highlight the racing program on Friday, August 7th with a Super Late Model Special on the schedule for Friday, August 14th.
The MIS Season Championships are scheduled for Friday, August 28th and will feature Twin 40s for the Late Models, Twin 25s for the Area Sportsman, and Twin 25s for the Hobby Stocks in addition to the Bandits and Legends.
The third annual MIS Fall Classic is back in September and will expand to three days. The JDRF Walkathon will also be held during the Classic. In 2008 a total of 291 cars competed in the Classic; this year we will look to surpass 300.
The USST Super Trucks will be in action on several Friday nights as well as the AST and International Four Cylinders.
The schedule is subject to change as additional divisions may become part of the schedule at different points in the season.
Madison International Speedway
2009 Racing Schedule
Subject to Change
Friday Night Racing: Hot Laps 4:45; Qualifying 6:30; Racing at 7:30
SLM = Super Late Models, LM = Late Models, AS = Area Sportsman,
HS = Hobby Stocks, USST = Super Trucks, AST = Short Trackers,
INT = Internationals, B = Bandits, L = Legends
Saturday April 25th Open Practice Noon - 5:00 PM
Saturday May 2nd Open Practice Noon - 5:00 PM
Sunday May 3rd ASA Midwest Tour / Big Eight Series
Friday May 8th LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday May 15th LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday May 22nd LM / AS / HS / B / L / USST
Friday May 29th LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday June 5th LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday June 12th LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday June 19th LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday June 26th LM / AS / HS / B / L
Monday June 29th Practice for All Star Challenge
Tuesday June 30th All Star Challenge (SLM / LM) 7:00 PM
Wednesday July 1st All Star Challenge Raindate
Friday July 3rd LM Twin 40s / AS 25 / HS 25 / INT 25 / AST 25 Fireworks
Friday July 10th LM / AS / HS / B / L / USST
Friday July 17th LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday July 24th ASA North / USST
Sunday July 26th ASA North Raindate
Friday July 31st LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday Aug 7th LM Twin 50s / AS / HS / B
Friday Aug 14th SLM / LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday Aug 21st LM / AS / HS / B / L
Friday Aug 28th Season Championships
LM Twin 40s / AS Twin 25s / HS Twin 25s / B / L / USST
Friday Sep 4th Season Championships Raindate
Friday TBA MIS Fall Classic
Saturday TBA MIS Fall Classic
Sunday TBA MIS Fall Classic plus JDRF Walk
Swiss Colony All Star Challenge Returns to MIS
Kenseth, Stewart to Highlight the Field
Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart are returning to Madison International Speedway in 2009 when they will compete in the Swiss Colony All Star Challenge on Tuesday, June 30th.
Gates for this major racing event are scheduled to open at Noon with practice from Noon -3:30 PM and qualifying at 4:00 PM. Racing is set to begin at 7:00 PM. Advance general admission tickets are $20.00 for adults, $10.00 for students ages 8 thru 17 with children seven and under admitted free. A spectator pit pass is $60.00 and includes grandstand seating.
A VIP Hospitality ticket is available for $125.00 and includes access to the hospitality tent from Noon - 7:00 PM, complimentary hot food and beverages, pit pass, reserved parking, and reserved grandstand seating. A VIP ticket also entitles you to autographs, a question and answer session with Matt and Tony, and prize drawings.
A downloadable ticket order form is located on our website (madisoninternationalspeedway.com) by clicking on the All Star Challenge link.
The raindate for the Swiss Colony All Star Challenge is Wednesday, July 1st.
Correction...Correction
In my recently published season summary it was noted that Alex Arelano won three features in the Legends in 2008. Truth of the matter is the "Southside Hit Man" won four features...six in all if you count the two non-points races.
Attention Drivers
We would like to know your plans for 2009. Be sure to email me at mismedia2@yahoo.com so that we know your plans and have your email address for our drivers' list. Our fans like to know what you're up to so let us know. We want to promote your team if you let us know what's going on.
Educational Series is Back in 2009
The Speedway Educational Series is back this year offering thousands of dollars in scholarships to Ohio Tech in Cleveland, Ohio. If your team is interested in having a student on your crew or if you are interested or know someone who is interested, please let me know.
Students can win scholarships of up to $25,000 per year. It's a great way to get our young people involved in the sport of racing.
Rules
Rules will be updated on our website this week.
Suggestion Box
The suggestion box is open. If you have ideas for the 2009 season please feel free to let me know. We are looking for promotional ideas, contests, novelty events, etc. Your feedback is important to us. Let me know at mismedia2@yahoo.com.
That's all for now. See you at the banquet on Saturday night and stay warm.
John Wells