Blake Bjorklund to seek Midwest AllStar Racing Series title beginning Saturday at I-70 Speedway

ODESSA, MO -- Blake Bjorklund, the 2004 Midwest AllStar Racing Series (MARS) late model rookie of the year and runner-up in the final point standings, will make a bid to win the title in 2005 beginning with Saturday night's 100-lap series opener at the I-70 Speedway in Odessa, MO.

Practice for late models and super trucks runs from 1 to 3 p.m.   The pit area will open much earlier than previously announced as race teams can now register anytime after 9 a.m. Saturday.   Qualifying is planned for 6 p.m. with racing at 7:30 p.m.   Enduro cars open the night's racing program.   The Mid-Am and I-70 super truck feature will go 50 laps around the high banked half-mile.

 
Bjorklund, who hopes to move into the top levels of NASCAR racing someday, became the first ever Minnesota driver to win a MARS late model feature race last year on June 5 at the I-94 Raceway in Sauk Centre, MN when he edged two-time champion Jeff Van Oudenhoven by inches at the finish line. "We raced at I-70 last year, but our power steering unit failed and we never got a feel for the track," Bjorklund said.  "We're going to go over there on Friday to practice so we are ready for what should be a really strong field of cars," he added. Bjorklund did some snowmobile racing before switched to 3/4 size late models in 2001.  He immediately won the rookie of the year title.  In 2002 Bjorklund was the point champion and won eight features. He switched to the more powerful late model cars in 2003 and raced at Fergus Falls Raceway and I-94 Raceway Friday and Saturday nights.  He won the rookie of the year title at each track and picked up three feature wins during his first season.   Last year he toured with the MARS traveling drivers and proved he could compete at a very high level with the second place overall finish and rookie of the year honors.