Humberstone Speedway Releases Plans For 2018 Racing Season

Story By: STEVE PETTY / HUMBERSTONE SPEEDWAY – PORT COLBORNE, ONT – The Humberstone Speedway has released its plan for the 2018 season, which will begin the annual Dawn of Destruction on Sunday, April 29.

Before the Dawn of Destruction, fans will have the chance to see the cars and stars of Humberstone Speedway at the Seaway Mall in Welland, Ontario from April 21-28 during regular mall hours.

The $3,000 to win Dawn of Destruction will feature an Enduro, Auto-Cross, Backwards Race, Demolition Derby and more. There is still plenty of time to sign up and register for the Dawn of Destruction and you can do so by contacting Humberstone Speedway.

On Mother’s Day, May 13, the gates will swing open for the first time for racing competition. The Mini Stocks will have the same rulebook as those competing at Ohsweken and Merrittville Speedways. “This is huge for the Mini Stocks,” says Humberstone Speedway president Dave Bitner. “Common rules will improve car counts and competition”, Bitner added.

The DIRTcar Sportsman will be joined by the RUSH Late Models, the Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks and Pro 4 Trucks on a weekly basis. The Crate Sprints will make three appearances in 2018 on June 17, August 10 and September 2. The vintage cars will also be on the card for three shows as well. Some of the major dates on the schedule include the return of the $1,000 to win night on Canada Day, July 1. The Bellinger Electric Inc (BEI) Sportsman Series will make their annual stop at Humberstone on Sunday, June 3. The tradition of the All Canadian Championship will take place on Sunday, August 5, and the Pete Cosco Memorial for the mighty Modifieds will take center stage on August 26. The Sportsman will be racing in the Gabe Bellante memorial on Sunday, August 19 in a $1,000 to win event.

Humberstone Speedway is introducing two new initiatives in 2018. The Humberstone Speedway Kids Club will feature events for kids either prior to the night’s racing program or during intermission each race night. From coloring contests to power wheel races, tire-rolling contest to a poster contest and more. The Kids Club is free to all kids 12 and under.

The second new initiative that newly named track president Dave Bitner Jr is bringing on board is “Buckle Up Buddy”. The “Buckle Up Buddy” initiative and fundraising program will introduce students in the Niagara Peninsula the rules of the road including street safety, distracted driving, the importance of buckling up and more. The “Buckle Up Buddy” program allows kids to have the authority to remind other kids and parents to buckle up and not to text and drive. All kids will receive a “Buckle Up Buddy” badge. When a Buckle Up Buddy attends the races at Humberstone Speedway, they can check to make sure the drivers are safely buckled into their race cars. The Buckle Up Buddy program will also allow schools the opportunity to have fundraisers at the track on race nights.

When fans enter the speedway for the 2018 season, they will see new signage, property beautification as well as new boards for several sections of the grandstand area.