2017 Season Coming Together At Humberstone
Story By: STEVE PETTY / HUMBERSTONE SPEEDWAY – PORT COLBORNE, ONT – Humberstone Speedway management are still finalizing the 2017 schedule. “We are still working out the final details, for a couple more big events for this year” says Humberstone General Manager Bob Davidson. “We hope to release all the details of our 2017 schedule in the coming weeks” Davidson added.
The 2017 season will start off with a BANG on Sunday April 30th at 1:00pm with the second running of the Dawn of Destruction. The popular event will kick off with a 100 lap, $1,000 to win Enduro race that will be broken down into four (4) 25 lap segments, with each segment winner receiving $75. Also back as part of the Dawn of Destruction is the Construction Crush Off. “We have some tricks up our sleeves to top last year’s crush off” added Humberstone Speedway Race Director Tom Beales. The popular Ladies Race, Backwards Race, Enduro Cross, Side By Side Chain Race plus a few more surprises will also be on the card as part of the Dawn of Destruction. Details and rules will be posted online at www.humberstonespeedway.com
The stock cars will hit the track for an open practice session under the lights on Sunday May 14th with Wednesday May 17 being the rain date. The speedway will continue its “Wind it Up Wednesday” practice sessions throughout the season. The 2017 season opener will be on Sunday May 21st, when Humberstone will introduce its first ever pre-race tailgate party. Full details and a race night schedule for Opening Night 2017 will be announced in the coming weeks. Transponders will be manditory for ALL Humberstone classes in 2017.
The Southern Ontario Sprints (SOS) will return in 2017 with a pair of shows on Sunday June 4th and Sunday August 13th. Ryan Susice earned his first career Sprint Car victory and Dylan Westbrook put the exclamation point on his 2016 SOS Championship with their victories when the SOS visited Humberstone in 2016.
Sunday July 2nd is a day to circle on your calendars as Humberstone Speedway will be hosting the first ever $1,000 to win Showdown! This event will be history making as Humberstone Speedway will pay all of their regular divisions $1,000 to win on the same night. As if that wasn’t enough, one lucky fan in attendance will walk away with $1,000 in their pocket! Humberstone is looking to add even more to this mega event. If you would like to put your company’s name to this event, contact the Speedway office at (905) 834-4002.
July 9th will feature the first Racers only “Grudge Match” demolition derby following the weekly racing action. This demoliton derby will only be open to current and former racers. The rules are simple, the fuel tanks will remain in stock location. Rules will be posted on the track website. “This event will be about the halfway point of the season and will be a good way for the racers to let off some of their mid-season racing aggression and have fun doing it” Beales said. The winner of the “Grudge Match” will also have bragging rights for a year.
The longest running event in the region, the All Canadian Championships are once again held the Sunday of Civic Holiday Weekend on Sunday August 6th. The All Canadians qualifying format will see a twist in 2017. The Speedway will use the weeks leading up to the August 6th event to time trial one division a night, for the All Canadians. For example July 30 will feature Sportsman trials, to set the heat line ups for The All Canadians. Any Cars that do not time trial in these events will be placed behind the time trialed cars, for heat line ups on August 6th.
Sunday August 27th will be the third annual Pete Cosco Memorial Night featuring the Modifieds. Final points night for all classes will be on Labor Day Weekend, Sunday September 3rd. The Sportsman Super DIRTcar Series will be at Humberstone on Sunday Septmeber 10th. The season will come to a close on Sunday September 17th with Canada’s Wildest Motorsports Event, the Eve of Destruction at high noon.
The Speedway held a drivers meeting back on January 11. During the meeting several subjects were discussed. Humberstone Speedway officials wanted to get drivers input on key issues that would affect them, and didn’t want to make any changes with their valuable input. After discussions, in 2017 Humberstone will continue the weekly draw format vs weekly handicapping for all divisions. Humberstone will not adopt the duel team driver point system. After talking with the drivers. Owner Linda Cosco and General Manager Bob Davidson, will re instate the driver’s perfect attendance pass. Meaning if you compete in 100% of your divisions events in 2017, you will receive a free VIP pass for 2018. Any driver competing in 75-99 % of events will be eligible for the $200/$250 drivers pass. The only topic left undecided, is the Championship Format. Speedway Officials will continue to reach out to its drivers to obtain more feedback on the topic.
Humberstone Speedway will once again have RUSH sanctioning for the Late Models. “RUSH is a great organization and we feel and know that the Late Model competiors receive valuable incentives through the RUSH organization and Vicki Emig and Mike Leone and their staff have been wonderful in working with us throughout the years” added Humberstone Public Relations Director Steven Petty.
Returning in 2017 will be the Leslie Motorsports JR Fan of the Week. Introduced in 2016, it became popular amongst young fans. Each week one fan 12 years or younger will receive a Lucas oil swag bag, filled with goodies. The Jr fan also receives a canteen voucher, Souvenir checkered flag, that he or she can get autographed by all feature winners in victory lane. The lucky winner will also receive a photo with each feature winner compliments of Softouch photos. The jr fan also receives a ride in the pace vehicle during the first feature event of the night. New for this year all winners will be entered into a season ending draw. One lucky winner will receive a $250 Toys R Us shopping spree compliments of Leslie Motorsports and Race Director Tom Beales. ‘It is important to keep the young fans entertained and wanting to come back each week” states Ken Leslie from Leslie Motorsports.
New for 2017, who will have the fastest “Grocery Getter” in town? Humberstone speedway will introduce minivan racing. This bone stock class will be featured in 4 events in 2017, once a month. The Champion After all 4 Events will receive 12- $125 grocery gift cards. Equalling $1500. Presented by COOPER Motorsports and Humberstone Speedway. “I was telling Jeremy Cooper about the idea,” recalls Beales. “He was so thrilled about the idea he put up the money for the Championship. There is no smoke and mirrors, the winner will receive $1500. The rules are available at www.humberstonespeedway.com and are pretty simple” Beales continued. A minimum roll overbar and four or five point harness is needed. Also drivers, and if running a passenger, both doors must be plated. The vans must remain 100% STOCK, no modifications, no exceptions. The Minivans will run heats and a feature on their nights, and will follow full race procedures. One way radios and transponders are not required. Anyone 16 years of age or older can enter, including current and former racers. Any 4 wheel drive vans must have rear shaft removed.
While the 2017 schedule is still in the kettle boiling, be sure to check out www.humberstonespeedway.com, or check out our facebook page to find out the latest news. Humberstone Speedway has several marketing opportunities, everything from division sponsorship, to nightly sponsors, billboard advertising, and track title sponsor. We have something to suit your business. Let us help you grow your business. Give our office a call to see what we can do for you 905-834-4002 or email info@humberstonespeedway.com
Humberstone Speedway is located just two miles East of Port Colborne on Highway 3, just 17 miles west of the US/Canadian Border at the Peace Bridge (Buffalo/Fort Erie). For more information, please visit us on the World Wide Web at www.humberstonespeedway.com as well as follow us on Twitter @NewHumberstone and like us on Facebook. Don’t forget to bring your portable FM radios and listen to all the action on 90.3FM. You can also call the speedway at (905) 834-4002 or the speedway office at Cosco Haulage (905) 935-2886
Humberstone Speedway… Let’s Make Racing Fun Again!
