WITH EVENTS AT PHOENIX, LAS VEGAS & PERRIS
USAC's 2009 National racing season will debut with a flair like never before, with a trio of February events unfolding at facilities in the Western United States.
The "Copper on Dirt" at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz. February 20-21 kicks off the calendar, incorporating all three National racing series, the Silver Crown, Sprints and Midgets, in addition offering points toward USAC's 2009 CRA Sprint Car and Western Midget Car championships. The event packed in 123 total race cars last February and produced some of the finest competition of the 2008 season.
The action-packed Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track serves as the second venue, with a Wednesday night, February 25 "doubleheader." The National Sprints and Midgets combine for the event on the 1/2-mile dirt oval, with points also awarded to the CRA Sprint and Western Midget series.
Three nights later, Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway hosts a similar "doubleheader" for the Sprint cars and Midgets on its spectacular 1/2-mile dirt.
This marks the first time that Manzanita Speedway has hosted all three National series in a single program, while the National Sprint Cars have never competed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dave Darland won the last National Midget race at LVMS, in 1997.
The last time Perris Auto Speedway hosted a National USAC Midget race was in 1996 when Billy Boat won the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at the PAS.