HOSS SPRINTS TO HIGHLIGHT 50th BAER FIELD “SEASON OPENER”
This Saturday, Fort Wayne’s Baer Field Speedway celebrates a half-century of providing short-track racing thrills, with the 50th annual SEASON OPENER! The action will be befitting such a momentous occasion as the ever-popular HOSS Outlaw Winged Sprints headlining a six-division “Super Show” with 150 laps of Feature racing!
The HOSS Sprints are expecting an all-star lineup of drivers for this Saturday’s racing around the Baer Field half-mile. Defending Series Champion Joe Swanson will head the HOSS driver roster which is expected to include 2012 Baer Field winners Troy DeCaire and Geoff Kaiser; former series champions Aaron Pierce & Jason Cox; Fort Wayne’s Chris Neuenschwander and Kyle Henry; and Baer Field “Hall of Fame” member and local legend, the “Hurrin’ Hoosier” Hank Lower!
When the gates open, a new era will be ushered in, as a new promoter has taken the reins of the historic speedplant and implemented sweeping changes to the facility. One of those changes will see a dramatic change to the weekly racing action as the majority of racing action will be moved to the 3/8th-mile short track, with the traditional half-mile reserved for special events, like the HOSS Sprints.
“If you look around the country, the vast majority of American race tracks are 3/8th-mile in length,” said new promoter Jon Raney. “A shorter track provides more action, closer competition, and tends to level the playing field as a longer track plays more into the strengths of well-funded teams. We have no intentions of abandoning the half-mile, as it will be used for all three HOSS races; the Supermodifieds on July 6; the $10,000 to-win Super Late Model race on July 17; the ARCA/CRA Super Series in September; plus various other special events throughout the year. The unique nature of our short track should make for an exciting season and see some new faces in Victory Lane.
Fans will also be treated to many physical changes.
“What fans will see, is the first phase of our rebuilding and renovation project,” said Raney.
The first change fans will see is extensive new signage from Excell Color Graphics that welcomes race fans while celebrating 50 years of racing heritage at Baer Field. Walking through the turnstiles, fans will step on to a freshly repaved midway area with new asphalt stretching the length of the grandstands. Gone will be the old scoring tower and VIP booth, replaced by new facilities and a spotters stand for the racers. The Speedway restrooms and concession stand have also been extensively renovated with renovation to the grandstands coming later in the season.
Joining the HOSS Sprints will be a full 5-in-1 Super Show of Late Models, Fantastic Sams Modifieds, Street Stocks, Afdent Mini Stocks, and Front Wheel Drives. Pit gates will open at 1; spectator gates at 4; qualifying at 5; and RACING at 7:30! Adult admission is $20 and all kids 12 and under will be admitted FREE to all 2012 Baer Field Speedway events. www.FWRACE.com for more information!
Baer Field Speedway is located on the south side of Fort Wayne, off Bluffton Road just behind Fort Wayne International Airport at 4331 Winters Road.
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