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More speedway plans given
by Staff
Speedway Associates Inc. President Alton McBride Jr. on Thursday announced that Baker Racing School is the exclusive race school at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for 2010.
Baker Racing School is on track for at least 12 dates at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2010, said McBride.
Speedway Associates has a three-year lease and exclusive option to purchase the speedway.
McBride said Baker Racing School, started by the Buck Baker family, is the original longest running true race school in the industry.
"We at SAI/NWS (Speedway Associates Inc./North Wilkesboro Speedway) are very pleased to work with another legendary name and the historical honor that goes with the Baker Racing School. This is what we are about at Historical NWS," said McBride.
McBride said Jeff Boyer and the team at Baker Racing School updated their fleet of cars in 2009. "The commitment they have made to the Baker Family name and Historic NWS is nothing short of unmatched in the industry," he added.
New headquarters?
McBride said Boyer and Baker Racing School are in talks with Speedway Associates regarding the North Wilkesboro Speedway being headquarters for all Baker Racing School operations in 2011 and beyond.
McBride said efforts with the speedway are ahead of schedule and on target.
"While we have to stay up with the cutting edge times and technology of our ever changing industry, we have the ultimate responsibility to preserve and rebuild short track racing health in our region," he added.
Speedway Associates officials had hoped this winter would be mild like others the last few years, said McBride.
"We are simply just anxious to get paint on the walls and begin our work when weather permits."
McBride said Boyer and Baker Racing School had planned to start at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in late January, but extended severe cold weather caused them to request a potential starting date in February.
"The buzz in the air is awesome and we have enjoyed the enthusiasm of the racing public who has been requesting advanced sales for two months now in hopes we will go to North Wilkesboro Speedway," said Boyer.
Pro All Star Series
McBride also announced the purse for a Pro All Stars Series (PASS) race event at the speedway, tentatively scheduled for April 7, 8 and 9, 2011.
This is in addition to the previously announced PASS race event scheduled at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2010.
"On the bill is a 300-lap super late model race where the winner of the unprecedented race will take home a record breaking $75,000 guaranteed," he said, adding that the base purse will exceed $153,000.
"This purse and event format will draw PASS competitors and teams from all over the United States and Canada for a good old fashion short track cage fight," said McBride.
The press release quoted PASS President Tom Mayberry as saying he and PASS have been waiting for the right opportunity to do an event like this.
"I'm pleased that the partners at North Wilkesboro Speedway have agreed to present this historic short track event," said Mayberry.
"We're announcing the race prior to the start of our 2010 PASS North and South schedules because we are building additional bonuses into the purse for PASS competitors, including guaranteed starting positions for the top 15 in our final 2010 North and South point standings and an additional $25,000 winner's bonus for the teams that choose to run all of our 2010 point races in either series, plus four of the PASS national events," he said.
That's a $100,000 pay day for the race winner if they are a PASS regular and a 20 percent bonus across the board for every starting position, said Mayberry.
"What a ride"
McBride said, "What a ride it has been in the last three months. On behalf of the SAI / NWS team…. I can only say thank you. NWS and SAI are honored with PASS and our other aligned race series. This event will be historic."
He said all of the events at the speedway will be unique and memorable in some way.
"It is a magical time in Wilkes County. This is not about SAI, or any one group of people. This is about us all as a community and region. All county officials, all fans, workers in the region, out of work people in need of a part time job, and this is all about us all together, along with our children and our families."
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