While two of Deer Creek Speedway's most popular and highest-paying events take place in September, July has become another Month of Money at the dirt track near Spring Valley.
While the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars show and the USMTS Featherlite Fall Jamboree are still more than two months away, the beginning of the mid-summer big-money races is less than a week out.
Nearly $200,000 will be paid out over an 11-day stretch beginning with Wednesday's Summer Sizzler The show, set for a 6:30 p.m. start time, will be headlined by the United States Modified Touring Series and the Wissota Late Model Challenge Series.
The Summer Sizzler came about after the annual Spring Showdown at Deer Creek was rained out on April 26.
The USMTS — which has been hit hard this season by rainouts — has USMTS National Championship Series races scheduled at Fairmont, Minn., and three Iowa tracks next week, so rescheduling the Casey's Cup Qualifier race at Deer Creek fit into the schedule.
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The winner of Wednesday's USMTS A Main will earn $4,000, while every driver who starts the A is guaranteed at least $400.
The winner of the Wissota Late Model Challenge Series A Main will earn $2,000. Wissota Street Stocks will also run on Wednesday's show, with the winner of that feature earning $500.
The Challenge Series will return to Deer Creek just three days later, with a $3,000-to-win A Main, as part of the annual Firecracker special. The other five regular classes at the track — USRA Modifieds, USRA B-Mods, Wissota Super Stocks, Wissota Street Stocks and Wissota Midwest Modifieds — will have points races that night, as well.
The 11-day stretch of big shows concludes on July 7 with the annual Gopher 50 charity Late Model race featuring the World of Outlaws Late Models Series. The winner of the Gopher 50 will earn $10,000. For the second consecutive year, the USMTS will complement the WoO Late Models.
The USMTS will also appear at Chateau Raceway near Lansing on July 6, as part of the rescheduled Mike Guttormson Memorial race. That will also be Chateau's annual Fireworks Night, with a fireworks display after the races.
Speedbumps ...
Two-time Gopher 50 champ (2005, 2009) Darrell Laniganis on a roll in the WoO Late Models Series. He has won four of the past six races and holds a commanding 116-point lead over Rick Eckertin the season points standings. The Outlaws are gearing up for one of their biggest races of the season, the $30,000-to-win Firecracker at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. It's their second-to-last stop before coming to Deer Creek for the Gopher 50. ... The Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series will make a stop at Chateau Raceway for tonight's 7 p.m. show. The series, which races in Minnesota and Wisconsin, will also visit Dodge County Speedway in Kasson on Sept. 29. ... Former Rochester resident and area dirt track racer Steve Arpinwill be back in a Modified soon. He has found a ride to compete in the Minnesota Modified Nationals, July 7-8 at Viking Speedway in Alexandria. ... As of a week ago, 72 drivers had pre-registered for the Second Annual World Modified Dirt Track Championship at Deer Creek. The field already includes drivers from 13 states and one Canadian province.
