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Kevin Kovac
WILLISTON, N.D. (July 11) - The World of Outlaws Late Model Series is the talk of the town in Williston, N.D.
That's because the renowned national tour is coming to the small community (population: just over 12,000) in the western part of the state on Sunday night (July 13), paying a first-ever visit to Williston Basin Speedway as part of the WoO LMS 'Wild West Tour.'
"Everyone around town is pretty excited about the race," said Jack Blotsky, president of the roughly 150-member Williston Basin Racing Association (WBRA) that operates the one-third-mile oval. "There's definitely a buzz about the Outlaws coming in here."
The stars of the WoO LMS will headline the biggest show ever run at Williston Basin Speedway, a track that normally features open-wheel Modifieds on Saturday nights. Robust advance ticket sales for Sunday's 50-lap, $10,000-to-win program point to the likelihood of a record crowd at the facility.
"We've gotten calls from fans as far away as Minnesota," said Blotsky, who has presided over the WBRA since 1994. "We're planning on the race being standing-room-only in the stands."
Bringing in the Outlaws is a huge undertaking for the WBRA, which has been promoting dirt-track races in Williston for 35 years, including the last nine with the speedway in its current location on the Upper Missouri Fairgrounds. The club operates the track using an all-volunteer workforce - not a single person is on the payroll - and has never posted a purse as hefty as Sunday's will be, but its membership decided that the time was right to step up and present a mega-show.
"We thought it would be exciting to bring something to Williston Basin that the fans from this area have never seen before," said Blotsky. "Fortunately we were able to line up some sponsors to help make this race possible for all our fans."
Local businesses DC&B Hotshot & Trucking, Triple B Construction and Mr. Gutter threw their support behind the race several months ago, setting the stage for a blockbuster card at the track located 18 miles from the Montana border.
Williston Basin Speedway will be a blank slate for the invading WoO LMS drivers and most of the event's other entrants as well. That sets up a neutral playing field sure to provide plenty of competition.
"It's better when we all go to a track for the first time," said WoO LMS regular Rick Eckert of York, Pa., whose 16 series wins since 2004 has him tied with Scott Bloomquist as the tour's winningest driver over that period. "We're all even when we get there and it comes down to who can figure out the track first."
A WoO LMS traveling roster that boasts the top dirt Late Model talent in the nation will accompany Eckert to Williston Basin. The group includes defending tour champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.; Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., who entered the Wild West Tour as the WoO LMS points leader; 20-year-old Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va.; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., who drives a car owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup star Clint Bowyer; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.; Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.; Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.; 2007 Rookie of the Year Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.; John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.; and 2008 Rookie of the Year contenders Vic Coffey of Leicester, N.Y., and Joe Isabell of Pennellville, N.Y.
A talented group of drivers from across the region also have plans to compete, including Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., Kelly Boen of Henderson, Col., Gary Webb of Bluegrass, Iowa, and 25-year-old Dustin Hapka of Grand Forks, N.D. WoO LMS regular Clint Smith is also contemplating the possibility of fielding his backup car for Al Purkey, a veteran standout from Coffeyville, Kan., who is accompanying Smith on the 'Wild West Tour.'
Tickets for the event are $35 and are still available for pre-sale by calling 701-774-8008.
Gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m., with racing set to begin at 7 p.m. The track's IMCA Modifieds will also be part of the program.
Williston Basin's WoO LMS date will come the day after the series races north of the border at Estevan Motor Speedway in Estevan, Saskatchewan. Williston is 100 miles south of Estevan.
For more information, visit www.basinspeedway.com.
Additional info on the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.
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