Green Flag Flies Over Rice Lake Speedway on May 5th

By Ed Reichert

Rice Lake WI – It took four tries and will happen nearly a month later than originally planned, but finally it appears that the Rice Lake Speedway will get their 2018 racing season underway with the first event now slated for Saturday night, May 5th.

The snow has finally left the area and the track and grounds are sufficiently dried off to the point that vehicle traffic will be safe and the track will be smooth and fast for opening night action.

The opener will feature five WISSOTA classes in action; the divisions that include the Pure Stocks, Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks and the Modifieds that all race at the track every week.

Opening night will see the pit gates open an hour early at 3 pm and drivers are encouraged to arrive early and get their 2018 season paperwork taken care of before the last minute rush. And if any drivers have not yet purchased their 2018 WISSOTA driver's license, please do that on line to both save yourself some money and a great deal of trouble if you wait until you arrive at the track.

The spectator grandstand will open at 5 pm, the cut off for drivers and hot laps will take place at 6:30 pm and the first green flag of the 2018 racing season will wave shortly thereafter. While a number of tracks in the area have raised their spectator admission fees for 2018, the Rice Lake Speedway has held the line and all spectator tickets will remain the same price as last year.

Opening night will see the judging taking place for Best Appearing Cars and those honors will be announced the following week. Speaking of May 12th, fans have asked to see more of the Late Model class at Rice Lake and Dave Adams and Mitch Hansen have responded. On Saturday night, May 12th , along with a full program of all five divisions that normally race at the track, the Late Models will make their first of two appearances during 2018 with the “Trackside Collectibles 40” featuring a full show of Late Models culminating in a forty lap, two thousand dollar to win main event.

Carefully picked as a night when there should be few conflicts with other tracks racing Late Models, a full field of the areas finest Late Model drivers is expected for a show that should match the yearly Challenge Series race for intensity. Special event admission pricing will be in effect that night.

With the delay to the season, perhaps more drivers than normal have had a chance to get their race cars completed to this point, and with good weather a big field of opening night racers is expected.

In preparation for the opener, two practice nights have been scheduled this week with practice available to all racers in all classes on Wednesday and Thursday, with both nights having the practice carry on from 6-9 pm. Spectator gates will be wide open and free for fans to get an early look at their favorite racers' entries and there will be only a charge for each race car practicing, and not for pit passes.

Race fans should be checking the speedway face book page this week and well as the speedway website at www.ricelakespeedway.net for any updates, particularly with rain in the forecast for one of the practice nights that may affect that event.

Any questions should be directed to either Dave Adams at 715-205-2861 or Mitch Hansen at 715-205-1122.

The Rice Lake Speedway is located one mile North of Rice Lake midway between Wisconsin State Highway 48 and Barron County SS. The track phone number is 715-236-2002.