UPIR READY FOR SATURDAY’S OPENER

ESCANABA, Mich. (June 9, 2010) – The clay is down, the wall and flag stand are up and the city is abuzz with excitement. The Delta County Fairgrounds in Escanaba is ready for its first race in almost ten years this Saturday, June 12.

Volunteers have worked tirelessly in weekly work bees to get the track prepped. On Wednesday they watched the flag stand go up as the finishing touch on the 1/8-mile Upper Peninsula International Raceway.

Boyd Widdis, UPIR volunteer coordinator, said he could not be more pleased with the response he has received so far. “We have a bunch of people I didn’t think cared about racing, but now they want to be involved,” he said.

Over the final two days before the opener, volunteers will add bleachers in the pit area, paint the front stretch wall and manicure the track to ensure that it is race ready. Rain in the Escanaba area has presented a challenge for the volunteers, but the use of some heavy duty track prep equipment has Widdis confident the track will be ready.

Widdis said he expects the track to be in perfect condition Saturday, and plans to run the event rain or shine. He said he knows that the weather could present a challenge, but he and UPIR officials have every intention of giving race fans a show regardless of conditions.

With the response of drivers and entry forms received, fans can expect plenty of racing action at UPIR. Officials from the venue expect well over 30 competitors in the Small Car division, over a dozen in the Micro Sprint division and anywhere from 15 to 20 in the Tough Truck/Car division.

The Small Car and Micro Sprint Divisions will run heat races, a last chance race (if necessary) and a feature race. Each of the Tough Trucks/Cars will take two timed runs through their specialized course. The best time will be taken for each competitor with the fastest qualifier named the winner.

UPIR expects a few drivers from other tracks such as Norway Speedway and Thunder Valley Raceway in Sands, Mich. Among them will be Bobby Rose of Cornell, who is a top competitor in the 4 cylinder division at both venues. Bret Widdis who races in the Mid-American Stock Car Series and boasts a win at the Milwaukee Mile with the United State Super Trucks also plans on fielding an entry. Nick Pinar of Escanaba won a championship on the ice this winter, and will head the contingent of Micro Sprint drivers.

After the racing concludes, the entertainment will continue below the grandstand. Local band Rock, Stock and Loaded will play a concert for no additional charge.

Admission prices for Saturday’s first round of the 2010 UPIR Triple Crown will be $5. The grandstand will open at 4 p.m. (E.S.T). Racing is scheduled to begin at 7.

UPIR is an abbreviated 1/8-mile clay-surfaced course carved out of the existing course at the Delta Co. Fairgrounds. A Triple Crown in 2010 will be used to gauge the interest of race fans in the area and to fund the efforts of reopening the facility featuring a 3/8-mile asphalt oval in 2011.

The UPIR Triple Crown will take place on three Saturday evenings in 2010. The dates are June 12, July 31 and Aug. 21. Racing is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on June 12 and July 31 and at 1 p.m. on Aug. 21.

Rules and registration are available by contacting Boyd Widdis at 906-450-5112. For more information visit upirracing.blogspot.com or www.deltami.org.