Post by Webmaster on Mar 16, 2009 23:13:28 GMT -5
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 17) – Driver-turned-promoter Hollywood Leary has always been a Modified fan.
He’s hoping to share his enthusiasm for the sanctioned class with several thousand new racing enthusiasts this season at Manzanita Speedway.
IMCA Modifieds return to the quick clay Phoenix oval for the first time since 2003, while Southern SportMods make their first ever appearance there in March.
“We’ve got more than three million people to draw from here in the valley,” said Leary, whose promotional plans range from advertisements on the back of city busses to a thousand or so posters displayed in auto parts stores and restaurants around the metro area. “We can seat 5,000 people in our grand stands and I plan on filling them.”
Nine IMCA point shows are scheduled for the SportMods on Fridays or Saturdays between March 14 and Sept. 12. Modifieds will run on 11 Fridays or Saturdays, from March 27 to Sept. 19.
The Rotating Right Wild West Modified Southern Tour also comes to town on July 10.
“I’ve been going to dirt tracks for 20 years and I haven’t missed Super Nationals in the last 12 years,” Leary said. “The Modified division has gotten out of hand around here with $25,000 engines and high dollar shock packages. Rules needed to be put back into place and the best ones I saw to do that were IMCA’s.”
Canyon Speedway Park at Peoria, a Saturday venue, also resumed its Modified sanction this season and has already held three shows for the Southern SportMods, as part of its Winter Challenge Series.
“The SportMods are running very similar lap times to what we ran with IMCA Modifieds 10 or 15 years ago,” Leary said. “They’re a very affordable class.”
He’ll turn his attention to work on the track surface and grandstand entryway as opening night draws closer.
“There were a lot of improvements done here last year,” Leary said, citing new concessions, a new catch fence and additional fan seating. “This is an absolutely different track than it was a couple years ago.”
He’s hoping to share his enthusiasm for the sanctioned class with several thousand new racing enthusiasts this season at Manzanita Speedway.
IMCA Modifieds return to the quick clay Phoenix oval for the first time since 2003, while Southern SportMods make their first ever appearance there in March.
“We’ve got more than three million people to draw from here in the valley,” said Leary, whose promotional plans range from advertisements on the back of city busses to a thousand or so posters displayed in auto parts stores and restaurants around the metro area. “We can seat 5,000 people in our grand stands and I plan on filling them.”
Nine IMCA point shows are scheduled for the SportMods on Fridays or Saturdays between March 14 and Sept. 12. Modifieds will run on 11 Fridays or Saturdays, from March 27 to Sept. 19.
The Rotating Right Wild West Modified Southern Tour also comes to town on July 10.
“I’ve been going to dirt tracks for 20 years and I haven’t missed Super Nationals in the last 12 years,” Leary said. “The Modified division has gotten out of hand around here with $25,000 engines and high dollar shock packages. Rules needed to be put back into place and the best ones I saw to do that were IMCA’s.”
Canyon Speedway Park at Peoria, a Saturday venue, also resumed its Modified sanction this season and has already held three shows for the Southern SportMods, as part of its Winter Challenge Series.
“The SportMods are running very similar lap times to what we ran with IMCA Modifieds 10 or 15 years ago,” Leary said. “They’re a very affordable class.”
He’ll turn his attention to work on the track surface and grandstand entryway as opening night draws closer.
“There were a lot of improvements done here last year,” Leary said, citing new concessions, a new catch fence and additional fan seating. “This is an absolutely different track than it was a couple years ago.”