Masters Snow Drag Series Season Opener With the Copper River Midnight Riders Snowmobile Club signing on as the major sponsor of the Wisconsin State Championship Snow Drags, the MASTERS Snow Drag Series opener is set for Saturday, January 8th, 2011. The races will be outside of Merrill, Wisconsin, in the town of Corning. The specially prepared and groomed snow surface will be located next to Ed & Sharon’s. The 500 foot, three lane track, will feature racing in both Stock and Modified Divisions, including a special 120cc Class. The Copper River Midnight Riders Snowmobile Club will have a $500.00 1st Place cash award to the winner in the Open Mod Class. The cash and trophy purse is estimated to be over $3000.00. G & J Construction of Merrill, Ed and Sharon’s, AmericInn of Merrill, will join the Copper River Midnight Riders as sponsors that have already signed up to support the races. Organizers of the race are hoping to add additional sponsors to secure this race for many years to come. This race, along with the Snow Drags in Sidnaw, Michigan on February 12th, and the Snow Drags in Munising, Michigan on Sunday, March 6th, will have racers competing for points at each race. The top 3 drag racers in points at the end of the year will receive additional cash purse. Registration for the MASTERS Racing Circuit Snow Drag Series season opener will be on the circuit’s webpage, www.mastersracing.net with all racers required to be at the mandatory drivers meeting on Friday Night, January 7th, at Ed and Sharon’s. Drivers will be allowed to register for the races that Friday Night. “We are excited to host the MASTERS Snow Drag Series opener, and hope that we can get local drivers to compete against those that have been racing in the MASTERS Circuit in the past,” stated Copper River Midnight Riders Vice President, Jason Kleinschmidt. Kleinschmidt added that the club and organizers of the races are still looking for additional sponsors to help with race expenses, “while we are proud to be the major sponsor and thank Ed and Sharon’s and the AmericInn for helping out, we need sponsors to help defray the other costs associated with a Professionally sanctioned snowmobile race.” “This is something our Circuit has been looking at for a number of years. We just had to find the club, land, and people, to put on a race this big,” stated MASTERS Racing Circuit President, Skip Schulz. “It’s great to bring the MASTERS to the Merrill area,” added Schulz. MASTERS stands for Mid America Snow and Terrain Expert Racers. This circuit has been around for over 15 years, and is one of the longest lasting Snowmobile Drag and Hillcimb circuits in the entire Midwest.