MASTERS Racing Circuit Season Opener in Merrill (WI)
The Mid America Snow and Terrain Expert Racers (MASTERS) Racing Circuit will kick off it’s expanded Drag Racing Series just outside of Merrill, Wisconsin, on Saturday, January 14th. The races will take place next to Ed and Sharon’s, in Corning Township.
This is the second year of the Wisconsin Snow Drags at this location, and once again this will be the first race of the MASTERS Racing Circuit Drad Racing Series for the Winter of 2012. The racers will compete in side-by-side competition on 3 – 500 Foot lanes. Competition will take place in two divisions, Stock and Modified. Each Division will have a 500, 600, 700, 800, and Open Class.
This year the featured class will be the new TOP GUN class, where naturally aspirated modified sleds up to 1200 cc will compete in the Ed Dinges Memorial Race. With a minimum of 12 drivers entered in TOP GUN, the winner will receive $500 and a big Ed Dinges Memorial Trophy. The Open Class in the Modified Division will be for any sled up to 1200 cc.
The MASTERS Racing Circuit also runs a 120 cc class for children from 5 to 9.
Racers will begin with the TNT (Test N Tune) Runs starting at 9:00 am. Once all the drivers have had a chance to run in the TNT, the competition will then begin. All drivers have to Pre-Register on the MASTERS Racing Website, www.mastersracing.net by Wednesday, January 11th. Or the drivers can participate in the “Meet and Greet Pre-Registration Party” at Ed and Sharon’s on Friday Night, January 13th from 6 to 9 pm CT. The MASTERS does not take any registrations on the day of the race.
This year the Copper River Midnight Riders Snowmobile Club will be holding a ‘Beat your Buddy’ Race at the end of the competition. Those that want to compete in the ‘Beat your Buddy’ races will have to have a safety tether on the snowmobile and will also be required to wear Upper Body Protection.
The cash purse payout and the trophy presentation will take place Saturday Night, January 14th, at Ed and Sharon’s.
“We’re excited to be returning to the Merrill area, as the Copper River Midnight Riders and the local sponsors really do an excellent job in making this a great way to start our season,” commented MASTERS Racing Circuit President, Skip Schulz.
The MASTERS Racing Circuit runs a series of Snowmobile Drag Races where the drivers also compete for Year-End Points. After the Jan 14th Race in Merrill, MASTERS points drivers will compete at the Ice Drags in St. Germain (WI) on Sunday, Feb 5th. While the St. Germain Ice Drags is not sanctioned by the MASTERS Racing Circuit, the races are still a part of the Year-End Points Program. The next MASTERS Racing Circuit Sanctioned races will be at the Sidnaw Airport in Sidnaw, Michigan on Saturday, Feb 18th. Then the drivers go to the Iron County (MI) Airport, outside of Crystal Falls, on Saturday, Feb 25th.
The MASTERS Racing Circuit will then go from ‘flat-land’ racing to racing up Ski-Hills in April. The first Ski Hill race will be at Marquette Mountain on Saturday, April 7th. The following weekend the racers will head to Big Powderhorn Ski Resort, just outside of Ironwood, Michigan. It will be on Saturday, April 14th that the Uphill Drags will take place at Big Powderhorn.
On Sunday, April 15th, the MASTERS Racing Circuit will hold a Snowmobile Hillclimb at Big Powderhorn. This Hillclimb will be a qualifying event for the 2013 World Championship Snowmobile Hillclimb in Jackson, Wyoming.
“We are still working on a hillclimb to qualify drivers for this years World Championship. If we are not able to secure a hill, we will be taking our fastest Drag Racers to Jackson, Wyoming to represent the Midwestern States,” commented Schulz.
The MASTERS Racing Circuit is the oldest and longest running Snowmobile Snow/Ice Drag Circuit in the Midwest. It was formed in 1995. Drivers from throughout the Midwest compete in this circuit.
“We’ve been able to last this long due to the commitment by a lot of snowmobile clubs over the years. These clubs, do more then grooming the trails, they host the MASTERS races to help the area’s economy. With each driver, comes a pit crew and families, and they spend money in the area where we host the races,” concluded Schulz.