tHIS sATURDAY NIGHT, Champ Hinton Enterprises and the 4 Star Diner in Roland, OK will be sponsoring the Cash Money SuperDirt Series late models this weekend at the mighty Tri-State Speedway!

Not only is it the 11th Annual Danny Martinez, Jr. Memorial Races, but the NexGen class will make it's debut and the late models will be returning for their second appearance of the season.

Race fans, that's SIX classes of racing this weekend AND it's at REGULAR admission prices!

Only $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (65+) and $5 for kids (6-12). Pit passes will also be the normal $30 and $15. Plus, all law enforcement, fire fighters and EMT's/paramedics get into the grandstands for free to honor the late Danny Martinez, Jr.

Pit gates open at 4 PM with grandstands at 5 PM. Hot laps hit the track at 6:30 PM.

We'll see YOU there!

          

The 11th Annual Danny Martinez, Jr. Memorial Races will now take place on April 28th, 2018. THe originally scheduled date was on the same night as the big USMTS "Hunt for the Casey's Cup: Modified date of May 5th. It was also on the Saturday of the Steel Horse Rally in Fort Smith and we wanted as many law enforcement personnel as possible to be able to attend the event.

 

Rob Nugent, Track Announcer/Social Media/PR

THE EVENT

POCOLA, OK (March 30^th & 31^st, 2018) – The 39^th Annual Cecil Harlan Memorial Kegger was a great way to kick off the first full season of racing at the mighty Tri-State Speedway under the new ownership of Michael and Jerri Hoover. With 107 entries from Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa, it was one of the largest Keggers from the last several years.

Mother Nature did try to interrupt, or postpone, the event with her bouts of moisture on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. Even with the many loads of new clay on the track, the track was able to be worked on Wednesday afternoon, but with more rain coming on Thursday morning, the scheduled practice from Thursday night was moved to early Friday morning. The added watering from the skies did provide for a “lumpy” track in places on Friday night, but the grader was on the track before that night’s trophies were handed out. With the added threat of more rain on Saturday night, the start time was moved back two hours.

75 degrees greeted race fans on Saturday evening and a very smooth track awaited the drivers, who were easily running three, and sometimes four, wide during the night’s feature racing.

The pre-race ceremonies started just after 5 PM on the final night, with the invocation and national anthem with several cars from the Ca$h Money SuperDirt Series Late Models presenting the American flag during a few parade laps, honoring the passing of several recent racing people. The first green flag of the night was waved by Tamyra Hannah, daughter of the late, long-time track owner, Cecil Harlan, for which the Kegger is now named after.

Heat races that were ran on Friday night for all classes competing were determined by the driver’s draw at sign in. The classes then advanced to their features via passing points. The B Features on Saturday night advanced the remaining cars to fill the remaining A feature positions.

At intermission both nights, everyone had a chance to grab themselves some food items from the newly reconfigured concession, an ice-cold Pepsi product and grab a Kegger T-shirt.

On Saturday night, kids were treated to free photos with the Easter Bunny before intermission. At intermission, 1,000 eggs filled with candy and prizes were distributed on the front straight for three different age groups to collect with one of the 120 free Easter baskets that were provided during the Easter Egg-stravaganza. Many of the eggs, didn’t contain candy, but a ticket for a free gift ranging from bicycles to power wheels. Also during intermission on Friday, the Ca$h Money SDS Late Models gave away a girls and boys bicycle to two lucky kids, just for coming to the race track. Several $100 gift cards were also given out to a “senior” fans in attendance. We would like to thank Harper Motorsports for the Easter baskets and Philpot’s Complete Care Center for the $100 gift cards, as well as Angela Bourland and Veronica Robins for putting together the whole Easter Egg-stravaganza. More individual names who donated money and/or prizes are listed on our social media channels.

TOP THREE – FRIDAY NIGHT

In the Mini-Stock A Feature, Chris Tuck (6T – Mulberry, AR) captured the win as Jerry Higgins (66) finished second over Bobby Mulkey (6).

The Front Wheel Drive A Feature had Aaron Dyer (48 – Sallisaw, OK) claim the trophy over Chelsie Jones (73CJ) and Gary Clark (221 – Hackett, AR).

TOP THREE – SATURDAY NIGHT

The Factory Stock A Feature saw Kris Vaughn (35 – Van Buren, AR) picking up the win. JR Owen (79 – Pocola, OK) finished in second and Chris Patterson (48Z - Muldrow, OK) finished in third.

Up next was the USRA B-Mod A Feature where Tate Cole (89 – Fort Gibson, OK) took home the “big check”. Dakota Foster (05 – Gardner, KS) took home second place over Brandon Wilson (4B – Fort Smith, AR).

The Super Stock A Feature was on track next and saw Brian Parker (210 – Owasso, OK) capture the win over Ray Phipps (L7 - Pocola, OK). Kyle Slader (19S - Muskogee, OK) crossed the finish line in third.

The USRA Modifieds took to the high banks next for their A Feature. Steve Holzkamper (5 – Gentry, AR) crossed the line first for the $2,000 pay check over Kyle Ledford (75 - Greenwood, AR) as Johnny Bone, Jr. (12 – Pea Ridge, AR) finished in third.

The Ca$h Money SuperDirt Series Late Model A Feature was the last feature for the event. Justin Wells (98 – Aurora, MO) took home the Kegger trophy. Brandon Hunter (1/4 – Alma, AR) took home second over Brandon Cheek (555).

Complete race results from the entire event can be found by clicking here.

NEXT TIME

The next event for Tri-State Speedway will be the first point racing of the season on April 7^th. Watch for more information coming soon on the May 4^th and 5^th racing action at the mighty Tri-State Speedway.

We will see YOU soon!

                         

 

 

The information for the 39th Annual Cecil Harlan Memorial Kegger, presented by Crain Hyundai, has been released.

The long-time event will once again return to the famous high banks of the mighty Tri-State Speedway on March 29th, 30th and 31st, 2018. The event name was slightly changed a few years ago to honor the late Cecil Harlan, who was the long-time former owner and promoter at Tri-State Speedway. Cecil also created this event.

This year's event will feature over $33,000 in prize money up for grabs with racing in seven classes that will include Mini-Stocks, Front Wheel Drives, Factory Stocks, Super Stocks, USRA B-Mods, USRA Modifieds and the new Ca$h Money SDS Late Models. The Ca$h Money late models are a brand new touring series being headed up by Dustin Mooneyham and Justin Wells with the series based out of Southwest Missouri. The series is aimed at making late model racing competitive and affordable. They plan on running races this season at tracks in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. The Kegger will be their first race of the new series and is already attracting interest, not only from regional drivers, but from other states outside of the four-state area. For more information on the Ca$h Money SDS Late Model Series, click here.

With over $33,000 up for grabs, the racing will be the best in the area. The Factory Stocks will be competing for $750 to win their A Feature, $100 to start and a $50 entry fee. The USRA B-Mods will be competing for $$1,000 to win, $125 to start with a $65 entry fee. The Super Stocks will be competing for $1,500 to win, $150 to start with a $85 entry fee. The USRA Modifieds will be competing for $$2,000 to win, $200 to start with a $100 entry fee. The Ca$h Money SDS Late Models will be competeing for $1,000 to win, $300 to start with a $50 entry fee.

March 29th will be an open practice session for all classes at the track, in Pocola, OK, from 6 PM to 9 PM. Grandstand admission is free for the practice session and is a great way to get out and see the drivers and their new cars for the 2018 season. Pit passes will be $20. Pit gates will open at 4 PM and grandstands at 5 PM.

March 30th will see a complete race program for the Mini-Stocks and Front Wheel Drives, as well as qualifying action for the Factory Stocks, Super Stocks, USRA B-Mods, USRA Modifieds and the late models. Grandstand admission will be $10 for adults and $5 for kids 6-12 years old. Pit passes will be $30 for adults and $15 for kids (6-12 years old. Pit gates will open at 4 PM, grandstands at 5 PM and hot laps scheduled to start at 6:30 PM. Don't forget the after party on Friday night with Vertical Groove!

March 31st will be the final night of the 39th Annual Cecil Harlan Memorial Kegger with all the drivers trying to make their way to the front for the big money payouts. Grandstand admission will be $12 for adults and $5 for kids 6-12 years old. Pit passes will be $35 for adults and $15 for kids (6-12 years old. Pit gates will open at 3 PM, grandstands at 4 PM and hot laps scheduled to start at 4:30 PM.

We want to thank Joe and the gang at Crane Hyundai in Fort Smith for helping out with this year's event.

Come join us on opening weekend for the 39th Annual Cecil Harlan Memorial Kegger at the mighty Tri-State Speedway!