5/10/2014
UMSS, JSTS & Minnesota Mafia Team Up For Big June Weekend
The Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS), Jackson Speedway Touring Series (JSTS) and the Minnesota Mafia are teaming up for what will be a tremendous weekend of winged sprint car racing in southwest Minnesota. When the UMSS released its 2014 schedule, there were two "To Be Determined" dates listed on Friday June 27 and Saturday June 28 following their first-ever appearance in the state of Iowa at the Cresco Speedway on Thursday June 26. With a cooperative effort from all parties involved, those two dates have been filled and the last weekend in June will provide area sprint car racing fans and teams with a great opportunity.
On Friday night June 27, the Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls will host the first-ever UMSS vs. JSTS event. UMSS rules will be in effect with full UMSS points applying. The JSTS will award show points for their cars. The Redwood show will also be part of the 2014 Minnesota Mafia Series. Then the following night at the Jackson Speedway, round two continues with the JSTS vs. UMSS. The Jackson show will be a full JSTS point show with JSTS rules in effect. The UMSS will award show points for their cars. Leading into the southwest Minnesota races will be the Thursday night UMSS show at the Cresco Speedway located at the Howard County Fairgrounds in Cresco, Iowa. This will give racers and fans the chance to see three straight nights of sprint car racing during this late June UMSS Tour to Iowa and SW Minnesota.
Stated UMSS President Ron Bernhagen, "We are very pleased that the UMSS, JSTS and MN Mafia have worked together to bring about a fantastic opportunity for racers and fans alike." UMSS Media Director Greg Parent from GRP Motorsports will be adding some money to the Thursday and Friday night purses making them $1,200 to win. A strong purse from the Jackson Speedway on Saturday night will also see the winner receive $1,200, so for all three nights it will be $1,200 to win and $200 to start. The Minnesota Mafia will be involved in all three shows, so look for further information on their website and Facebook page. The Minnesota Mafia typically has Hard Charger and Hard Luck Awards in addition to other great bonuses at events this outstanding fan-based group is involved in. GRP Motorsports is also offering a Clean Sweep Bonus Award of $900 should any driver be able to pull off the difficult task of winning all three nights. If a driver wins two out of three, GRP will still pay a $450 bonus.
With tires no longer an issue for either series, as both are on the same Hoosier tire in 2014, the only differences lie essentially in the UMSS rules calling for injectors sleeved (restricted) at 1 7/8" and a 1,550 pound weight rule. The JSTS runs unsleeved and has a 1,475 pound weight rule. The two groups were able to reach a fair compromise in that Friday night will be UMSS rules while Saturday night will be JSTS (Jackson) rules. The Thursday night race at Cresco was already part of the UMSS schedule.
Whether you are a racer or a fan, you will want to make plans now for one, two or all three nights as the UMSS, JSTS and Minnesota Mafia "break new ground" in their cooperative effort to bring about new opportunities in the great sport of sprint car racing in and around Minnesota. Please check out the UMSS website at www.umsprints.com for further information or follow the UMSS on their Facebook page. Additional details will be released in the upcoming weeks when more sponsors come on board for this first edition of what should become a tradition amongst the series involved.
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
