FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2011

Big money races and new venues part of 2011 Dart Challenge Series

SIOUX FALLS, SD (March 19) - Series director Rob Fogle recently announced the Dart Challenge Series for WISSOTA Late Models has secured 15 dates on the 2011 schedule. Three new venues and eight events paying $3,000 or more to highlight this year’s tour under WISSOTA’s AMSOIL Dirt Track Series.

The first event takes place on Saturday, June 4, at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, SD. The $5,000-to-win, $400-to-start Challenge Cup XI presented by Prostrollo Motors, once again highlights the eighth annual Wheel Jam Weekend at the South Dakota State Fairgrounds. Drivers from all across WISSOTA country are expected including previous Challenge Cup winners Jeff Wildung of Nassau, MN, Marshall Fegers of Mound, MN and last year’s champion, Justin Fegers, of Minnetonka, MN.

Sunday, June 5, the series travels 90 miles northeast to Casino Speedway in Watertown, SD for the first of two series event in 2011. The $2,000-to-win, 40-lap feature historically produces some of the best side-by-side racing on the tour as a strong South Dakota contingent of 2010 Casino Speedway track champion Kent Arment of Aberdeen, David McDonald of Huron and Chad Williamson of Watertown defend their “home turf” in an event sponsored by Steinmetz Redi-Built Home Center of Watertown, SD.

After a four-day hiatus, drivers embark on a weekend stint across the Peace Garden State of North Dakota for three inaugural events. Dacotah Speedway will kick off the weekend on Friday, June 10, with a $3,000-to-win event. The series travels west on Saturday, June 11, to Southwest Speedway near Dickinson for another $3,000-to-win, 40-lap feature and will conclude the weekend at Nodak Speedway in Minot on Sunday, June 12, with a $2,000-to-win show. Locals Paul Mueller and Jeremy Keller of Bismarck, ND, 2010 WISSOTA national champion Ricky Weiss of Headingley, MB and Hank Berry of Sidney, MT are among drivers that are expected to take part in the “roughrider weekend.”

Dart Challenge Series drivers will take the rest of June off and prepare for what is expected to be an action-packed and fun-filled July with nine events on tap.

The Fourth of July weekend starts at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, WI, on Friday, July 1, as part of a three-race swing in as many days. Joe Signs and Joe Provo Racewear sponsor another $3,000-to-win main event. Jake Redetzke of Eau Claire, WI topped a field of 40 competitors last year and is expected along with two-time-series champion Lance Matthees of Winona, MN, Don Shaw of Ham Lake, MN and 2010 WISSOTA Late Model Rookie of the Year Kyle Jumbeck of Houston, MN.

On Saturday, July 2, the series heads southwest into the Gopher State to the famed Deer Creek Speedway near Spring Valley, MN. The sixth annual Firecracker event once again awards a $3,000 payday to the winner of the feature event. Last year’s winner, Chad Mahder, of Eau Claire, WI will try and be the first repeat winner against a strong field of WISSOTA Late Models that includes 2006 WISSOTA national champion Adam Hensel of Barron, WI, Doug Herrick of West Concord, MN and 2010 Deer Creek Speedway track champion Mike Prochnow of Menomonie, WI.

The weekend concludes in America’s Dairyland at Eagle Valley Speedway near Jim Falls, WI on Sunday, July 3. This will be the seventh time the series has hosted an event at Jerry and Janis Weigel’s speedplant. Look for three-time series and defending champion John Kaanta of Elk Mound, WI, Steve Laursen of Cumberland, WI and Cory Mahder of Eau Claire, WI to be among the mix for the $2,000 paycheck.

The Dart Challenge Series travels west to the Mount Rushmore state for the next three events after celebrating Independence Day.

On Saturday, July 9, Sturdevant’s Auto Parts and KOKK Radio of Huron, SD brings another event to Dakota State Fair Speedway. This time around the battle is for a $3,000 top prize. A $500 payday awaits 25 drivers just for starting the feature, making this a nice payday for all feature participants. Defending track champion Brian Diede of Huron, Nick Beyenhof of Rock Rapids, IA and Eric Mass of Rapid City, SD will be among another talented field of competitors.

Casino Speedway’s second stop takes place on Thursday, July 14, at the famed 1/4-mile oval near Lake Kampeska. Redetzke earned a hard-fought win after battling with Laursen last year. Look for Scott Ward of Watertown, Chad Chenoweth of Huron and Joel Cryderman of Thunder Bay, ON to be among the participants of the 10th annual $2,000-to-win main event brought to you by Dacotah Bank.

The series moves to Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, SD on Friday, July 15, for the ninth visit of the series. Friday’s portion of the two-day Dacotah Rumble sponsored by Dacotah Bank is a $3,000-to-win, 40-lap feature. Matthees dominated last year’s race and is expected to return along with three-time national champion Curt Gelling of Aberdeen and John Bey of Spearfish, SD.

Drivers regroup and head East to the Land of 10,000 Lakes and invade the Big “O” - Ogilvie Raceway - on Tuesday, July 19, for a $2,000-to-win feature. The event commences another three-day swing. Hensel captured the first-ever Dart Challenge Series feature win at the track last year. Look for two-time national champion Zach Johnson of Kensington, MN, Seth Brede of Kandiyohi, MN and Brent Larson of Lake Elmo, MN to be among one of the largest fields on this year’s tour.

After a three-year hiatus, Superior (WI) Raceway is back on the series tour in 2011. The battle by the bay will be a must-see event on Wednesday, July 20. A huge field of cars is expected to battle for a $2,000 payday. Don Copp of Brule, WI, Harry Hanson of Eveleth, MN and Travis Budisalovich of Cottage Grove, MN are among a stout Twin Ports contingent that plan to keep the home court advantage.

The three-day swing concludes at Grand Rapids Speedway in Grand Rapids, MN on Thursday, July 21. Mother Nature impacted last year’s scheduled event after 33 participants were set to battle. Defending track champion Jeff Provinzino of Hibbing, MN, Kevin Carlson of Hermantown, MN and Joey Ogston of Duluth are local drivers who are expected to contend for the $2,000-to-win payday.

The series finale will once again take place at Hibbing Raceway in Hibbing, MN on Saturday, September 3, as part of the 35th annual Labor Day Shootout brought to you by US Steel, Minnesota Ore Operations, Minnesota Power and Pepsi. The series finale will pay a minimum of $3,500-to-win. Kyle Peterlin of Hibbing, Tommy Waseleski, Jr. of Pengilly and Darrell Nelson of Hermantown will be among a large field of WISSOTA Late Model competitors duking it out for the lion’s share of the purse.

The 2011 Dart Challenge Series for WISSOTA Late Models is brought to you by Dart Machinery, Lou Fegers Racing Equipment, Joe Provo Racewear, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Brown Engineering, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Dirt Track Supply, Chubeck Racing Products, Howards Cams, Shocks by Hammer, Performance Promotions, CRP Photography, Speednet Direct and Raceceiver.

Series information and sponsorship inquires can be sent to series director Rob Fogle at dartchallengeseries@gmail.com or by phone at 605.216.0865 or 605.691.1544.
Saturday June 4 - Dakota State Fair Speedway - Huron, SD - $5,000-to-win, $400-to-start
Sunday June 5 - Casino Speedway - Watertown, SD - $2,000
Friday June 10 - Dacotah Speedway - Mandan, ND - $3,000-to-win
Saturday June 11 - Southwest Speedway - Dickinson, ND - $3,000-to-win
Sunday June 12 - NoDak Speedway - Minot, ND - $2,000-to-win
Friday July 1 - Mississippi Thunder Speedway - Fountain City, WI - $3,000
Saturday July 2 - Deer Creek Speedway - Spring Valley, MN - $3,000
Sunday July 3 - Eagle Valley Speedway - Jim Falls, WI - $2,000
Saturday July 9 - Dakota State Fair Speedway - Huron, SD - $3,000 to win, $500 to start
Thursday July 14 - Casino Speedway - Watertown, SD - $2,000
Friday July 15 - Brown County Speedway - Aberdeen, SD - $3,000
Tuesday July 19 - Ogilvie Raceway - Ogilvie, MN - $2,000
Wednesday July 20 - Superior Raceway - Superior, WI - $2,000
Thursday July 21 - Grand Rapids Speedway - Grand Rapids, MN - $2,000
Saturday September 3 - Hibbing Raceway - Hibbing, MN - $3,500

DART CHALLENGE SERIES
FINAL 2010 POINTS STANDINGS

1 85 John Kaanta Elk Mound, WI 528
2 27 Jake Redetzke Eau Claire, WI 509
3 90 Lance Matthees Winona, MN 490
4 42S Don Shaw Ham Lake, MN 443
5 11 Pat Doar New Richmond, WI 371
6 82 John Bey Sturgis, SD 357
7 18 Curt Gelling Aberdeen, SD 323
8 23 Kyle Peterlin Hibbing, MN 313
9 22 Don Copp Brule, WI 307
10 52X David McDonald Huron, SD 306
11 12B Chad Becker Aberdeen, SD 297
12 51 Joel Cryderman Thunder Bay, ON 279
13 19 Steve Laursen Cumberland, WI 269
14 31 Travis Budisalovich Cottage Grove, MN 269
15 1 Brian Diede Huron, SD 249
16 00 Eddie Kirchoff Gillette, WY 232
17 96 Doug Herrick West Concord, MN 209
18 55C Chad Mahder Eau Claire, WI 207
19 9 Kent Arment Aberdeen, SD 204
20 11M Paul Mueller Bismarck, ND 185