Racing is going to return to Buffalo River Speedway in 2021. The 1/4-mile track east of Glyndon is a long-time fan and driver favorite in the Red River Valley.
The reopening announcement came this week from the new track ownership. The ownership group consists of Jason Berg, Ryan Restad, Dev Malmlov, Cody Erickson and Wade Haugeberg.
.
General manager Jason Berg is no stranger to Buffalo River — he’s raced there in his lightning sprint and flagged there for several years prior to that. Restad, Malmlov and Erickson are current or former racers.
:I think as a team we hope we provide a great option for entertainment on a Sunday night for an affordable price,” Berg said. “Buffalo River Speedway has a great tradition that myself, Wade, Cody, Ryan & Dev can continue to build upon.”
The name is going back to Buffalo River Speedway after being Buffalo River Race Park for several years. The track will also go back to racing on Sunday nights (6 p.m. start) after racing on Saturdays in 2019. A pair of test-and-tunes are planned for early May, with the opener scheduled for May 9.
Weekly classes will include IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and Short Trackers. Classes that will alternate include the IMCA Mods, INEX Legends, Minn-Kota Lightning Sprints, Limited Late Models and IMCA Stock Cars. Plans are also in the works for a NOSA Sprint show and NLRA Late Model show. Plus, the Corn Cob Nationals will return as well.
The new owners are excited about restarting the track, Berg said, and they have a clear goal in mind — affordable, family entertainment.
“Our ownership group, we are racers and race fans,” Berg said. “Some of the big things we’ve talked about, when we decided to do this…were fair food prices and fair ticket prices so a family can enjoy a night at the track.”
Buffalo River sat idle in 2020, in very large part because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on crowds and gatherings. The track was missed by many area drivers and fans.
Now, those folks will see a return of the roar to the track.
It’s a really exciting to take the next step into this role,” Berg said. “Buffalo River Speedway has been a part of my life for 25-plus years from helping my uncle in the pits, working at the track in various roles to getting my very first win in a lightning sprint. I would probably have not purchased a lightning sprint had Kevin Nathe not chose to run the class full time. To come full circle with some great partners is kind of surreal.”
Comments