Some people ask me what kind of planning goes into my RaceChaser summer. The answer is I try to plan ahead as much as possible, knowing that life will sometimes get in the way, or the weather, or something really unexpected like Covid-19.
So yes, I do have a plan for 2021. It’s not 100 percent in stone yet, but here are some highlights.
I was proud of myself last year — I had a schedule all mapped out for the 2020 season. Then the Covid-19 restrictions hit, some tracks opened late, one didn’t open at all, and my schedule was pretty much shot after that. Throw in some weather cancellations, and well, it was literally winging it from night to night.
This year, most of the area schedules are out, and in the next few weeks, I will finalize a 2021 RaceChaser schedule. I’m not sure I’m going to publicize it long-term because a lot can change, but I may release a schedule for the week. Right now the plan is to go three nights a week and on weeks where there are several special events, maybe four. That will be on the RaceChaser Facebook page.
I also plan to post some nightly highlights on the Facebook page, too, as the night goes. The complete recap will come later on the actual blog itself along with highlights from other tracks that race that evening.
I also have decided to try to add WiFi for my car to see if I can post recaps right at the track. We will see how that goes. That’s where part of the sponsorship money is going to is to that monthly cost. I’m hopeful it works out to get those reports posted faster, and then I’ll add highlights from other tracks I’m not able to attend that night.
There are seven primary tracks I will cover — Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, Norman County Raceway in Ada, River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, I-94 Sure Step Speedway in Fergus Falls, Sheyenne Speedway in Lisbon and Buffalo River Speedway in Glyndon. All are sponsors of this blog. That means most of the feature stories will be drivers who race at those tracks. Once in a while, I’ll feature a driver a bit out of the area for some variety. My goal is to hit every RaceChaser track in person at least five times. If my family and I are healthy, the weather holds and Covid isn’t an issue, that is doable.
I plan to get to Devils Lake a few times this summer for some special events, and I hope also to get to Casino Speedway in Watertown and Bemidji Speedway at least once. I appreciated Devils Lake’s hospitality last year and I plan to do some feature stories on drivers from that area, too, especially those that race in Grand Forks as well.
I also plan to hit some of the tours that go through the area — Steffes Street Stock Tour, RHR Swag Rebel Midwest Modified Tour, Advantage RV Modified Tour and Wissota Late Model Challenge Series to name a few. I’m excited that there will be five Advantage RV Tour races in the RaceChaser area, including two stops at I-94, one at Viking, one at River Cities and one at Norman County Raceway in Ada (which should be fun).
Steffes Street Stock Tour also makes some stops in my home area in West Central Minnesota, and I REALLY want to get to Madison and Montevideo this year. It’s been 13 years since I’ve been to Madison; that was the track I grew up going to and have years of memories at. It’s long overdue.
My plan is to take three weekends off to just be a fan, too. Still determining those. Last year I went to Deer Creek, Gondik Law in Superior, Ogilvie and Rice Lake and it’s a blast sometimes to leave the laptop at home and just watch a race.
Four cars will carry the racechaser.net sponsorship. Two are returnees — Torey Fischer of West Fargo and Kasey Ussatis of Nome. The other two will be announced in the weeks ahead and I chose them to help provide coverage in as much of the RaceChaser area as possible.. Mind you these are not large sponsorships but are a big help in getting the word out. Plus, I will have stickers once again to distribute, last year more than 60 cars had one. The goal is 100 this year.
My first race is planned to be on April 30-May 1 at I-94 Sure Step Speedway for the opening doubleheader. I think this could be the biggest and best year for this blog in 2021. The goal, as always, is to publicize dirt track racing in the area and promote it!
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