Jason Cummins won the 2010 track championship at the Chateau Raceway, as well as the USRA Weekly Racing Series National Championship for USRA RHS Modifieds.

LANSING, Minn. -- The 2011 racing season at the Chateau Raceway will start on Saturday, April 9. That day will mark an open practice for any racer who would like to test out their car. It will also be a preview of what fans will get to see in action on Friday nights this summer at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing.

The 2011 season opener is also set for Friday, April 15. Fans will see the same divisions in action as they did last season. Hot laps will get underway at 7 p.m. with racing to follow. Each night will feature the USRA RHS Modifieds, Stock Cars, Midwest Mods, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Hornets.

This year’s schedule features 25 dates and is once again full of specials.

Another big show is planned for May 13 that will mark the first appearance of the high-flying sprint car class since 1975. The winged warriors of the UMSS Sprint Cars will invade Chateau and will bring the race fans something new and different to the speedway.

The United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) makes three stops on May 27, a special Thursday night show on July 14 and Sept. 2. The 14th annual Mike Guttormson Memorial will be held in conjunction with the May 27 USMTS show. The Thursday, July 14, show was added recently and there will be no racing on Friday, July 15. The September show will once again be a part of the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship.

There was another change in the schedule this past week due to Mother Nature. With the recent postponing of the World Modified Dirt Track Championship show at Deer Creek and the need for the July 27-30 rain date, Chateau will take Friday, July 29 off.

The speedway fires back up on Aug. 5, and the Street Stocks will get a crack at more prize money with a special planned that night. The Corn Belt Clash Late Models return on Aug. 12 and should draw a good field for an exciting night of racing.

The 2nd Annual Border Wars will commence Sept. 15-16, which will feature a mix of area B-Mods racing for a bigger purse. The season will conclude Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 with the Midwest Mod Fall Nationals.

It will be exciting to see who can add their name to the track champions list this season. Several of last year’s champions are moving up to a different class for 2011, including last season’s Midwest Mod national champion, Brandon Davis, is now in a USRA RHS Modified.

Sixteen-year-old Casey Trom who became the first female track champion in Chateau’s history will be racing a Midwest Modified. Also, A.J. Zvorak will return to the Street Stocks and will go for his fourth straight track title. Chris Adams and Jason Cummins will also return to defend their Stock Car and USRA RHS Modified titles.

To receive text messages of track announcements and weather updates, send a text to 507-391-2486 with your name and you will be added to the list. For more information on the Chateau Raceway, go to their website at www.chateauraceway.net.