The sun sets over a night of racing at Central Missouri Speedway.

WARRENSBURG, Mo.—The 2015 season is now in the rearview mirror for Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) and it is time for the track to turn its attention to the 2016 season, which marks the twenty-first year of operations for owner/promoters Earl and Susan Walls .

The CMS staff is busily putting together plans for all division special events for next season and is currently pursuing potential business partners for the big three holiday special event weekends, which all feature two straight nights of racing.

The tentative 2016 race schedule may be found at www.centralmissourispeedway.net. The schedule features 24 nights of racing with opening set for Saturday, April 16. Weekly classes for 2016 remain USRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, B-Mods and Pure Stocks.

Once again, guest classes are scheduled on various race nights throughout the year to add variety to the race programs. As previously announced in an earlier CMS press release, ULMA Late Models have six appearances at CMS scheduled next season, anchored by the finale of the group’s annual ‘Triple Crown Shootout’ as part of the spectacular CMS Independence Day weekend. Additionally, the Allstar Midget Series has three race appearances scheduled with all three events taking place during the summer holiday weekends.

CMS most recently secured several dates with the still growing and increasingly popular Mod-Lite group, which is branching out and competing at several area tracks for their 2016 season. There are six race dates for the Mod-Lite group at CMS next season, with Saturday dates falling on April 30, May 14, June 11, July 30, August 6, and August 20.

Next year’s special-events begin with the Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 28, with two straight nights of increased purses for USRA Modifieds. On Sunday, May 29, USRA Modifieds return for a second-straight night of action and an increased purse structure to be announced. USRA B-Mods, Allstar Midget Series, and ULMA Late Models will round out the night-two program.

The 11th Annual Tom Wilson Memorial (TWM) event, which is held over two nights during the Independence Day weekend, is going to be bigger than ever in 2016. Known as one of the premiere USRA Modified events in the Midwest, the 50-lap race honoring long-time announcer Tom Wilson will pay a whopping $5,000 to the winner and $1,000 just to start. If the winning driver of the event turns out to be the same driver of the Memorial Day weekend special, the driver will capture a $2,500 bonus on top of the winning payout!

The TWM begins on Saturday, July 2, with night one USRA Modified qualifying, during which 12 drivers will lock themselves onto the main event starting grid. Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, B-mods, and the Allstar Midget Series round out the night one program.

For night two of the TWM weekend, USRA Modifieds return for another round of qualifying on the way to locking in 12 more drivers for the $5,000-to-win main event. USRA B-Mods and the ULMA Late Models, who will be participating in the finale of their Triple Crown Shootout, will also compete. The track will celebrate our nation’s birthday with another spectacular fireworks show after racing concludes to close out the weekend.

The final special-event weekend for 2016 begins on Saturday, Sept. 3, with USRA Modifieds gunning for added purse money while B-Mods participate in their annual $1,500-to-win special. Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, and (tentatively) Lightning Sprints round out the night one program. USRA Modifieds return for another night of increased purse money on Sept. 4; USRA B-Mods, Allstar Midget Series and ULMA Late Models round out the night two Labor Day weekend race program. Labor Day weekend special-event formats and purse structures will be announced at a later date.

If the winner of the final USRA Modified special event of the year is the same winner of the featured race of the weekend during the Memorial Day and Independence Day weekends, the driver will walk away with a hefty $5,000 bonus on top of the already huge payouts for sweeping all three big-money events at CMS in one year!

Local driver Shad Badder has again offered his two-seater Modified to help CMS raise funds for three separate charities during all three of the special-event weekends. Fans will have chance to purchase laps with Shad around CMS during part of the race program. Money raised from the rides will go to a designated Breast Cancer Awareness group, the American Heart Association, and Homes for Our Troops.

CMS is seeking an experienced track maintenance person for the 2016 race season. Serious applicants must be experienced and possess proper credentials for operating heavy equipment used for weekly track preparation. Track equipment includes heavy-duty tractors, box blade, grader, sheep’s foot roller, standard water truck, and terragator water truck. CMS is also in search of a parts and tires service retailer. Prospective companies or independent dealers will be expected to be present during race nights. Prospective applicants should call Earl or Susan Walls at the CMS business line at (816) 229-1338. No calls after 8 p.m. please.

Drivers have two opportunities to save $10 on their 2016 Track Registration. The first opportunity comes on Saturday, Jan. 9, during the annual CMS registration event held at the ABC Building on the grounds of Grover Park in Warrensburg. From Maguire St (Hwy 13 through Warrensburg), take East North Street past the King's Chef Chinese Restaurant heading east. The ABC Building is on the right side just past the tennis courts as you start to go downhill. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to Noon. Here is the address you can plug in your favorite directions app: 416 Commander Wilkes Drive, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

The final chance to save $10 on registration takes place during the annual Bodee's Racer's Auction and Trade Show at the CMS vendor booth. The event is held on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. This year's dates are Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24, 2016. The event is held at the Mathewson Exhibition Center located at 2503 West 16th St, Sedalia, MO 65301.

The track registration fee for these two events is $50, after which, registration returns to the normal $60 annual fee. USRA recently released its 2016 Rules Book, which may be found at www.usraracing.com. CMS will utilize USRA rules for Modifieds and B-Mods in 2016. Street Stock and Pure Stock rules will be announced in the coming weeks.

Keep up with CMS on Twitter @CMSgoing_green. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Missouri-Speedway. Join our email group by emailing info@centralmissourispeedway.net. Keep up with CMS news and information by pointing your browser to www.centralmissourispeedway.net.

Contact Susan Walls at 816-229-1338 to join the CMS team of business partners, no calls after 8 p.m. There are several opportunities for your business to become involved in the exciting sport of dirt-track racing. No other sport has as many dedicated and loyal fans as weekly dirt racing. Car class sponsorship, event sponsorship, race night sponsorship, and special-event sponsorship are just a few of the ways to put your marketing and branding logo in front of the loyal race family!

Earl and Susan Walls and the entire CMS want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2016, which we believe will be the biggest season in the track’s history!

CMS wishes to thank its 2015 primary sponsors for their support this season! Cliff Harris Warrensburg Ford, Budweiser, KMZU 100.7 FM, Sunoco Race Fuels, Pepsi, KMMO FM 102.9, Midwest Coatings, Better Country KIX 105.7 FM, Comfort Inn Warrensburg Station, 610 Sports Radio Kansas City, KRLI FM 103.9 & KAOL 101.3 FM The Grenade, Heartland Waste, and 'Today's New Hit Country' 95.3 FM KDKD.

This list of 2015 outstanding business partners includes: Victory Trophies & Plaques, Roundabout Café, Batliner Recycling, RockAuto.com, DQ Grill & Chill of Warrensburg, Blue Springs Chiropractic, Economy Lumber, Brooks Automotive LLC, Kleinschmidt's Western Store, OK Tire Stores, Eickleberry Concrete & Construction, Finish Line Performance, Wolf Tire Service, Rod End Supply, JA Performance and Outdoor Services, Seeburg Mufflers, RockAuto.com, and RacinDirt.com.

CMS 2016 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (Subject to Change)
Saturday, January 9 – Registration Meeting – ABC Bldg, Grover Park, Warrensburg, Mo – 9 am to Noon
April 16 - Opening night at CMS - Weekly Racing in All Divisions – Chamber Night at the Races
April 23 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions – UCM Night at the Races
April 30 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions plus Mod Lites – Whiteman Air Force Base Night at the Races
May 7 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions - Guest Class ULMA Late Models
May 14 - Weekly Racing in all Divisions plus Mod Lites
May 21 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions
May 28 – Modified Special Event, SS, B-Mods, and $500 to Win Pure Stocks!
May 29 – Modified Special Event, USRA B-Mods, plus AMS - Guest Class ULMA Late Models
June 4 - Comfort Inn Race Night Featuring Weekly Racing in All Divisions
June 11 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions (USRA B-Mods) plus Mod Lites
June 18 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions - Guest Class ULMA Late Models
June 25 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions
July 2 - (Sat) 11th Annual Tom Wilson Memorial (TWM) Night 1 - Mods, SS $1,500-to-win, PS, B-Mods, AMS
July 3 - (Sun) TWM Night 2 - Mods $5,000-to-win, USRA B-Mods, ULMA Late Models, and Fireworks Show!
July 9 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions
July 16 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions - Guest Class ULMA Late Models
July 23 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions (USRA B-Mods)
July 30 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions plus Mod Lites
August 6 - Kid’s Night at the Races Featuring Weekly Racing in All Divisions plus Mod Lites
August13 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions - Guest Class ULMA Late Models
August 20 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions plus Mod Lites
August 27 - Weekly Racing in All Divisions
September 3- (Sat) Modified Special Event, SS, $1,500 to win B-Mod Special, PS, and Lightning Sprints
September 4 - (Sun) Modified Special Event, USRA B-Mods, Guest Classes ULMA Late Models, and AMS