The heart of dirt track racing in Oklahoma will be beating strong in 2020 as the Outlaw Motor Speedway near Muskogee will reopen for business this season with racing on Friday nights featuring the USRA Modifieds and USRA B-Mods.

Ted Holt Jr., who was tabbed to be the promoter when it was purchased by John Fiore in late 2016, announced that more than three years of silence at the high-banked 3/8-mile dirt oval will come to an end this spring.

“Outlaw Motor Speedway will be open for the 2020 racing season,” Holt said. “The track will run primarily on Friday nights and opening night will be May 1 and run through October.”

The owners of the racetrack have stepped way out on a limb with free grandstand admission for entire 2020 season to rebuild fan support in the area. The facility is top-notch with true indoor VIP suites, a great view of the racetrack.

Gary Clay oversaw the building of the track and its opening in 2003. Ownership changed hands three times before Carey and Nicole Menasco purchased the racetrack in January 2013, and two years later sold the facility to Longdale Speedway promoter Jessie Hoskins who sold the track to Fiore.

Located along U.S. Highway 69 at the Wainwright exit south of Muskogee, Fiore abruptly canceled the 2017 season with the intent of resuming racing in 2018. That never happened, and the track has been dormant ever since.

“The problem with Outlaw is no one has ever been able to go in and promote the track the way it should be and actually draw crowds," Holt added. "The facility is one of the finest in the nation. You have to get the community of Muskogee involved. There’s so many options for entertainment. You can’t grow a crowd by keeping them past 1 a.m. dragging the shows out.

“It has never reached its full potential. I want to see it flourish.”

An advisory board is in place for the 2020 season. Members include Tom Laster, USRA Director of Track Relations Bryce Hall, Ted Holt, former track champion Joe Duvall, Brady Ross and RPM Speedway co-promoter Kevin Rogers of KR Promotions.

The Outlaw Motor Speedway boasts 80-foot-wide straight-aways and eight degrees of banking in the corners with a surface that can easily produce three grooves or racing. The state-of-the-art facility features MUSCO stadium lighting, climate-controlled VIP suites, live video feed options, a professional sound system with radio broadcast and an indoor climate-controlled concession stand.

USRA Modifieds ran at the track as part of their weekly Friday night program in 2009. Greg Skaggs won the first-ever USRA Modified feature on Friday, March 20, and went on to capture the USRA Modified National Championship that year.

The track will host practice every Saturday in April from 11 a.m. to 5 .pm. All cars will need to be inspected prior to racing, and these practice sessions are a great way to get race cars inspected and stickered so drivers aren’t fighting the rush on opening night.

Hornback’s Catfish Ranch in Muskogee will host a meet ‘n’ greet with the Outlaw Motor speedway staff on Tuesday, February 4, beginning at 7 p.m. This will be a chance for drivers, crewmembers and their families to meet the owners, board of advisors and track crew.

The Outlaw Motor Speedway is located southwest of Muskogee on I-40 to US 69, then 10 miles north to the Wainwright exit, then 0.1 mile east (8100 Wainwright Rd., Oktaha, OK 74450). For more information call (918) 685-5403 or (918) 687-7077. The track's website is under construction but you can follow them on Facebook or email for more information.

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