by Tony Bokhoven

OSKALOOSA, Ia. (March 6, 2002) - The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa Iowa is getting ready to kick off one of the most exciting race seasons in the history of the half mile dirt track located on the Mahaska county fairgrounds. In 2002, Bill McCroskey -- a long-time sprint car driver and co-promoter of one of the largest and exciting outlaw sprint car races of the year, The Front Row Challenge -- will take over promoting duties of the weekly IMCA program at the Oskaloosa, Iowa race track.

McCroskey and his promoting staff will begin their race season with a Test and Tune day on April 13th from Noon – 3 p.m.

Headlining the 32-event schedule will be the Memorial Day Coca-Cola 600 on May 27 paying $600 to win in all classes. The USMTS series will make a stop in Oskaloosa on Monday, June 17. One of the largest Stock Car races in Iowa will take to the track July 3-4 for the annual Stock Car Shootout, which will run with support from MUSCO Sports Lighting, Budweiser-Grinnell Beverage and Coca-Cola.

Winged sprint cars take to the track on July 23rd as 360 sprint cars will run a full show along with the National Dirt Truck Racing Association (NDTRA). The NDTRA will make their first of two visits to the Southern Iowa Speedway during the Southern Iowa Fair.

The Inaugural Southern Iowa Sprint Speed Week which host’s 8 nights of great Sprint Car Racing in 8 days featuring Winged 360 & 410 Sprint Cars and NON-Winged (SCRA) Sprints, invade Oskaloosa for 2 nights of racing. Kicking off the double header in Oskaloosa will be the famed $5,000 or $50,000 from the back of the pack FRONT ROW CHALLENGE, featuring the World of Outlaws Gumout Racing Series. On Tuesday night the ULTIMATE CHALLENGE $30,000 to win Non-Winged World Championship (NWWC) Tour event featuring the Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA).The 360 Sprints and Dirt Trucks are back on the track on August 17th .

The Southern Iowa Speedway is well known for some of the best and toughest IMCA racing in the country. The Southern Iowa Speedway Features a weekly Wednesday night IMCA program with IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Modifieds and Hobby Stocks.

For more information on the Southern Iowa Speedway, the 2002 race schedule, competition rules or race results, check us out on the web at www.southerniowaspeedway.com.