Non-Winged World Championship takes flight Aug. 6

by Robert Mayson

LAKEWOOD, Calif. (July 29, 2002) - The 2002 Non-Winged World Championship (NWWC) tour presented by Auto Trader Magazines & NAPA Auto Parts is slated to kickoff at Southern Iowa Speedwav in Oskaloosa, Iowa on August 6th with an event that will pay a record $30,000 to the winner. Craig Dollansky, Don Droud Jr. and Randy Hannagan are among the drivers said to be considering shedding their wings and ready to challenge two-time (2000-01) NWWC Champion Richard Griffin and 2001 SCRA Champion Cory Kruseman for the biggest payday in SCRA history.

Two days later (Aug. 8), the SCRA/NWWC tour will make its first appearance in Ohio with a stop at Fremont Speedway. John Ivy, who recently picked up an All-Star victory at Fremont during Ohio Sprintweek, is expected to compete along with J.J. Yeley, who won both the sprint and midget portions of the Buckeye Nationals at Fremont. Yeley started the year by winning the SCRA season opener at Perris Auto Speedway and will likely be on hand for the majority of NWWC races this year.

The first of three nights of racing in Pennsylvania will begin with a stop at the famed Williams Grove Speedway on Aug. 9. As part of their 50th anniversary celebration, Lincoln Speedway will host their first ever SCRA/NWWC race on Aug. 10. Mike Kirby, who won a race at Lincoln Speedway en route to the 1993 California Racing Association driving title, is entered along with former CRA drivers Mike English, Rickie Gaunt and Rip Williams. Grandview Speedway's NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series will not only conclude SCRA's PA swing, but will also will feature the URC Sprints as part of a doubleheader Sunday on Aug. 11.

Heading back west, the tour will make a stop at 67 Speedway in Godfrey, Ill., on Wednesday, Aug. 14, before stopping for the weekend at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. The Lakeside festivities begin on Thursday, Aug. 15, with an open practice session followed by the running of the Jerry Weld Classic. Danny Sheridan won last year's Weld Classic which will once again be free to the public and consists of ten cars in a 10 lap invitational dash. Eastern portion of the NWWC tour will officially conclude at Lakeside, Aug. 16-17. Indy Racing League announcer Pat Sullivan will be on hand to call Saturday's finale, which will pay $10,000 to the winner. Last year, Troy Rutherford won the Lakeside finale.

After the Lakeside event, the NWWC series will be on hiatus until the running of the Oval Nationals at the Perris Auto Speedway (Perris, Calif.), Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. This year's Oval National finale will be 100 laps and pay $30,000 to the winner. The NWWC champion will be crowned one week later after three nights of racing (Nov. 7-9) at Manzanita Speedway (Phoenix, Ariz.) with the running of the Western World Championships. Jeremy Sherman won the prestigious 2001 Western World title.

Other drivers expected to participate in this year's NWWC series include Tony Elliott, Dave Darland, Charles Davis Jr., Jay Drake, Derek Davidson, Damion Gardner, Tracy Hines, Levi Jones, Tony Jones, Billy Pauch, John Scott and Jon Stanbrough.