1997 Season Opener Set.

With the 20th annual BARS "Let's Go Racing" show now history, race fans in this part of the country finally got a tates of warm weather before Easter Weekend. The first facility to open it's gates for the 1997 racing season, will be Lake Geneva Raceway.

Jim Bennett #33 shows off his new Super Late Model during pre season practice.

On Saturday night April 5th, weekly racing begins on the 8 year old, third mile paved, banked oval. This season Super Late Model racing will be the top division and will be joined on a weekly basis with the Herb's Street Stock division. Opening night will have the 102.3 XLC Sport Trucks join in on the program. On most other Saturdays either the Sport Trucks or Performance Unlimited Mid-American/ Sportsman class will round out the racing program as the third division.

Two of the Lake Geneva Raceway Street Stock cars recieved awards at the recently completed BARS show. Denny Norton Jr. was voted best appearing in his division and Doug Peterson recieved a runner-up award.

In the foreground is the Street Stock (#96) driven by Denny Norton Jr. The car won best appearing in class at the recent "Let's Go Racing" Motorsports show in Waukegan, IL. Norton Jr. is one of the top runner in the class. In the background. Is defending Sportsman champion (#88) Rick Corso. Both drivers were taking advatage of pre-season practice to tune in thier cars.

The new Super Late Model class expects a large field of drivers from Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. The Lake Geneva Raceway regulars will be out in full force. This will be the first time since 1981 that Super Mate Models will have competed on a weekly basis.

Many new Super Late Models were on hand for the pre-season practice on March 29th. This is the first season since 1981 that the class will compete on a weekly basis. Many drivers have never ran a Super Late Model on the 1/3 mile banked oval, and many teams were making adjustments to find the speed they will need during the season.

Some added division which will appear throughout the season include the Mini-Modified with many local favorites, the new to the area Wisconsin Allison Legacy Series cars, the Pro-Motion Mid-American Stock Car Series, Select Performance Legend Cars, the Formula Indy Cars, the Outlaw Rascals and Dwarf cars.

Many new cars went through inspection on the recent practice day. They day allowed drivers to shake down thier cars before the first race of the season on April 5th. Many also planned to beat the rush and get thier cars pre-inspected before opening night.

Away from the paved oval, on Friday May 23rd the Pro Moto-Cross events take place on the stadium dirt course. Over 200 riders compete atarting at 8:00 PM.

The 26th Annual Off-Road races will by May 24th and 25th as ESPN tapes the largest event in the Midwest. The first ever Summer Nationals are slated for July 12th and 13th.

The Racing USA Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series will make three appearances on May 26th, July 20th and September 1st.

From the season opener until the October 4th final the Raceway will host over 90 events. A few sponsorship nights are still open, call the Raceway office and talk to Marketing Director Jessica Wampole about the details of securing a night.

A freshly painted Super Late charges down the backstretch, it has yet to be lettered.

Lake Geneva Raceway is located southeast of downtown Lake Geneva, WI. Take Highway 50 or Highway 12 to Edwards Blvd and head south. The complex is located on Bloomfield Road. The track phone number is (414) 248-8566.

1997 Season Opener set for April 5th!

By Dale R. Erdmann