8/6/2017
WISSOTA
WISSOTA 100: Multiple point shows & qualifying opportunities
HURON, SD - The format for the prestigious 2017 Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100, which will be held at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, SD on September 12-16, will again feature three complete national point shows for WISSOTA Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds and Street Stocks. Drivers will accumulate national points on all three qualifying nights, giving drivers who attend the WISSOTA 100 the chance to earn valuable national points three times instead of just one. The event will utilize a passing points qualifying format as well. Drivers will draw their pill number on Wednesday and use the same number for all three qualifying nights. A new “number one” pill will be randomly drawn at the pit meeting each day. Drivers who are not in attendance on Wednesday will be allowed to draw on Thursday or Friday and be included in the night’s events as well.
Here’s how the event format will work:
As usual, the event will feature an open practice session on Tuesday night, September 12. Gates open at 2 p.m. and practice begins at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, September 13 the gates will open and draw will begin at noon. Draw cut off will occur at 3:30 p.m. and racing action will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday’s program will feature heat races for Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks, Late Models, Super Stocks and Modifieds. The top 24 drivers in overall passing points after heat race action is completed will transfer to the night’s qualifying feature. The top six in overall passing points will redraw for the front three rows of the qualifying feature. The qualifying features will run in the same order as the heat races and the top eight finishers from each qualifying feature will transfer directly into Saturday night’s WISSOTA 100 championship main events.
These top eight drivers will make up the inside first eight rows of the three-wide starting lineup for Saturday. The eight drivers that qualify will have the option of giving back their qualifying position if they wish to race again the following day to try to better their starting spot in Saturday’s finale, but those eight qualified drivers will be asked to disclose if they are taking their spot or giving it back by the time tech is completed for their division, shortly after the completion of their qualifying feature.
Thursday, September 14 will feature a similar program at the same times as Wednesday, but will also include the Street Stock, Super Stock and Midwest Mod divisions’ AFCO Race of Champions events to finish up the night.
Similar to Wednesday night, heat races will take place for Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks, Late Models, Super Stocks and Modifieds with the top 24 in overall passing points from each division transferred to the night’s qualifying feature, and the top six will be redrawn for the start of the qualifying feature.
The top eight finishers will lock themselves into Saturday night’s championship feature. Those top eight drivers will make up the outside first eight rows of the three-wide starting lineup for Saturday. Again, just as on Wednesday night, the top eight will have the option to keep or give back their qualifying spot, but must alert officials of their intention by the time tech is completed for their division that night after the qualifying feature.
The three AFCO Race of Champions will be the final three races of the night.
Friday, September 15 will have the same time schedule as Wednesday and Thursday with gates opening at noon and racing beginning at 5 p.m. Heat races will once again take place for Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks, Late Models, Super Stocks and Modifieds. In addition, the Mod Fours will compete for the first time during the weekend and run their heat races on Friday as well. The night will then include qualifying features for all six divisions with the top 24 in overall passing points competing in those qualifying races. The top six will be redrawn for starting position just as the previous two nights.
The top eight finishers in each of the qualifying features will make up the middle row for the first eight rows of the three-wide starting lineup for Saturday with the exception of the Mod Fours. The finish of the Mod Four qualifying feature will be the starting lineup for Saturday’s main event.
The remaining three AFCO Race of Champions events will be held for Mod Fours, Late Models and Modifieds to wrap up the evening’s big schedule.
On Saturday, September 16, the program will again begin at 5:00 p.m. The final three starting spots in the 33-car fields will be randomly drawn at Saturday’s pit meeting, as has been done in recent years. Drivers must have been present and attempted to race all of the three previous nights and be present at the Saturday pit meeting to be eligible to be drawn as a feature starter.
A last chance race for the Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Mods and Street Stocks will be held on Saturday (Mod Fours also, if necessary). Those will take place prior to Orv’s Pot of Gold, the Parade of Champions and the six WISSOTA 100 championship features.
The WISSOTA Board of Directors and the nearly 50 member promoters hope to see you at this year’s Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 in Huron, South Dakota on September 12-16. For more information on the event, please log on to www.wis
Submitted By: Scott Hughes