WINTER DIRT GAMES XII DATES SET FOR FEBRUARY 2021
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Ocala, Florida (October 1, 2020)………The 12th edition of Winter Dirt Games marks the beginning of the 2021 USAC racing season over two consecutive weekends in the month of February with National Sprint Car and Midget racing in the state of Florida at Ocala’s Bubba Raceway Park, with an increase in purse paying $10,000 to the final night sprint winner and $5,000 to the midget finale victor.
Winter Dirt Games XII festivities begin on Thursday, February 4, with a practice night for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship, followed by two-straight nights of complete shows for the series at the 3/8-mile D-shaped dirt track on Friday, February 5, and Saturday night’s finale on February 6 in which the winner’s share will be $5,000!
On-track action returns just a few nights later at Bubba Raceway Park with USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship practice night on Wednesday, February 10, followed by three nights in a row of racing on Thursday, February 11, on Friday, February 12, and the finale on Saturday, February 13, which pays $10,000-to-win!
USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midgets made their debut at Bubba Raceway Park in 2019 with Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, Ind.) sweeping both nights of feature events. Tanner Thorson (Minden, Nev.) and Chris Windom (Canton, Ill.) each scored Midget victories there in 2020. Meanwhile, Brady Bacon (Brady Bacon) swept the final two nights of the 2020 sprint car portion of Winter Dirt Games with a pair of superb performances.
While "Winter Dirt Games" has certainly proven to be a top-notch event among drivers seeking to get their season started off on the right foot, it's also been the same for fans who exit the winter weather for a much-needed foray into the "Sunshine State" to witness the series' lone appearance in the state during the year.
Twenty-six USAC National Sprint Car events have been held at Bubba Raceway Park since 2011. Brady Bacon and Bryan Clauson are the winningest USAC Sprint Car drivers at Bubba's with four victories apiece. Damion Gardner has won three times while Grant, Tracy Hines, Tyler Courtney and Robert Ballou have each scored a pair of victories. Chris Windom, C.J. Leary, Darren Hagen, Dave Darland, Thomas Meseraull, Chase Stockon and Hunter Schuerenberg have all won once.
The first three USAC Sprint Car races ever held took place in Florida in February of 1956. Bob Sweikert won the first such event at Southland Speedway in West Palm Beach, followed by Chuck Weyant at Jacksonville Speedway and Pat O’Connor at Medley Speedway in Miami.
Likewise, Florida and USAC Midget racing have a history dating back to the initial years of the club. Only 22 times have USAC Midgets ventured to Florida over the years. Prior to the 2019 visit to Bubba’s, the series took part in a 11-race series entitled the Tangerine Tournament in early 1957. Jimmy Knight, Sonny McDaniel, Andy Linden, Al Keller, Al Alpern, Leroy Warriner and Len Duncan were among the winners held at several different Florida venues. Linden took home the overall Tangerine Tournament crown.
USAC Midgets took on the pavement of New Smyrna Speedway for two nights in 2013, won by Bobby Santos and Kyle Larson. The first full USAC National Midget points races in Florida came in a weeklong span during 1963. Johnny Riva and Bob Wente were victorious at Palmetto Speedway while Chuck Rodee and Wente also picked up victories at Golden Gate Speedway. It was another 42 years before the series returned in 2005 for a non-points special event at Orlando Speed World Speedway, won by Josh Wise.
Stay tuned for more details on Winter Dirt Games XII as they become available.