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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 17, 2006 World of Outlaws, a circuit that features open-wheeled sprint cars that race at speeds around 100 mph will make a stop at the Southern Oregon Speedway this year. World of Outlaws on new schedule for S.O. Speedway By DON HUNT Mail Tribune A five-day stretch in late August and early September might convince local stock car racing fans to think they’re in gear-head heaven. The Southern Oregon Speedway announced a 28-race schedule Thursday and promoter John Skinner couldn’t help but trumpet two races in particular: a World of Outlaws event on Aug. 30 and the Lon Skinner Memorial on Sept. 1-3. Skinner will pay a billfold-expanding $10,000 to the winner of each race. The opening race at the three-eighths mile dirt track in White City is set for April 8. The World of Outlaws, featuring open-wheeled sprint cars that zip around the track at speeds approaching 100 mph, will be making their first appearance at the White City oval since 1999. A change in ownership made a long-awaited return visit feasible, Skinner said, adding that national TV exposure (the race will be on the Outdoor Channel on a tape-delayed basis) helped seal the deal. Advertisement "I’ve never had a race on (national) TV," Skinner said. "I think my ego got the best of me." Skinner said he’ll need a crowd similar to the record 4,200 fans that jammed the grandstands in 1999 just to break even at the World of Outlaws event. "The total purse will exceed $100,000," Skinner noted. "I’m going to need a lot of folks to come watch that race." Just two days after the outlaw event, qualifying beings for the Lon Skinner Memorial, named after Skinner’s late father. John Skinner is billing that race as the nation’s second-richest modified event. The Lon Skinner Memorial will be a three-day extravaganza for the first time, with qualifying set for Sept. 1-2 and the 50-lap feature slated for Sunday, Sept. 3. "We think we’ll have as many as 150 drivers for that one," Skinner said. "We’ll be luring guys from California, Canada, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest — you name it. When you’ve got a $10,000 winning purse, the word gets out." Another significant upgrade will come in the regular sprint car shows. For the first time, the White City and Cottage Grove tracks will hold a combined points race, meaning the top drivers from both tracks will face each other on a regular basis, bumping up the car count. The Northern Sprint Tour, meanwhile, will make appearances on May 27 and July 24, with the Golden State Challenge sprint race hitting the track on June 12. The Bud Cup, featuring late model stock cars, will also make two visits (June 24 and Sept. 29-30). Skinner has extended the season one week from previous years. In an effort to keep shows to 3½ hours, Skinner will run four classes of cars per event instead of five. Certain shows in the past have extended beyond the track’s 11 p.m. curfew. "It’s a tough deal because we’ve got six classes and a ton of cars," said Skinner, now in his 11th season of promoting the track. "A lot of those guys would like to race every week, but running even five classes drags things out too much." A car show will he held on April 1 from 1-3 p.m. at Chap’s restaurant and bar in White City. A test-and-tune session will follow at the track from 3-7 p.m. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail World of Outlaws on new schedule for S.O. Speedway ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Absinthe Supply Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Debt Consolidation California Casinos Generic Viagra Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada King of Spirits Advertisement s