2022 racing season opens Friday at Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen
A summer full of stock car racing opens Friday at Brown County Speedway.
Races are set for every weekend in June and July, and special events continue into early September.
This year, the regular season runs through Aug. 5, ending just before the Brown County Fair. The season championship is scheduled for Aug. 26.
Friday's season opener will feature five WISOTTA-sanctioned classes, according to Terry Voeltz, partner at Brown County Speedway. Classes will include street stocks, Midwest mods, super stocks, modifieds and late models.
Typically, Voeltz said, the track has a solid group of regular racers from the area, but there are others who travel long distances looking to compete.
Points drivers accumulate during the summer will determine the season class champions.
“Normally, you have your regulars that are local for the most part ... We've got people that run here every week from Selby, Gettysburg, Huron, Miller, Watertown, places like that. And, of course, we'll have people pop in from Minnesota, North Dakota, wherever,” Voeltz said.
He said said that everyone gets paid, with a set purse for each race.
Dacotah Insurance Rumble is July 8, 9
The biggest event this year, the Dacotah Insurance Rumble, will be July 8 and 9. There will be three big races for late models, he said.
For the first time in what Voeltz estimates to be three or four years, winged sprint cars will race during the Buffalo Wild Wings Northern Outlaw Sprint Association event on July 9.
“That's our biggest event. There's three huge late model races during those two days … Plus the Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA sprints will be here on Saturday night... ” he said.
Voeltz said the Dacotah Insurance Rumble draws racers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Wyoming and even Canada.
Series organized with Miller, Watertown tracks
There will also be a mini series this year involving Miller Central Speedway in Miller and Casino Speedway in Watertown. Voeltz said “there’s some additional pretty good money put up for the drivers."
Races in Miller and Watertown are generally on Sunday nights.
The series will be called the Triple Crown Series presented by Brevant Seeds.
“That’s kind of exciting, too, as you get more guys traveling and coming to the (racetrack) ... and try to pick up some extra money,” Voeltz said.
Racers will acquire points based on how they finish, but they are separate from the points that determine the end-of-season Brown County Speedway champions, he said.
There are two championships handed out at the Aberdeen track. The drivers who accumulate the most points throughout the regular season get a trophy, money, a jacket and bragging rights. Then, there are champions from the races on Aug. 26.
Big Buck Nationals set for Sept. 2 and 3
The third annual Big Buck Nationals will be Sept. 2 and 3. Voeltz said the event draws a large number of racers from throughout the region.
“It’s just another big special. It’s all the same classes, but a lot more money is put up for grabs for the drivers. So that brings in additional cars from … Minnesota, North Dakota and, you never know, maybe Wisconsin,” Voeltz said.
This year, he said, the goal is to keep the speedway family-friendly in spite of inflation. And the aim is to have races finish by 10:15 p.m. so families can get home early.
"With everything going up, we're stretching things, too, and, of course, we're gonna have to change a couple of prices on some things, but we're trying to keep everything fan-friendly and family-friendly. We just want to invite everybody back out, and we'll do our best to put on a good show," Voeltz said.
Children who are 12 and under get in free. Regular admission is $13 for adults.
Voeltz said fans count on seeing competitive races and more.
“I think they are going to see a continuation of great racing, good car counts, couple of big specials … We try to make everything as affordable as we can. We bill ourselves as Aberdeen’s affordable family entertainment,” he said.
Throughout the season, pits are scheduled to open at 4 p.m., followed by the grandstand at 5 p.m., with races starting at 7 p.m.
2022 season schedule
Friday, Season opener, all classes
May 20, Super Stock Special, all classes
May 27, all classes
June 3, all classes
June 10, Street Stock Tour, all classes
June 17, Modified Special, all classes
June 24, all classes/ROC race
July 1, Firework Spectacular, all classes
July 8, Dacotah Insurance Rumble
July 9, Dacotah Insurance Rumble
July 15, all classes
July 22, Midwest Modified Tour, all classes
July 29, all classes/ROC rain date
Aug. 5, all classes
Aug. 26, Season championship, all classes
Sept. 2, Big Buck Nationals, all classes
Sept. 3, Big Buck Nationals, all classes
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Brown County Speedway to open season on Friday
