Skagit Speedway is still located on Old Highway 99 between Burlington and Alger, Steve Beitler is still the track owner and the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup will still be the highlight of the season in mid June.
But that’s about all that remains the same as the track prepares to open its 2008 season tonight, weather permitting.
Nearly everything from the track itself to the voice calling the action over the publicaddress system has undergone at least a minor modification. Even the start time for the weekly Saturday night races has been pushed forward a half-hour to 7 p.m.
Beitler said he is confident fans will enjoy all of the changes, including the earlier starts, which will mean racing most nights should end by 10 p.m. and “keep the neighbors happy.”
“The biggest thing with everything we have done, is we’ve been focusing on providing better entertainment value for our fans,” Beitler said in a phone interview.
One way Beitler hopes to do that is by improving upon the already exciting action on the track.
The speedway recently underwent some renovations to widen straightaways to 55 feet and the corners to 65 feet. The wider racing surface, along with more banking in the top groove of the corners, should allow for more side-by-side racing and passing.
Beitler said the new track passed its first test during last week’s Play Day, even though the recent rains have played havoc with the new clay that was brought into the 3/10-mile oval.
“It’s going to be challenging for the drivers for a few weeks,” Beitler said. “The new clay is still very soft with all the rain we’ve had. But we think it’s going to make it nicer for the drivers and make for some entertaining racing for the fans.”
Beitler hopes a rule change for the top three sprint series at the track (410, 360 and Sportsman) will have the same effect.
Following yellow or red flags in the final five laps of the A Main, all lapped cars will be moved behind cars on the lead lap. The rule change will ensure that all leaders restart bumper to bumper, rather than having to race around lapped cars to battle for the lead.
“It’s going to make for some real exciting finishes,” Beitler said. “Plus I think it’s going to help make things safer for the drivers. Before, you might have some lapped cars mixed in, and the second- or third-place cars would have to bonsai their way
around them just to race the leader.”
Drivers will also use “raceceivers” this year, allowing officials to line up cars quicker for restarts and warn drivers when yellow or red flags come out.
Skagit also will go to a one-lap qualifying program, similar to the one used by the World of Outlaws, in an effort to help keep the track in better shape throughout the night.
Outside the safety fences, fans will also hear a new, but familiar voice calling the racing action. Kelly Hart, who served as Skagit Speedway’s voice for four seasons, moved back to Wenatchee. His son Kaleb, who has provided insight from the pits, moves to the booth.
“We’re going to miss Kelly, that’s for sure,” Beitler said. “But his son is very capable, and he’s ready to step up to the challenge. It’s nice to have someone taking over who is familiar with the drivers and the track, like Kaleb is.”
Hart will get to call the action from two new events this season, as Skagit is scheduled to host the IMCA style Modifieds and the Ford Focus Midgets for the first time.
The open wheel modifieds will be at Skagit on June 14 with race teams from Yakima, Grays Harbor and as far away as central Oregon. The Ford Focus Midgets, a non-wing midget car raced primarily at Grays Harbor Raceway, will be in town on Aug. 16.
“We’re excited about having both classes here,” Beitler said. “Every year we try to give the fans something a little different. We’ll try them out, see how they do, and maybe it’s something we can look at doing again in future years.”
Beitler said he is expecting all four Skagit Speedway series champions back in 2008 though, not surprisingly, a few have changed divisions.
The top three drivers in the Sportsman Series, led by 2007 champion Kevin Smith, are expected to jump up to the top level and race in the 410s. Brock Lemley is defending champion in the 410s, while Steve Kilcup won the 360 series championship last year. Outlaw Hornets champion Greg Hibma will make the jump up to the Sportsman Series in 2008.
Beitler said a number of young, talented drivers from Deming Speedway are expected to move to Skagit this season, including Derek Holmwood and Cam Smith in the 410s and Mack Brown in the 360s.
“There are a lot of new cars and a lot of drivers moving up a division,” Beitler said. “We’ve got probably 12 to 15 new 410 cars, and that’s great to see. Everybody loves the 410s. They’re bigger, faster and the crowd just loves them.”
That’s one thing, Beitler says, Skagit Speedway has no plans to change.