Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Ron Morin and his management team presented the highlights of the 2012 season in a special press conference held at the Vieux-Duluth restaurant in Cornwall. A lot of effort during the off-season was put towards the next summer events and you can expect that 2012 will be the best year ever at the speedway.

The season will officially start on Sunday, May 20th with first of three events of the Canadian Nationals for the 358-Modifieds. This race will also be counting towards the MrDIRTcar 358-Modified Series. What a way to start the season with a 100-lap event of the headline class!

Cornwall will host for the first time ever the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series; the best in the business on DIRT will be at the track on Sunday July 29th as this event will be presented in conjunction with LKQ Headline Autoparts and Oshweken Speedway. Special cash awards will be given to drivers who run regularly in 360-sprint associations. The top qualifier of the Empire Super Sprints (ESS), Patriot Sprint Group (PST) and Southern Ontario Sprints (SOS), will receive a $500 bonus. These drivers could double up their bonus as the top A Main finishers for one of these groups will get $500. The top 24 qualifiers for the main event will at least get $800 for taking the initial green. Along with the WOO Sprints, the Lightning Mini-Sprints will also be on hand during that event. With that amount of money on the line, expect to see a huge turnout of sprint cars!

After a two-year absence the World of Outlaws Late Models are making a return at the speedway on Sunday, June 24th. The 2-time winner and series champion Josh Richards will try to win another $10,000 after the completion of the Nortrax 50. At this date, around 20 tour followers are in the hunt of the coveted WOO championship with up to 6 new faces in the mix. The speedway is putting a $1,000 bonus amount to the highest WOO non-regular finisher in the finale. We could easily see more than 30 Late Models in the pits.

Along with the opening night, the MrDIRTcar 358-Modified series will also make another appearance at the speedway part of the final race of the Canadian Nationals Series on Sunday, September 2nd part of the Jiffy 200, again a 125-lap race including a mandatory on track pit stop on lap 75. The second race of the Canadian Nationals is scheduled for Sunday August 5th. The first two editions of this series attracted nearly 40 cars per night!

If you are looking for something to do on Canada Day, Cornwall Speedway is the place as the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Series will be town for their annual visit. The best Northeast Modified drivers will be in the pits for this Evans Bus Lines 100-lap event. You’ll also be treated to a huge Canada Day fireworks display.

The Sportsman and Pro-Stock ranks will also have a busy summer with a doubleheader MrDIRTcar Series event held on June 3rd for both class. Also the return of the Mohawk Race Parts Pro-Stock Series involving 5 tracks and 6 races, plus a new 3-track St. Lawrence Seaway Sportsman Championship. More details to follow shortly on both series.

Sprint Car fans will be served on July 15th with the Patriot Sprint Tour in town for their lone visit of 2012. Also on the card, the Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car club on August 26th. The popular Fireball Enduro will close out the year on Sunday, September 9th.

After consultation with fans the start time will be pushed back to 7pm except on the Labour Day Weekend. Also, you’ll be happy to hear that the general admission for regular show was cut to $10, a two-dollar decrease! To attract a younger generation of fans and families, everyone under 18 years old will be admitted via general admission on regular night for only $2. So for under $25 a family of two adults and two children will be able to see exciting racing for an affordable price.

More details to follow shortly on the upcoming Cornwall Square Car Show held from March 26th to April 1st and also the annual champion’s banquet scheduled on March 31st. Be sure to consult the speedway’s website at http://www.cornwallspeedway.com for all the latest news for the upcoming season.