TEN EVENTS FILL TENTH ANNIVERSARY BIG 8 SLATE!

Mark Melchiori // MDM Racepix Photo

By: Eric Huenefeld
The 2014 racing season promises to be an unforgettable one for the Big 8 Late Model Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet.

This season, the “Best Weekly Warriors in the Country” will campaign a ten-race schedule, visiting the top short tracks in the region while taking part in many of the most prestigious events on the Midwest racing calendar.

Engines will come to life during the 37th Annual Spring Classic at Rockford Speedway on Sunday afternoon April 13th, when the Big 8 Late Models will headline the traditional season opening affair with a 108 lap feature event. Joining the Big 8 Late Models on the card will be the Mid American Stock Car Series and the Illinois Vintage Racers.

Exciting new dates on the 2014 schedule include the return of the Big 8 Series to Dells Raceway Park on Friday night July 4 as part of the ‘North American Cup’ weekend. The stop at DRP will be the first Big 8 event at the 1/3 mile speed plant since June of 2007.

Also returning to the Big 8 Series schedule is Slinger Super Speedway. The Big 8’s best will take to Slinger’s high banks Sunday night July 13 for the 88 lap “King of the High Banks.” The event at Slinger will be part of the “Prelude to the Nationals”, leading up to the “Slinger Nationals” Super Late Model race, held two nights later, Tuesday July 15 on the World’s Fastest Quarter Mile.

Traditional dates returning to the 2014 schedule include a return to the tight confines of Columbus 151 Speedway on Monday afternoon May 26, for a Memorial Day Special which includes the season opening race for the Great Northern Sportsman Series and the four cylinder “Bandit Blast.” Friday night June 27, Madison International Speedway hosts the Big 8 Series as part of its ‘Salute to America’ Program. And for the third consecutive year, the Big 8 Late Model Series headlines Friday night of the Larry Detjens Memorial Weekend at State Park Speedway in Wausau Wisconsin on Friday night July 25.

For a second straight year, “Four Races in Four Weeks” will determine the Big 8 Late Model Series point champion. The four race swing begins at Jefferson Speedway with the 34th Annual Wisconsin State Championships Friday and Saturday September 12 & 13. The following weekend, Friday and Saturday September 19 & 20, the series heads north for the Thunderstruck ‘93’ at Elko Speedway in Minnesota. Then on Saturday evening September 27, the Big 8 Late Models will again headline ‘Short Track Saturday Night’ at the Rockford Speedway as part of the 49th Annual National Short Track Championships. The curtain closes on the series’ tenth anniversary season Saturday night October 4, with a 68 lap championship feature during the 45th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway.

For additional information regarding the Big 8 Late Model Series visit www.big8series.com or contact the Series Office at 815-633-0035.

2014 Big 8 Late Model Series Schedule

Sunday April 13- Rockford Speedway (Loves Park, IL)
37th Annual Spring Classic (108 laps)

Monday May 26- Columbus (WI) 151 Speedway
Memorial Day Special (78 laps)

Friday June 27- Madison International Speedway (Oregon, WI)
Salute to America (48 laps)

Friday July 4- Dells Raceway Park (Wisconsin Dells, WI)
North American Cup Weekend (68 laps)

Sunday July 13- Slinger (WI) Super Speedway
“Prelude to the Nationals” (88 laps)

Friday July 25- State Park Speedway (Wausau, WI)
Larry Detjens Memorial Weekend (58 laps)

Fri & Sat Sept 12 & 13- Jefferson (WI) Speedway
34th Annual Wisconsin State Championships (Twin 75’s)

Fri & Sat Sept 19 & 20- Elko (MN) Speedway
6th Annual Thunderstruck ‘93’ (58 laps)

Saturday Sept 27- Rockford Speedway (Loves Park, IL)
49th Annual National Short Track Championships (108 laps)

Saturday October 4- LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway (West Salem, WI)
45th Annual Oktoberfest Race Weekend (68 laps)