Wild Wild Northwest Tour preview

It's nearing the third week in August, and that can only mean one thing for the open wheel race fans of the Northwest........ The "Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series" will once again bring the greatest sprint car drivers in the world to the Great Northwest in the 7th annual "Wild Wild Northwest Tour". Presented by Brownfield Promotions, Inc., the Outlaws will travel from the prestigious AMOCO Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa, to open their Northwest Tour on August 15th at MetraPark in Billings, MT. Last year was the first appearance on the 1/2 mile track by the worlds "Greatest Show on Dirt", setting attendance records in the process prompting winner Mark Kinser to comment "They've done quite a job here....I love this place". Along with last years winner, Sammy Swindell, Andy Hillenburg, Steve Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Stevie Smith, Daryn Pittman, Brook Tatnell, Jac Haudenschild, Johnny Herrera and many more drivers will be ready to thrill the crowd. Rest assured they will all be looking to put their name in the record book as winner of the World of Outlaws 2000 visit to MetraPark, along with taking the winners share of the $47,490 purse. Following their appearance in Billings, the Wild Wild Northwest Tour moves west to Grays Harbor Raceway Park in Elma, WA for a two day showing on Friday and Saturday, August 18th and 19th with $85,625 on line. In 1999, Sammy Swindell notched the preliminary night win on Friday night with Saturday's feature event going Mark Kinser. The question the fans are asking in 2000 is if they can repeat, or will they see new drivers finding the fastest way around the 3/10 mile semi-banked clay oval. In 2000 day time entertainment for the fans continues as the town of Elma again hosts "Outlaw Days" with plenty of festivities scheduled for the fans. Events scheduled include the Outlaw Days Parade, Car Show, Live Music at the Fairgrounds, Sidewalk Sales, Eagles Breakfast, Run from the Law 5K and 10K races, and many other festive events. Ending the festivities will be an after the race Sidewalk Dance on Saturday night. The Grays Harbor Transportation Authority will run their "trolly" every half hour between the track and downtown. It's a great way to spend the day before taking in the exciting racing action at the track. To warm up the fans for the Outlaws action at Grays Harbor Raceway Park, the "Hy-Per-Lube Northern Sprint Tour" will feature another exciting points race on Thursday night, August 17th. Special prices for the Northern Sprint Tour race are available when bought with a two day World of Outlaws ticket. The race for the 2000 Hy-Per-Lube Northern Sprint Tour Championship is far from over and Thursday night's action will be a great preview of the weekend. Following the action packed weekend at Grays Harbor Raceway Park, drivers and crews head back over the Cascade Mountains to State Fair Raceway in Yakima, WA on Tuesday, August 22nd. Like MetraPark in 1999, the World of Outlaws will again christen a new track with their fire breathing 410 cu. in. 800+ horsepower machines. This is an event that has never happened in Central Washington State and records are sure to be set and broken and the fans will see racing in Yakima like they have never seen before. With $47,490 up for grabs during the nights event, the new three-eighths mile oval is sure to produce some very close high speed action as the drivers race to see who's name will go into the records as the facilities first World of Outlaws winner. Closing out the "Wild Wild Northwest Tour", the drivers will once again thrill the fans at Riverside Speedway with a Tuesday night race at the Cottage Grove, Oregon track on August 29th. With another $47,490 at stake, the fans packing Riverside Speedway will again be looking for great action like 1999 when Danny "The Dude" Lasoski took the feature event win on this tight semi-banked 1/4 mile clay oval. Regardless of which track they are racing on, you can always count on exciting open wheel sprint car action when the "Pennzoil World of Outlaws" returns to the Northwest. At this time tickets are available for all races. However sales are brisk and seating is restricted at some tracks. For more information call the Brownfield Promotions, Inc. Ticket Hotline at 1-800-825-4832 or contact the individual tracks. MetraPark - 800-825-4832; Grays Harbor Raceway Park - 360-482-4374; State Fair Raceway - 360-568-2529; Riverside Speedway - 541-942-7561.