Speedway, IN | Substantial payout increases for marquee events, an extended stay in the Sunshine State, a deep dive down south and a return to the Sprint Car Capital of the World highlight the 2023 USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship schedule.
To date, there is a slate of 48 events across the board for the 68th year of the series between the months of February and October in 2023. Thirteen of the events pay a winner’s share of $10,000 or more and a pair of races feature a $20,000 top prize while one has boosted it’s crown jewel to $30,000-to-win for a night’s work.
The $30,000-to-win Sprint Car Smackdown XII at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway has doubled the winner’s take-home pay from 2022. The final night of “Smackdown” will take place on August 26 and features a lead-in of a pair of $6,000-to-win shows on August 24-25.
Two late season staples of the USAC National Sprint Car schedule offer increased stakes in the upcoming year with both boasting $20,000 winner’s shares. Those dates include the Haubstadt Hustler at Indiana’s Tri-State Speedway on September 16 and the Fall Nationals at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway on October 7.
All USAC Indiana Sprint Week payouts have been bumped to $8,000-to-win for the 36th annual edition of the series in late July at Gas City I-69 Speedway on July 21, Kokomo Speedway on July 22, Lawrenceburg Speedway on July 23, Circle City Raceway on July 24, To Be Announced on July 26, Lincoln Park Speedway on July 27, Bloomington Speedway on July 28 and Tri-State Speedway on July 28.
FIVE NEW DEBUTS & MAJOR RETURNS
Five racetracks will make their debut on the USAC National Sprint Car schedule in 2023: Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park, Texas’s Rocket Raceway Park, Pennsylvania’s Action Track USA, Illinois’ Macon Speedway and Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Raceway.
The season kicks off with an expanded docket in the state of Florida during the month of February. USAC makes its debut at Barberton’s Volusia Speedway Park for two non-points special events on February 13-14, followed by the first three points-paying events of the year at Ocala, Florida’s Bubba Raceway Park during Winter Dirt Games. Both the Volusia and Ocala finales will pay $10,000 to the feature winner.
USAC National Sprint Cars make a major return to Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway for the first time in three seasons during the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction weekend on June 2-3.
The Sprint Cars of USAC most recently paid a visit to the Lone Star State of Texas in 1985. In 2023, the series will tackle three events in successive nights, starting off with the series debut at Rocket Raceway Park on April 27 followed by two consecutive runs at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on April 28-29 with the latter event paying $10,000 to conquer.
The 1/5-mile bullring of Illinois’ Macon Speedway welcomes USAC’s Thunder and Lightning division for the first time ever on July 7-8, with the latter of the two dates paying another $10 grand-to-win.
The new season closes out with a bit of a different look at Meeker, Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Raceway on October 27-28. The weekend double marks the USAC National Sprint Cars’ first foray to the aptly named 1/4-mile in the Sooner State with a $10,000 payday awaiting the second night winner.
Eastern Storm, a fixture on the USAC Sprint Car schedule since 2007, celebrates its 16th year of competition in 2023 with seven dates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, starting at Grandview Speedway on June 13, Bridgeport Motorsports Park on June 14, Big Diamond Speedway on June 15, Williams Grove Speedway on June 16, Port Royal Speedway on June 17 and the series makes its first ever appearance at Action Track USA with an appearance points only event to cap off the busy weekend on June 18.
THE STAPLES OF THE SCHEDULE
No tracks has hosted more USAC National Sprint Car events than Rossburg, Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, which hosts the series three times in 2023 with each visit paying $10,000-to-win. The first of which brings the series to the half-mile dirt oval on May 5-6 for #LetsRaceTwo and once more for the 41st running of the 4-Crown Nationals on September 23.
The Bill Gardner Sprintacular at Putnamville, Indiana’s Lincoln Park Speedway has quickly become one of the most coveted races for a driver to capture. The race annually boasts the largest car counts of the year and is primed for two nights of action on consecutive evenings on June 30 and July 1 with the finale paying $10,000 to the winner.
The destination is Wisconsin for the official start of summer on June 24-25 with two dates in the Badger State at the newly renovated Wilmot Raceway on the 24th and at the legendary Angell Park Speedway on the 25th.
A slew of additional tradition-rich venues make up the bulk of the USAC National Sprint Car schedule in 2023, such as Lawrenceburg, which hosts the Midwest opener once more on April 1. Southern Indiana stalwart venues Bloomington and Tri-State welcome the series for a two-race two-step on April 14 and 15, respectively.
USAC Sprints hit Circle City Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind. for a $10,000-to win show during the Week of Indy on May 25 and once more -late in the year on September 15, and less than a week later, it’s onto Gas City for the sixth installment of the James Dean Classic on September 21.
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2023 USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Feb 13: Volusia Speedway Park (SE) | Barberville, FL | $5,000-To-Win
Feb 14: Volusia Speedway Park (SE) | Barberville, FL | $10,000-To-Win
Feb 16: Bubba Raceway Park | Ocala, FL | Winter Dirt Games | $5,000-To-Win
Feb 17: Bubba Raceway Park | Ocala, FL | Winter Dirt Games | $5,000-To-Win
Feb 18: Bubba Raceway Park (F) | Ocala, FL | Winter Dirt Games | $10,000-To-Win
Apr 1: Lawrenceburg Speedway | Lawrenceburg, IN | $5,000-To-Win
Apr 14: Bloomington Speedway | Bloomington, IN | $5,000-To-Win
Apr 15: Tri-State Speedway (M) | Haubstadt, IN | Spring Showdown | $5,000-To-Win
Apr 27: Rocket Raceway Park (E) | Petty, TX | $6,000-To-Win
Apr 28: Devil’s Bowl Speedway (E) | Mesquite, TX | $6,000-To-Win
Apr 29: Devil’s Bowl Speedway (E) | Mesquite, TX | $10,000-To-Win
May 5: Eldora Speedway | Rossburg, OH | #LetsRaceTwo | $10,000-To-Win
May 6: Eldora Speedway | Rossburg, OH | #LetsRaceTwo | $10,000-To-Win
May 24: TBA
May 25: Circle City Raceway | Indianapolis, IN | Week of Indy | $10,000-To-Win
Jun 2: Knoxville Raceway | Knoxville, IA | Corn Belt Clash | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 3: Knoxville Raceway | Knoxville, IA | Corn Belt Clash | $8,000-To-Win
Jun 13: Grandview Speedway | Bechtelsville, PA | Eastern Storm | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 14: Bridgeport Motorsports Park | Swedesboro, NJ | Eastern Storm | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 15: Big Diamond Speedway | Pottsville, PA | Eastern Storm | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 16: Williams Grove Speedway | Mechanicsburg, PA | Eastern Storm | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 17: Port Royal Speedway | Port Royal, PA | Eastern Storm | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 18: Action Track USA (A) | Kutztown, PA | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 24: Wilmot Raceway | Wilmot, WI | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 25: Angell Park Speedway | Sun Prairie, WI | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 30: Lincoln Park Speedway (A) (M) | Putnamville, IN | Bill Gardner Sprintacular | $5,000-To-Win
Jul 1: Lincoln Park Speedway (M) | Putnamville, IN | Bill Gardner Sprintacular | $10,000-To-Win
Jul 7: Macon Speedway (A) | Macon, IL | $5,000-To-Win
Jul 8: Macon Speedway (A) | Macon, IL | $10,000-To-Win
Jul 21: Gas City I-69 Speedway | Gas City, IN | Indiana Sprint Week | $8,000-To-Win
Jul 22: Kokomo Speedway | Kokomo, IN | Indiana Sprint Week | $8,000-To-Win
Jul 23: Lawrenceburg Speedway | Lawrenceburg, IN | Indiana Sprint Week | $8,000-To-Win
Jul 24: Circle City Raceway | Indianapolis, IN | Indiana Sprint Week | $8,000-To-Win
Jul 26: TBA
Jul 27: Lincoln Park Speedway | Putnamville, IN | Indiana Sprint Week | $8,000-To-Win
Jul 28: Bloomington Speedway | Bloomington, IN | Indiana Sprint Week / Sheldon Kinser Memorial | $8,000-To-Win
Jul 29: Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, IN | Indiana Sprint Week | $8,000-To-Win
Aug 24: Kokomo Speedway | Kokomo, IN | Sprint Car Smackdown | $6,000-To-Win
Aug 25: Kokomo Speedway | Kokomo, IN | Sprint Car Smackdown | $6,000-To-Win
Aug 26: Kokomo Speedway | Kokomo, IN | Sprint Car Smackdown | $30,000-To-Win
Sep 15: Circle City Raceway | Indianapolis, IN | $5,000-To-Win
Sep 16: Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, IN | Haubstadt Hustler | $20,000-To-Win
Sep 21: Gas City I-69 Speedway | Gas City, IN | James Dean Classic | $5,000-To-Win
Sep 23: Eldora Speedway | Rossburg, OH | 4-Crown Nationals | $10,000-To-Win
Oct 6: TBA
Oct 7: Lawrenceburg Speedway | Lawrenceburg, IN | Fall Nationals | $20,000-To-Win
Oct 27: Red Dirt Raceway | Meeker, OK | $6,000-To-Win
Oct 28: Red Dirt Raceway | Meeker, OK | $10,000-To-Win
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(SE) represents a non-points special event
(F) represents an event paying feature points only
(A) represents an event paying appearance points only
(M) represents an event co-sanctioned by the Midwest Sprint Car Series
(E) represents an event co-sanctioned by ASCS Elite Non-Wing
The USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship enters a new year in 2023 with a docket of more than 30 events on the calendar.
New to the slate in the coming year are a pair of events in Belleville, Kan. on May 19-20. After several years on the high banks, this time the midgets take on the Belleville Short Track at the North Central Kansas Fairgrounds for the first time ever for a pair of shows on back-to-back nights. Missouri’s Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex completes the tripleheader weekend on May 21.
Meanwhile, Illinois’ Macon Speedway returns to the schedule for the first time in six years on August 19. Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway opens it all up with back-to-back nights at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway for the Kokomo Grand Prix on April 21-22.
The 19th edition of USAC Indiana Midget Week feature seven races in eight nights at Tri-State Speedway on June 4, Circle City Raceway on June 5, Gas City I-69 Speedway on June 7, Lincoln Park Speedway on June 8, Bloomington Speedway on June 9, Lawrenceburg Speedway on June 10 and the finale at Kokomo Speedway on June 11.
The series makes its annual venture to Mid-America for four nights of action in three states during a July swing through Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Raceway on July 11, Kansas’ Solomon Valley Raceway on July 12 and two-straight at Nebraska’s Jefferson County Speedway on July 14-15 with the latter event paying $10,000-to-win.
The Jason Leffler Memorial at Illinois’ Wayne County Speedway moves to the month of August on the 18th. A mega weekend on each side of the Indiana/Ohio border greets the series in late September. On the 21st, the series makes its return to Gas City for the James Dean Classic. The next two nights bring the series to the biggest and fastest venue on the schedule at Eldora Speedway on September 22-23 for 4-Crown Nationals moments.
Then it’s onto the California swing, which replicates the order of this past year’s western schedule with seven dates in the Golden State. First up is Bakersfield Speedway on November 14. From there, the series moves onto Placerville Speedway for the Hangtown 100, the finale of which pays a whopping $20,000-to-win.
Merced Speedway takes the wheel for two-straight nights on November 21-22, then the season concludes with a bang at with the 82nd running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway.
The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host the fifth running of the Driven2SaveLives BC39 at a yet to be determined dates.
2023 USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr 21: Kokomo Speedway | Kokomo, IN | Kokomo Grand Prix | $4,000-To-Win
Apr 22: Kokomo Speedway | Kokomo, IN | Kokomo Grand Prix | $5,000-To-Win
May 19: Belleville Short Track | Belleville, KS | $4,000-To-Win
May 20: Belleville Short Track | Belleville, KS | $6,000-To-Win
May 21: Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex | Sweet Springs, MO | $6,000-To-Win
Jun 4: Tri-State Speedway | Haubstadt, IN | Indiana Midget Week | $5,000-To-Win
Jun 5: Circle City Raceway | Indianapolis, IN | Indiana Midget Week | $4,000-To-Win
Jun 7: Gas City I-69 Speedway | Gas City, IN | Indiana Midget Week | $4,000-To-Win
Jun 8: Lincoln Park Speedway | Putnamville, IN | Indiana Midget Week | $4,000-To-Win
Jun 9: Bloomington Speedway | Bloomington, IN | Indiana Midget Week | $5,000-To-Win
Jun 10: Lawrenceburg Speedway | Lawrenceburg, IN | Indiana Midget Week | $5,000-To-Win
Jun 11: Kokomo Speedway | Kokomo, IN | Indiana Midget Week | $5,000-To-Win
Jul 11: Red Dirt Raceway | Meeker, OK | Tuesday Night Thunder | $4,000-To-Win
Jul 12: Solomon Valley Raceway| Beloit, KS | Chad McDaniel Memorial | $4,000-To-Win
Jul 14: Jefferson County Speedway | Fairbury, NE | Midwest Midget Championship | $4,000-To-Win
Jul 15: (F) Jefferson County Speedway | Fairbury, NE | Midwest Midget Championship | $10,000-To-Win
Aug 18: (F) Wayne County Speedway | Wayne City, IL | Jason Leffler Memorial | $5,000-To-Win
Aug 19: Macon Speedway | Macon, IL | $5,000-To-Win
Sep 3: Angell Park Speedway | Sun Prairie, WI | Firemen's Nationals | $5,000-To-Win
Sep 4: Angell Park Speedway | Sun Prairie, WI | $5,000-To-Win
Sep 21: Gas City I-69 Speedway | Gas City, IN | James Dean Classic | $4,000-To-Win
Sep 22: Eldora Speedway | Rossburg, OH | 4-Crown Nationals | $5,000-To-Win
Sep 23: (F) Eldora Speedway | Rossburg, OH | 4-Crown Nationals | $10,000-To-Win
Nov 14: Bakersfield Speedway | Bakersfield, CA | November Classic | $4,000-To-Win
Nov 16: (A) Placerville Speedway | Placerville, CA | Hangtown 100 | $5,000-To-Win
Nov 17: (A) Placerville Speedway | Placerville, CA | Hangtown 100 | $5,000-To-Win
Nov 18: (F) Placerville Speedway | Placerville, CA | Hangtown 100 | $20,000-To-Win
Nov 21: Merced Speedway | Merced, CA | $4,000-To-Win
Nov 22: Merced Speedway | Merced, CA | $4,000-To-Win
Nov 25: Ventura Raceway | Ventura, CA | Turkey Night Grand Prix | $10,000
TBA: (F) The Dirt Track at IMS | Speedway, IN
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(F) represents an event paying feature points only
(A) represents an event paying appearance points only
Thirteen dates. Thirteen events. Seven on pavement. Five on dirt. One yet to be announced.
That’s the modus operandi for the USAC Silver Crown National Championship after the 2023 schedule was released on Thursday afternoon at the Performance Racing Industry show in Indianapolis.
THE RETURN OF THE HOOSIER HUNDRED
While the first event is slated for April 16 at a yet-to-be determined venue, the initial confirmed event on the schedule brings the series to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for the first of three dates on the .686-mile paved oval.
Leading off at IRP this season is the resurgence of the Hoosier Hundred, which will be held for the 66th time overall, but for the first time on pavement, on April 23, an event which will pay $25,000-to-win.
The series returns to IRP a month later on May 26 for the $10,000-to-win Carb Night Classic and again for the season finale on October 14 where a new series titlist will be crowned during Championship Saturday.
BACK ON THE HIGH BANKS & THE DIRT HALVES
For the first time in seven years, the champ cars return to the Belleville High Banks in Kansas in a fantastic doubleheader with the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship.
Speaking of the half-mile dirt ovals, there are three of a kind on the schedule with Belleville joined by the second series appearance at Pennsylvania’s Port Royal Speedway on June 17 in a double with the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship.
The 41st running of the 4-Crown Nationals pits a USAC tripleheader at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway on September 22-23 featuring the Silver Crown series, plus the midgets and sprint cars along with the All Star Circuit of Champions.
PAVING THE WAY
Paved half-miles are prevalent throughout the season with Wisconsin’s Madison International Speedway, Indiana’s Winchester Speedway and Ohio’s Toledo Speedway running in succession during the summer months. On June 23, it’s the Dairyland 100 at Madison, then it’s off to Winchester’s Rich Vogler Classic on July 20 and the Rollie Beale Classic on August 5 at Toledo.
DIRT MILE SEASON
It’s dirt mile season in the second half of the year as the Illinois’ two state fairs roll out the red carpet for the Silver Crown series on August 19 for the 60th running of the Bettenhausen 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds’ Springfield Mile.
Illinois’ southernmost dirt mile belongs to the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds which will host the 69th edition of the Ted Horn 100 on September 3.
THE BIGGEST & THE FASTEST
On August 27, USAC Silver Crown racing makes its way back to the largest and fastest track on the series schedule – the 1.25-mile paved World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill.
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2023 USAC SILVER CROWN SCHEDULE
Apr 16: TBA
Apr 23: (P) (A) Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park | Brownsburg, IN | Hoosier Hundred | $25,000-To-Win
May 19-20: (D) Belleville High Banks | Belleville, KS | $8,000-To-Win
May 26: (P) Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park | Brownsburg, IN | Carb Night Classic | $10,000-To-Win
Jun 17: (D) Port Royal Speedway | Port Royal, PA | $8,000-To-Win
Jun 23: (P) Madison International Speedway | Oregon, WI | Dairyland 100 | $8,000-To-Win
Jul 20: (P) Winchester Speedway | Winchester, IN | Rich Vogler Classic | $8,000-To-Win
Aug 5: (P) Toledo Speedway | Toledo, OH | Rollie Beale Classic | $8,000-To-Win
Aug 19: (D) Illinois State Fairgrounds | Springfield, IL | Bettenhausen 100 | $10,000-To-Win
Aug 27: (P) World Wide Technology Raceway | Madison, IL | $10,000-To-Win
Sep 2: (D) Du Quoin State Fairgrounds | Du Quoin, IL | Ted Horn 100 | $10,000-To-Win
Sep 22-23: (D) Eldora Speedway | Rossburg, OH | 4-Crown Nationals | $10,000-To-Win
Oct 14: (P) Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park | Brownsburg, IN | $10,000-To-Win
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(A) represents an event paying appearance points only
(P) represents a pavement track event
(D) represents a dirt track event
Race dates & payouts subject to change