The long awaited winter racing off-season is finally over. While Arrowhead Speedway in Colcord, Ok and Crawford County Speedway in Cedarville, AR started their seasons already. It is now Tri-State Speedway’s turn this weekend with the Ninety 9 Nationals.
The USRA sanctioned track in Pocola, Ok plays host to the Ninety 9 Nationals by KR Promotions and Live Streamed on Race On. The three day event, while centered around the ever-growing B-Modified class, will also include USRA Stock Car and Factory Stock. 33 B-Mods will be racing for 33 laps in the Feature race. With drivers from all over the country converging on Pocola, OK , this is going to be a must-see event.
Running down through the rest of the Tri-State Speedway schedule, there are several dates to circle. The 45th Annual Cecil Harlan Kegger, includes national modified touring series USMTS for the Saturday portion of the event. Missing from the 2023 schedule, the USMTS Juggernaut returns and will have a who’s who of open-wheel dirt modified racing. The dates for that race are April 19th through the 20th.
USRA Weekly Series racing gets their first date of the year on April 27th. While the four weekly USRA classes of Sunoco Factory Stocks, Medieval Chassis USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, and USRA Modifieds will race alongside the specials for the year in a couple different combinations. This will be the first of nine standalone dates not tied to a Special. The other dates are; 5/11, 6/1, 6/15, 7/20, 8/3, 8/24, and 9/14. All culminating for the 54th Annual Tillman Evans Points Championships that will also feature Sooner Late Models on Sept. 28th.
The Steel Horse Shootout that is ran in conjunction with the Steel Horse Motorcycle Rally is on May, 3rd. National Flat Track Motorcycles will take to the high banks.
Late Models return to Tri-State with three separate series making a stop. Ca$h Money Late Models will run on May 18th. The newly formed REVival Late Models make their first trip to Pocola on June 8th. The Sooner Late Models have two dates to catch them, the first being July 27th and then again on Sept 28th.
Track Special events this year will be Night to Honor Memorial & B-Mod Special on May 25th. On June 22nd there will be a USRA Factory Stock Special. East/West Shootout with the 53rd Annual Firecracker Spectacular takes place on July 6th. This will include the track fireworks show after dark. On August 10th, the track will host a Demolition Derby and Back to School activities for the kids. The USRA Stock Car class will have a special on August 31st.
One of the most important nights on the calendar is the Police, Fire, & EMS night on Sept 7th. There will be USRA Weekly Racing Series that night as well. All first responders are invited to come to the track and do parade laps during the National Anthem.
The last class specific special is the USRA Modified Special on Oct 5th. With the similarities to the USMTS cars, it is highly possible to see one or a few of them return depending on the tour schedule.
Ending the season as it has done for 44 seasons, is the 45th Annual Spooker. The giant end of the year party draws 220+ cars on each of the three race nights. The practice night last year brought in 100+ cars. Winners of the Late Model class and the Modified class get their name on the official Spooker shirt. Currently, only one driver has won both classes on the same night. Current World of Outlaws Late Model driver Ryan Gustin. This is another event that draws drivers from across the country to the Fort Smith Metro.
This year the track is under the direction of Jake and Kelsey Davis. The Davis’ are no stranger to Tri-State Speedway as Jake’s father ran the track for a time, and Jake raced in several different classes over the years. Currently the facilities at the track are under-going a facelift. The Turn 1 bar is being renovated to be re-opened. A viewing area for the fans to watch tech inspection be performed is tied in with the Turn 1 club renovations. A vendor area is being added under the main grandstand as well as a arcade for the kids. That is just a portion of the improvements the Davis’ and their team have planned.
