It is the time of the year when the track up on the hill sees a record number of racers.
This weekend marks the 44th time the end of the season classic has been run. Drivers from all over the country make the trek just over the border into Oklahoma to try and win the now coveted Reaper trophy.
Points Championships were run three weeks ago and for at least two classes it is to have their names into eternity. Ok, not so much eternity but on the back of shirts and hoodies that will be seen everywhere. Names like Larry Phillips, Terry Phillips, Jason Hughes, Billy Moyer, Ryan Gustin have won either the Late Model portion or the Modified portion of the event. Terry Phillips and Ryan Gustin won the Late Model and Modified, with Gustin the only driver to win it in the same night.
What can you expect to see? Saturday night from 5pm to 6pm drivers will be in front of the stands to hand out candy to the kids. Plus, face painting and a photo area for the kids and adults. 12 classes of cars will take to the Pocola High Banks at a chance to snag part of the $80,000.00 up for grabs.
Fans Guide to the Spooker
Wednesday Night: Practice. Have you ever stumbled upon multi-class racing while looking for something to watch? Well look no further. Initially the same cars will roll out together, but every so often you will see a Stock Car running with Modifieds or a Mini Stock with Stock Cars. Participants in all 12 classes will be on hand testing and tuning. The later in the night runs will be crucial for the drivers as Tri-State has become famous for its Dry Slick track prep. Once cars have started to lay down rubber it will be interesting to see what lines certain cars start to work looking for grip or compensating for a lack of.
Thursday: Classes – Front Wheel Drive, Mini Stock, 360 BMods, Area Pure Stock, Area Factory Stock. Below I will have a fan spotters guide showing and trying my best to show the cars that will be racing. There will be heat races and features for Front Wheel Drive, Mini Stock, and 360 Bmods. Area Pure Stock and Factory Stock will have qualifier races.
Friday: Classes – USRA Modified, B-Mod, Stock Car, and Factory Stock. Area Pure Stock and Area Factory Stock. USRA Modified is running a full show of heats and a Feature. USRA B-Mod, Stock Car, and Factory Stock are running qualifier races. Area Pure Stock and Factory Stock are running their Features.
Saturday: Classes – All USRA classes that ran Friday, plus Super Dirt Late Models and Area Super Stocks. USRA Modified, Late Models, and Super Stock are running heats and Features. The USRA classes that ran qualifiers on Friday will be running their features.
Now that we have the schedule, what is the difference in all the classes? To be honest, not much in appearance.
Front Wheel Drive
These are the most basic of the cars that will run, as the name implies they are just normal passenger cars with a roll cage put in. They will range from Honda Civics and Volkswagen Jettas to V8 powered Chevy Impalas.
Mini-Stock
Small pick-ups and 4 cylinder Fox Body Mustangs from the 80’s and 90’s are the majority on this class
Area Factory Stock and USRA Factory Stock
These next two classes are relatively the same, and will look the same as their big brother Area Pure Stock and USRA Stock Car. While they are a touch slower than the Stock Car, they are also quieter. But physically they “almost” look identical.
Area Pure Stock and USRA Stock Car
The biggest similarity between these two is the exhaust. Really, there’s been past Spooker’s I wasn’t sure what class I was watching. The USRA Stock Car class put on the best show week after week during the Tri-State season.
Super Stock / Grand National
These look a bit different than the above mentioned classes. While they resemble an 80’s Monte Carlo it is more of a Silhouette of one. This class used to put on a show at the end of the summer with a $5,000 to win Super Stock Showdown. For a few years it was ran at the same time with a Super Stock race at Batesville Motor Speedway in Arkansas and Lucas Oil Raceway in Missouri.
360 B-mods and USRA B-Mod
If there’s a difference I am not aware of it. The B-mods that race Thursday night, most will be back Friday night. There is another Modified class and to the eye they will look the same except B-modifieds do not run a spoiler.
USRA Modified
The class that will get your name on the annual shirt. The USRA Modified shares a rules package with National touring series United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS). Over the past several years, if USMTS is not running on Spooker weeked the drivers will hop over to Tri-State to run the Saturday portion.
Super Dirt Late Models
These are the cars we grew up watching Billy Moyer Sr. and Scott Bloomquist run. Fast full bodied cars that will leave you in awe. Two major series, Comp Cams Late Model and World of Outlaws Late Models, drivers will come to Tri-State to try and win the Reaper Trophy.
