Track reconfiguration work continues with intentions to run a limited 2011 schedule, but the decision was made to scrap the present schedule to enable racers and fans the opportunity to change plans if needed.

Construction progress has ramped up in recent days, and a revised tentative schedule for the remainder of the 2011 season will be forthcoming contingent on work finalization.

Race fans are advised to consult the WVMS website for future scheduling updates.

The Mountain State Motorsports Promotions group, promoters of the West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Well, WV, regretfully announce that the previously scheduled June 30th and July 9th racing events will be cancelled due to the ongoing delays in completion of the track reconfiguration.

“Everyone is well aware of the lousy weather that we’ve had in this area, and we are as frustrated as anyone with the delays in construction” said MSMP rep Brian Ferrell.  “Despite the set backs and frustrations, we’re determined to do this (track reconfiguration) the right way, and want the racers and fans to understand that when it’s finished, the track should produce some great racing”.

Tentatively cancelled are the Thursday, June 30th running of the ‘Mark Balzano Memorial’ for the All-Star Late Models and ‘Dickson Classic’ for the TSMA Modifieds, as well as the Saturday July 9th ‘Wild & Wonderful Open Wheel’ event with the All-Star Sprints and BOSS Sprints headlining.

Much work has been completed, but a great deal needs done before the new 3/8 mile is ready for competition.  The culvert and drainage systems have been installed and the majority of the track’s base has been installed and compacted. “We definitely need some consecutive days of dry weather to allow the scope of dirt work that we’re attempting out here” said Lynn Chapman.  “Those days have been few and far between, and the area is a natural basin to begin with.  That makes things difficult when you only get a couple days of sunshine before the rains come again”.

Race fans are encouraged to consult the WVMS website (www.wvspeedway.com) for future info and scheduling updates.

World Champion ‘Grave Digger’ will defend his title against ‘Black Stallion’, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’, ‘Stone Crusher’, ‘Mopar Magic’ and West Virginia’s own ‘XXX’ in competition at the region’s premier motor sports complex.

The 2 night extravaganza is set for (Friday) June 24th and (Saturday) 25th, and is sure to please fans of all ages.

Fans can purchase tickets in advance and save money by doing so! Advance adult tickets are available for $16*, with kid’s seats only $10* through all Ticketmaster outlets or at www.ticketmaster.com, use code ‘Monster’ (*addl fees may apply). Tickets will be available for purchase at the West Virginia Motor Speedway the day of the show only.

Gates open on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 5:00 p.m. with the show beginning both nights at 7:30 p.m. Saturday will also feature a ‘pit party’ from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Pit passes are available at participating area McDonald’s restaurant locations from 6/6 – 6/23/11 whle supplies last. Event ticket is also required for admission to ‘pit party’. $5 Adult Discount Coupons available at participating Advance Auto Parts locations from 6/6/11 through 6/23/11 while supplies last.

Take advantage of the savings offered by purchasing your tickets in advance so you won’t miss the car crushing mayhem, along with the world’s wildest trucks in the area’s only appearance of the nationally known ‘Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam’! For additional information about ‘Monster Jam’ or other events at the West Virginia Motor Speedway, visit the WVMS website at www.wvspeedway.com

Come see World Champion Grave Digger® take on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™, Black Stallion®, Stone Crusher®, Mopar Magic® and West Virginia’s Own, XXX!

Buy now and save!
Adults can purchase tickets for just $16*
Discount available through Ticketmaster.com
Use code: Monster

Offer expires Thursday, June 23, 2011
Kids seats are just $10*!
*Additional fees may apply.

Visit www.MonsterJam.com for complete event information.

Irregardless of the track construction progress, the June 24th & 25th 2 night ‘Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam’ spectacular will go on as expected.

Race fans are advised to consult the all new West Virginia Motor Speedway website at http://wvspeedway.com/  for track construction updates and future scheduling.

http://wvspeedway.com/

05/14/2011

—official press release—

The wettest April ever recorded since the state of West Virginia began recording weather information has been detrimental to all outdoor activities, including the renovation of the West Virginia Motor Speedway.

Only twice during the month were 2 consecutive days witnessed without rain fall, and the weather pattern has continued into early May.

Without adequate dry periods necessary for moving dirt in the construction of the new 3/8 mile track, Mountain State Motorsports Promotions has been forced to cancel their always popular ‘Racefest’, the Memorial Day weekend 2011 season opener.

The World of Outlaw Late Models have been rescheduled for Saturday night, July 30th, which will be the make up date for this race.

“We had the equipment and manpower all ready on the date we originally advertised to start work, but Mother Nature hasn’t been very agreeable” said MSMP’s Lynn Chapman.  “A change in the weather pattern would allow us to go full speed ahead, but it’s been tough to accomplish what we set out to do with this weather”.

“We hated to cancel the opener, but we have to be realistic, also” said MSMP’s Brian Ferrell.  “By making the decision now, it buys more time to be truly ready should the weather problems continue, and lessens the chances of inconveniencing racers and fans who may need to make plans to attend.”

“Everyone realizes what a huge under taking that’s involved in this project, and the support has been phenomenal.  We just want to do what’s best for all” concluded Ferrell.
Race fans are advised to consult the all new West Virginia Motor Speedway website at http://wvspeedway.com/  for track construction updates and future scheduling.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 304-758-2934 or at Pike Street Bowling Lanes. Only 2 day tickets can be purchased in advance.

$40 for 2 day general
$15 for 2 day general kids ages 6-11
Kids 5 and under are free in general admission only
$65 for 2 day pits

—official press release—

West Virginia Motor Speedway facelift underway

The dirt has already started to fly at the West Virginia Motor Speedway near Mineral Wells, WV, but this time it doesn’t involve the high powered race cars that have made ‘the Speedplant’ famous.

Preliminary work has commenced in the project to reconfigure the mammoth track into a smaller but more exciting version of WVMS.

Fencing and guardrails have already been removed in preparation for the major project.
“We’ll be bringing equipment in from several different areas of the state this week” said Mountain State Motorsports Promotion’s Lynn Chapman.

Students from various regions of the state who are enrolled in the Heavy Equipment Operator Training program of Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College will use this project as a training site under the instruction of a skilled earth moving and construction operator.

“When the project is complete, the Mountain State will also have employable operators ready to join the labor force” said Chapman.  “It’s a great opportunity for the school’s project-based training program, and beneficial to the state and all involved”.

Earth moving will begin in earnest on Monday, April 4th.

When plans to reconfigure the track were originally released, the intention was build a 4/10 mile using much of the original track.  That idea has since be modified.

“We took a long, hard look at that idea, and began to have second thoughts” said MSMP’s Brian Ferrell.
“We were afraid that we simply would be trading one oversized, high horsepower track, for a smaller version.  That wouldn’t have accomplished anything.  We decided that since were spending the time, effort and expense to reconfigure the track, we wanted the finished product to be a track that produced close and exciting racing, not just high speeds alone.”

Enter civil engineer Bob Bolles.

Bolles, who also serves as the senior technical editor of ‘Circle Track’ magazine, was contacted by Chapman after the pair had communicated about ‘the perfect dirt track’.   Bolles, whose engineering background and involvement with dirt track racing “provided some great information and needed direction” said Chapman, will help oversee what will now be the new WVMS.

The result will be a 3/8 mile track that will incorporate only a portion of the original front stretch in its new configuration.

Both turns and the back straightway will sit well inside the original track layout.
“Instead of guardrails, we’ll use run off areas.  It saves damage to the cars.  The big track was notorious for wrecks that would total cars when they hit the walls.  We wanted to eliminate as much of that as possible with the new track” said Chapman.

Ferrell added “We have a tremendous talent pool of racers in the mid-Ohio Valley area, but the original track’s size was so demanding on equipment that many no longer could support the races out here.  The new 3/8 mile will be a true oval.  It will have 100’ wide turns banked at about 15 degrees, and 70’ wide straightaways.  The turn entry & exits are designed to promote passing, and will be a part of what will make the new track different than any other in the area.  We’re excited about the ‘new’ track, and really believe that the local racers and fans will be as well.”

The 2011 season is set to kick off May 28th and 29th when the nationally known World of Outlaw Late Models headline the Memorial Day weekend annual 2 day ‘Racefest’ opener.  Also on tap for the season opener will be the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Car Series along with the TSMA modifieds and TSMA Hot Mods, with the Mod-Lite division rounding out the race card.

For further information on the West Viginia Motor Speedway, visit the official track website @ www.wvspeedway.com or phone the track office at 304-489-0090.

—official press release—

Mountain State Motorsports Promotions (MSMP), operators of the West Virginia Motor Speedway (WVMS) at Mineral Wells, WV have confirmed what race fans all over the eastern United States have been agonizing and speculating over for months.

The over-sized clay oval is scheduled for a facelift.

“We’ve made the decision to shorten the track,” said Brian Ferrell, MSMP’s Promoter.
The 5/8 mile oval originally opened to competition in 1984, still ranks as one of the nation’s finest dirt oval racing facilities.  2011 will mark the second year of operation under MSMP’s direction, and will mark a rebirth of sorts to the well known track.

The hard working promotional team worked non stop in 2010, bringing the idled facility back from a near premature death.  Hosting nationally recognized racing series, such as the World of Outlaws, Lucas Oil Late Models, and All-Star sprint cars along with a special appearance by the Monster Jam Monster Trucks, the re-opening of the West Virginia Motor Speedway was greeted by a wide variety of motorsports fans.

“We measured the track, and although it’s advertised as a 5/8 mile, the existing track’s actually much longer than that, especially along the outside,” said Ferrell. “In the process of doing a study prior to making any decisions in regards to a proposed track size, consultants measured the speedway 10’ from the inside guardrail.  What they found was a track that was even larger than advertised.”

“The track actually measures .680 mile around the bottom groove; .625 mile equals 5/8 mile, so the track is even bigger than anyone thought.”

Research showed that in the first couple of years, the inside guardrail was moved up entering the turns, effectively making the track larger.

“First of all, we (MSMP) were all fans long before we ever got into the promotional side of the business.  We had always heard the desire of many racers and fans was to see a smaller track here. We feel that the change will make for more exciting and closer racing for all divisions without taking away from the great fan experience that has always been a part of WVMS,” Ferrell added.

The construction project will make use of local labor and talent in a construction project that will further benefit Mountain State trade students.  Under a coordinated effort between Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College and West Virginia University at Parkersburg, students will work alongside professionals skilled in earth moving and construction.

“We see this as a win-win deal for everyone involved,” stated Ferrell.  “The project will be one that involves local labor and trains area students, and the result will basically be brand new race track when everything is complete.”

The ‘new’ West Virginia Motor Speedway will be a true 4/10 mile oval, complete with wide straight-aways and sweeping turns.  Overhead photographs indicate that the projected size will make ‘The Speedplant’ a slightly smaller version of Tony Stewart’s famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

“Everybody we’ve consulted with, or brought into work with on this project has been super.  There is no doubt this track has a lot of fans, but the enthusiasm that everyone has shown for this move has been beyond our expectations.”  Ferrell included that the scheduled ground breaking date is April 1, 2011.  “We know from discussions with the pros that this project is a huge undertaking.  It involves a lot more than just moving dirt.  The lights, guardrails, electric, etc. all will require attention.  Despite all this, they’ve ensured us that we’ll be ready for the Memorial Day opener.” Ferrell concluded.

The nationally known World of Outlaws Late Model Series will christen the new 4/10th mile clay oval, as the Memorial Day weekend will once again provide the backdrop for the wildly popular and annual Racefest weekend at West Virginia Motor Speedway.

The 2011 schedule for the ‘new’ West Virginia Motor Speedway will soon be finalized and ready for distribution.  Race fans are encouraged to visit the track’s website @ www.wvspeedway.com for further details and news regarding the area’s finest entertainment showplace.