March 23, 2022 – Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro today announced that the series is considering an option to give teams fuel subsidies for the season opening events at South Boston Speedway April 29-30 if fuel costs remain elevated.
When gas prices surged to record prices recently, it was evident it could put a strain on teams if fuel costs remain high during the season opening weekend. But now thanks to Steadfast For Veterans, a plan is now in place to provide fuel relief for teams if it is deemed necessary April 29-30.
The non-profit organization, that provides housing to homeless veterans, announced previously that they will sponsor the ‘Steadfast For Veterans Come From The Rear Challenge’ at MSR events in 2022. At each race the fast qualifier will be given a $500 bonus if he agrees to start at the tail of the feature event. If he wins the event, he will be given an additional $500. If the challenge is declined or unable to be achieved, the money will roll over to the next event. The challenge will now be delayed until after the season opening weekend and that money will be used for the fuel relief.
Under the proposed plan, if fuel costs remain considerably higher than they were at the same time as last year, full-time MSR teams would be given fuel relief money in addition to the previously announced purse money. The exact amount has not been decided yet. Travel distance for each team will play a factor on how much each individual team could be given.
Steadfast For Veterans was granted promotional money from an undisclosed donor prior to the 2022 season with instructions to promote the organization through motorsports. The organization has done just that with its recent fuel subsidy help to full-time MSR teams for the 2022 season opener.
With fuel costs at record highs, it is unsure how long they will remain high, and how short track racing will be impacted by this. MSR is the first series to step forward to offer a temporary solution should this remain an issue.
For more info on MSR please visit www.mustseeracing.com
January 18, 2022 – Holly, Michigan – Must See Racing today announced plans for the inaugural Bob Frey Classic that will be held at Lorain County Raceway Park in South Amherst, Ohio on August 6, 2022. The event will honor Frey, who was recently selected for induction into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Frey will officially be inducted at a ceremony at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway in early June.
It is only fitting that the inaugural Bob Frey Classic be hosted at LCRP. Frey grew up in Elyria, which is less than ten miles from the track. Frey’s father Rudy brought him to the track regularly as a youngster to watch races. He eventually began his driving career at the track in 1970 at the age of 20. He started in an entry level stock car class before transitioning to the Sprint Car/ Supermodified class.
The inaugural Bob Frey Classic will feature the Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro and the Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights as well as other support classes to be announced.
“The last few weeks I have been so honored and appreciative” explained Frey. “It’s hard to put into words. I’m still observing everything right now. I’m just honored by the whole thing. I’m gonna go back for the induction and now obviously the Bob Frey Classic in August”.
Frey, who now resides in Wickenburg, Arizona, has stayed out of the limelight since his retirement from racing in 1993. Until now, he has attended very few races or made public appearances. Frey admits having the Bob Frey Classic at LCRP is special to him.
Frey is most famous for his time behind the wheel of the yellow #20 Glen Niebel V-6. But Frey found early success with local car owners Ernie Ensign and Urbie Durnwald prior to teaming up with Niebel in 1980. “It is fitting that this race will be at LCRP. I won my second-ever feature at LCRP in 1073. It was one of many there. I started my racing career there in 1970. In those days you had to be 21 or have your parents sign a waiver. I was only 20 and my dad was all for it. My Mom was reluctant to sign that waiver” Frey laughs. “I remember going out there as a six- or seven-year-old kid watching the races with my dad”.
Frey was one of the finest pavement sprint car chafers of his era. He won five Little 500 sprint car races from 1980-1990. He also won 4 Copper World Classic sprint car events on the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway oval (now Phoenix Raceway) from 1981-1987. Frey also made three CART/INDYCAR starts from 1980-1981 including unsuccessful Indianapolis 500 efforts in 1981 and 1982.
Frey, now 71, will serve as the events GRAND MARSHALL participating in a pre-race meet-and greet, special autograph session with race fans and post-race victory lane trophy presentations. MSR has also announced they will donate $500 in Frey’s name to STEADFAST FOR VETERANS, a non-profit organization that provides housing for needy veterans.
“The new Bob Frey Classic will showcase the best winged sprint car drivers from around the country, local hero and racing icon Bob Frey signing autographs for the fans, with the Steadfast Veterans Challenge adding great on track drama and excitement to the Jerry Caryer Memorial 40 lap features for both our Must See Lights and National 410 series. This is going to be a spectacular night of racing and fan entertainment” said MSR’s Jim Hanks.
“I don’t have any family left in the area, but I have a lot of friends there that will probably come out for this. I hope it brings some people out from the old days. I haven’t run there since probably 1984. It’s been a long time. I am humbled and appreciative of having this annual event named after me, and I am willing to do anything that I can do to promote, or support Must See Racing and this event. I’m looking forward to getting back to Ohio and seeing a lot of old friends this August” concluded Frey.
More details on the inaugural Bob Frey Classic will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.mustseeracing.com for updates.
PERRYSBURG, Ohio (Jan. 22, 2021) – Must See Racing honored its top performers from the 2021 racing season on Saturday night during the sanctioning body’s Celebration of Champions presented by Engine Pro, held at the Fremont Pike Quality Inn.
Joe Liguori (left) was honored with Must See Racing’s 410 Driver of the Year Award on Saturday night. (Kelly Poole photo)
More than $25,000 in prize money and contingency awards were handed out as the pavement winged sprint car sanctioning body closed the book on its 12th season of operations and looked ahead toward 2022.
Among the drivers and teams recognized were the top 15 from the Engine Pro Fast Car Dash mini-series for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series, as well as the top 10 from the Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series season-long point standings.
Charlie Schultz and Jimmy McCune were feted as co-champions for the five-race Fast Car Dash mini-series, due to a tie in the final points, while Joey Wyckoff was recognized as the second champion in as many seasons for the growing Midwest Lights division for 602 crate engine-powered machines.
“We have a fierce rivalry on the race track, but on a night like this we know how to have a little bit of fun too,” noted McCune of Schultz. “Rumor has it that after this is all over, we’re going to find a way to break that tie somehow (laughter).”
Added Wyckoff, “It’s been an honor and a privilege to compete with Must See Racing and to be standing here as the Midwest Lights champion for 2021 is something I’ll remember for a long time. We’re not sure what the future holds right now for my Must See Racing career, but we appreciate everything Jim and Nancy Hanks, as well as Maxima Racing Oil and Engine Pro have done for the series this season.”
Tom Jewell (center) received the inaugural Jerry Caryer Iron Man Award from Must See Racing on Saturday night. (Kelly Poole photo)
The two highest honors handed out Saturday night came at the very end of the program, both given to unsuspecting drivers who have made a major impact in Must See Racing’s national 410 sprint car scene.
Tom Jewell was named the inaugural recipient of the new Jerry Caryer Iron Man Award, recognizing the driver who not only attended the most Must See Racing national events over the past five seasons, but also made the most consistent positive impact on the series and sanctioning body during that time.
The Jerry Caryer Iron Man Award is in memory of the late Caryer, one of Must See Racing’s longest tenured competitors who passed away unexpectedly in August of 2020. It features a plaque given to the driver as well as a perpetual trophy which will remain at Must See Racing’s Michigan base of operations.
“I’m completely blown away,” said Jewell. “I wasn’t expecting this at all. It’s a true honor, as Jerry was a friend to so many of us and a valued competitor in this series. We definitely miss him.”
Meanwhile, Joe Liguori was named Must See Racing’s 410 Driver of the Year on the strength of a breakout season that saw him record two feature victories, three fast qualifying times and – had there been a season-long points system in place for 2021 – would have given him a championship in three out of four possible scenarios.
(From left) Car owner Gene Fogel, driver Tom Jewell and crew member Terry Trexler pose following the Must See Racing Celebration of Champions on Saturday night. (Kelly Poole photo)
“If there wasn’t going to be a big trophy this year, this is the award you want to bring back to the shop,” Liguori pointed out following his acceptance speech. “We had a great year with the No. 13 car and, hopefully, we can find a way to top it during the season to come.”
Must See Racing Sprint Car Series sponsor Engine Pro’s Tom Stuyvesant was the night’s keynote speaker, while Must See Racing founder and president Jim Hanks delivered the annual State of the Series Address to kick off the program.
During that speech, Hanks noted a renewed sense of enthusiasm surrounding the sanction’s upcoming campaigns for both the national 410 series and the Midwest Lights, as well as a return to a full-season points structure and season-ending points fund for the national tour for 2022.
“Where we’ve been was really good and provided our fans with a ton of entertainment, but I think where we’re going has the potential to be the best season we’ve ever had,” noted Hanks.
Must See Racing’s 2022 event schedule will begin April 28-30 with its national 410 sprint car tour competing at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway for the first time.
Below is a full list of the awards handed out during the Must See Racing Celebration of Champions:
Midwest Lights Top 10 Drivers (car owners in parenthesis)
February 1, 2022 – Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro today announced that Rockford Speedway in Loves Park, Illinois has been added to the 2022 schedule. The series will make a visit to the historic high-banked ¼ mile on Saturday July 2 as part of a huge Independence Weekend celebration.
The popular winged 410 sprint car series will be making its first appearance to Rockford Speedway since July 2, 2018. Jimmy McCune won the most recent MSR event there. The night will be capped off with a 50-lap feature event and huge fireworks display. Teams will be shooting for Jacob Wilson’s all-time track record of 11.380 set on July 3, 2011. The current record has stood for well over a decade now.
Rockford Speedway Genera Manager David Deerey explained his excitement to host an MSR event once again after a four-year hiatus. “Jim Hanks and I have always been in discussions” explained Deerey. ”We just haven’t been able to find the right time, the right swing for the series, and the right scheduling for Rockford Speedway. This year we both had an opening in our schedules July 4th weekend, and here we are back together.
The speedway is rolling out the red carpet for the return of winged sprint cars and the NASCAR sanctioned track has a full night of racing activities as well as fireworks planned. ”The event will be a dual speed fest with our NASCAR Late Model cars that night. We will end the night with fireworks show. It will be a huge Independence Day celebration, and we’re looking forward to it”.
“The response by our fans in the past has been huge. I’m a huge fan. If you’ve never saw winged sprint cars at Rockford Speedway you need to put this on your bucket list. They are the fastest cars that participate at Rockford Speedway and it’s an awesome show” concluded Deerey.
Rockford Speedway is no stranger to open wheel racing. In fact, when the track opened in 1948 midgets were the headline card. Interest in midgets began to dwindle shortly thereafter with the introduction of hard top stock cars. Winged sprint cars were first introduced at the track in the early 2000’s and multiple events have been held over the past two decades.
With the addition of Rockord Speedway to the 2022 MSR schedule, it now gives the series one of its most diverse schedules in recent years. The series will kick off its 2022 campaign April 29-30 at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia. The series will compete a total of 12 times in six different states.
For more info on Must See Racing please visit www.mustseeracing or like and follow on Facebook.
AMERICAN SPEED U.S. NATIONALS TO ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET FOR VETERANS Published on Wednesday, 02 March 2022 13:23
March 1, 2022 – Holly, Michigan – Must See Racing today announced they will be rolling out the carpet for all veterans during this year’s second annual American Speed U.S. Nationals May 27-28 in the spirit of Memorial Day Weekend.
In addition to two days of sprint car racing highlighted by the Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro, there will be an Opening Ceremony Warbird WWII flyover Saturday, as well as a special ticket being offered to veterans that includes an all access pit pass and barbeque/cookout.
Other Opening Ceremony activities include an appearance by the Honor Guard, 21 Gun Salute, and the Bagpipe Corps.
The Hooligan Flight Team Flyover will include a formation of T-34 ‘Mentor’ and T-17 ‘Navion’ aircraft.
The Hooligans originated in the late 1990’s when Russ McDonald got the idea for the name “Hooligans” from a book listing nose art for fighter groups in WWII. John Workman and Russ founded the group as the “Grey Haired Hooligans, but that was later changed when one of the team members (a female) refused to be associated with grey-haired anything! The team then became The Hooligans. The motto of the team became, “If it makes them smile, it’s worthwhile.” The number one goal of the Hooligan Flight Team is to honor veterans, especially WWII vets.
In addition to the Hooligan Flight Team Flyover, aircraft buffs will also be delighted to know that a Vietnam era ‘Huey’ helicopter will also be on display.
Veterans who plan on attending this year’s event will be offered a special ticket for only $35 on Saturday night that will give veterans access to the grandstands as well as the pits. In addition, the ticket will be good for the barbecue/cookout at the Steadfast for Veterans hospitality Tent. Other activities taking place at the tent include a driver meet and great and a 50/50 raffle to benefit Steadfast for Veterans.
The two-day event will be a bonanza of racing featuring the Must See racing 410 series, Maxima Racing Oils Midwest Lights series, Zoo Stocks, Ohio Wheelman Series, and the MCR Dwarf Cars.
For more information on this event or to pre-order tickets please log onto www.mustseeracing.com or call (248) 762-1732.
February 8, 2022 – Holly, Michigan – Meridian, Idaho’s Colton Nelson today confirmed his intentions to compete with Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro during the 2nd annual American Speed US. Nationals. Nelson becomes the first confirmed West Coast entry for this year’s event May 27-28 at Kalamazoo Speedway in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Nelson may arguably be one of the hottest winged pavement sprint car drivers in the country currently. The 25-year-old is coming off his second career Speed Tour Regional Sprint Car Series championship as well as picking up a victory in the $20,000-to-win Pink Lady Classic at Meridian Speedway this past September.
Nelson will be competing for Ohio car owner Jim McCune and will be part of the potent McCune Motorsports team that already includes drivers Jimmy McCune, Anthony McCune, and Jacob Dolinar.
“I think we definitely need to combine the East Coast, Midwest, West Coast, and the Southern Sprint Car Series as much as possible” explained Nelson. “We need to try to get one or two drivers a year to cross over and run other regions. We had a good opportunity to do it with Jim McCune. It was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up”.
Nelson realizes he may be somewhat of an unknown East of the Mississippi River, but that is of little concern to Nelson.” I’ve never really cared about getting my name out there too much. We race to have fun and we race to win as many races as we can. One of my goals is to try to hit as many racetracks around the country as possible. I’d like to add a racetrack or two to my list each year. I wanna show the guys in other regions that us West Coast guys don’t play around. We’re serious racers”.
The young budding West Coast racer may have his work cut out for him as he will be battling some of the best winged pavement 410 drivers in the entire country. Must See Racing annually features some of the best winged pavement talent in the nation.”Im not too familiar with Must See Racing. But I’ve been doing my homework, trying to see who the heavy hitters are. I’ve watched some videos on Facebook and Youtube to see who I need to pay attention to. I don’t wanna be behind the eight ball.
I’ve never been to the Midwest before” commented Nelson. “I’m not coming out for anything other than to race. Me and the boys are flying in, hopefully grab a few practice laps, race both days, and fly out.
It’s gonna be a completely different chassis than I’m used to, Somebody else’s seat. It’s gonna be somebody else everything. I’ve never raced with an unrestricted 410, but I’ve practiced without the restrictors. The horsepower is gonna be fun and I’m looking forward to adapting. Adapting to a new chassis and a new team. I just wanna do the best I can with new people I’ve never raced with before. I’m looking forward to the weekend” concluded Nelson.
The 2nd annual American Speed U.S. Nationals will feature two complete nights of racing for the MSR 410 series as well as the MSR Midwest Lights. The two-day Memorial Weekend extravaganza is expected to draw drivers from around the country.
For more info please log onto www.mustseeracing.com or like and follow the series on Facebook.
February 14. 2022 – Chowchilla, California driver Eric Humphries today has confirmed that he has entered the 2nd annual American Speed U.S. Nationals at Kalamazoo Speedway in Kalamazoo, Michigan May 27-28. The event features two complete nights of racing with a full show each night for the Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro.
The three time and defending King of the Wing champion is coming off a spectacular 2021 season. In addition to his third consecutive KOTW title, Humphries won half of the series races last season. Humphries also confirmed he will compete in the MSR opener at South Boston, Virginia April 29-30. These events will be the first time he has competed in MSR events. Humphries will be aboard the Carl Mott and Dennis Boulding Harvest Supply Racing Beast chassis. The car will be prepared by the S&E Motorsports team.
With Humphries’ announcement, he becomes the second west coast driver to enter the American Speed U.S. Nationals in the last week. Idaho driver Colton Nelson entered the event early last week. Drivers from Virginia, Ohio, California, Michigan, Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Idaho, and Canada are expected to be represented at this year’s American Speed U.S. Nationals.
Humphries explained his interest in racing east of the Mississippi River with a new series this coming season. “Over the last couple years, we’ve been looking at racing back east” explained Humphries. “We ran with King of the Wing a few times. We’re not committed to any series in 2022. We wanna free-lance a little bit and run with some different groups”.
“We wanna see where we stack up with these guys back there. There are a lot of good drivers back there that run with Must See Racing. I know it’s not gonna be easy at all, but we’re racers. We wanna race where we can. This is a great opportunity”.
“Through conversations with Jim Hanks, he asked me ‘what’s it gonna take to get you to come run with us’. I said stop running single race weekends” laughs Humphries. “The first two weekends of the MSR schedule are two-race weekends this year, and that’s what drew me out there”.
Things will be slightly different for Humpies as he enters MSR competition for the first time. He will be on a different brand of tire than he’s used to and his 410 engine will not be restricted this go-around.
”We plan on doing a little bit of testing. Running the motors wide open is not going to be an issue. We know what we gotta do to get them to run wide open. That part doesn’t concern me as much as figuring out the tires. The whole setup approach, as well as running these tires with the motor wide open, is definitely making us do our homework before we go out there”.
Humphries realizes he will have his work cut out for him at the American Speed U.S. Nationals with the level of competition expected. “I know that weekend will be the bigger of the two weekends. I have not run at either track. From the videos I’ve seen, Kalamazoo looks like it’s gonna be a fast, fun, track. Kalamazoo looks like it’s gonna be stacked with good a caliber of drivers. I’m anxious to get going. Hopefully we have some good nights and run well”.
For more information on Must See Racing and the American Speed U.S. Nationals please log onto www.mustseeracing .com or like and follow us on Facebook
March 23, 2022 – Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro today announced that the series is considering an option to give teams fuel subsidies for the season opening events at South Boston Speedway April 29-30 if fuel costs remain elevated.
The non-profit organization, that provides housing to homeless veterans, announced previously that they will sponsor the ‘Steadfast For Veterans Come From The Rear Challenge’ at MSR events in 2022. At each race the fast qualifier will be given a $500 bonus if he agrees to start at the tail of the feature event. If he wins the event, he will be given an additional $500. If the challenge is declined or unable to be achieved, the money will roll over to the next event. The challenge will now be delayed until after the season opening weekend and that money will be used for the fuel relief.
The inaugural Bob Frey Classic will feature the Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro and the Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights as well as other support classes to be announced.
