For most of us, the last few laps of the 2015 racing season are now over and just memories for us to reflect on as we wait to turn the page on the calendar over to January and start a new year. It doesn't take long to start to feel that restlessness that fills us in the off season as we wait for the first engines to fire and the fumes of a high performance racing engine to waft into the grandstands and tell us that another season of short track racing has begun.
If I may, I would like to suggest that you consider starting your 2016 racing season with a trip out West to warm and generally sunny south Arizona in January for the Wild West Shootout at U.S.A. Raceway in Tucson Arizona from January 9th through the 17th. A number of years ago, when we first considered a trip out to Arizona in January for dirt track racing, the idea seemed both exciting and daunting. However, after the first year we quickly discovered that the trip is not near as difficult as we might have imagined. For those that choose to drive, if you have the time to spare, it's not a bad trip at all. For those that fly, a little digging can generally find a pretty reasonably priced plane ticket. We just made our reservations within the last week and found some reasonable fares though Southwest Air Lines, but depending where you may be departing from, the best airline ticket may be with another carrier.
If you are flying and need to rent a car, our tip is to rent one in Tucson and not in Phoenix, even if that if the city that you land in. Rental cars are incredibly high priced in Phoenix and our calculations were that it was much cheaper and not that inconvenient to even catch a shuttle bus in Phoenix down to Tucson and then to rent a car there, the different in rental car prices was that significant.
Hotels can be had at a reasonable price with a wide variety of choices available in Tucson. The U.S.A. Raceway itself has an offer through its website with a hotel close to the track that offers a very good deal and that is one that we jumped on for 2016 but there are many other properties close by where a good deal can be had also. It is also surprising how many people have friends or relatives wintering in the Tucson/Phoenix area that would love to have you visit them in January, if you know what I mean.
January in Arizona is an event that can easily be sold as a true racing vacation, and has become one of the big selling points for both spectators and competitors. The weather is usually very agreeable and attractive to even those family members that might not normally travel that far to watch a race. While the racing is intense, the off days during the series are pleasant and perfectly timed so as to allow those that wish it, the chance for a couple of days to either relax in the sun or do some other touristy things. In the years we have been going to this race, we have found many fantastic and interesting things to do in Tucson and the surrounding areas and have yet to run out of exciting things to do in our off days. And the food at area restaurants in and around Tucson is spectacular, so if you wind up at Mickey D's, it's your own fault! If you're bold enough, try the local food trucks and you won't be sorry.
Now, let's talk racing. Some of the best Late Model and Modified racing I have seen in recent years has been at U.S.A. Raceway in Tucson for the winter series. The track is just the right size and the surface generally holds up very well over the course of the ten days. They work hard to prep the track and keep it in good shape and there is always lots of side by side racing and passing and a minimum of dust for the fans to deal with.
The field of race cars is spectacular and with the extra money in the purses for 2016 plus other incentives, the fields are expected to be even bigger for 2016. More and more nationally known drivers are finding out that Tucson is a great way to test for the coming year, perhaps make some good money on top of that and also enjoy a few days of warm sunshine. But it's more than just the "big names" that show up. This series provides one of the most cosmopolitan groups of racers that can be seen all year and much of the fun is watching drivers that won't compete against each other the rest of the year go at it and nearly every year, surprises take place that have people talking all Spring. You truly never know just who might show up for this series and that is part of the fun. Even the seasoned announcers and journalists comment on what an interesting field of cars show for this event and how unique the racing fields can be. Every year there emerges a driver or drivers that surprise and shock the troops at this series and that is part of the fun, waiting to see who that driver will be each year.
Along with the Late Models, the Modifieds always put on a great show with some of the top talent in this class from throughout the country. There is always a strong contingent of drivers from the North and honestly, for me who sees many of these guys and gals race during the Summer, it's especially fun to see them take on and do well against some of the best around.
For a few years, the other support classes were not of the best but especially last year, when they settled on the X Mods as the third class, their program really took off. The quality and quantity of the X Mods vastly improved and their portion of the program provided some close racing with not a lot of yellow flags, something vital to keeping the program moving. I know it sounds crazy, but the combination of Winter racing and the warm weather has seen drivers pull all the way from Canada to race in the X Mods!
Track officials have always been spot on about running off a quick program here and this is one series that won't find you at the track until the wee hours of the morning, unless you choose to party that long afterward! And ticket prices for these events are very reasonably priced and actually a great bargain compared to what you might have to pay for a similar program later in the year.
After a very successful series last year, promoters Chris Kearns and Mike Montgomery have really upped the ante for 2016. Purses have been raised significantly for the Late Models and more drivers are expected to join the field for 2016. The Keyser Quarter-Million Challenge plus additional sponsors like Real Truck.com, Barnett Harley-Davidson, Mesilla Valley Transportation and Border International Truck and Trailer Sales all will help to increase the visibility of this series and no doubt stir additional drivers to make the pull Southwest.
For those that can't attend the races in person, a good alternative would be to purchase the series package on pay-per-view from DirtonDirt.com, who do a great job of presenting the action. However, I would say that there is nothing that can replace the excitement of witnessing the racing first hand. Do yourself a favor and take in one of the rising events in the country at a time of the year when everyone can use a break from the cold and snow. Each year I run into more people from my area and the rest of the Midwest checking out the racing in Tucson in January and I have not yet heard from a single one that they were sorry they made the decision with most immediately working on their plans for the following year. Take their lead and check it out as I don't think you would be sorry either.
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