Youth Motorsports Racing Growing In Oklahoma

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Contact: Bob Oertle 918-902-5786  oreillydirttrack@yahoo.com

Article by: Bob Oertle

Excerpts from another VYPE article by Brad Heath

Oklahoma has a deep history in motor sports. From national events in the 50's and 60's at the Tulsa Drag-strip, the Chili Bowl with sprint car legends and NASCAR gladiators, Tulsa has hosted it all. Central Oklahoma has a number of race-tracks as well. This type of racing is known for it's roots in Oklahoma and was and still is a family affair for many involved.

The cornerstone to motorsports is the local competitor, the guy or gal that gets to the track every weekend and competes for coveted points while gaining much needed and valuable "seat time." Earl Hayden, father of World Moto-GP champion Nicky Hayden explained "I could have sent my three boys to college, paid tuition, books and room and board. But instead I choose to spend that same money on riders schools, credentials, competition license, entry fees and equipment in the Central Motorcycle Road Racing Association. CMRA based out of Ft Worth, Texas is where Nicky, Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden obtained their initial training racing motorcycles on asphalt road racing tracks including one in Oklahoma at the Hallett Motor Racing Circuit located on the Cimmaron Turnpike. Hallett is host to Karting, Auto, Motorcycle and other forms of asphalt roadracing. They also host the annual Gold Rush race that is a Grand Prix on and off road race with motorcycles and ATVs. Check out the CMRA at: www.cmraracing.com And Hallett Motor Racing Circuit at: www.hallettracing.net

To the sprint car world the Chili Bowl is the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 all wrapped up in one. Those same drivers cut their teeth on quarter midget tracks like the one in Tulsa. Built in 1957 the Tulsa Quarter Midget track hosted national events in 59, 61 and 1981. Its history is as deep and rich as German chocolate. Current NASCAR drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Terry LaBonte, Bobby LaBonte, Shane Stewart and Daryn Pittman have graced its turns.

In contrast in Oklahoma City a small tight circuit called McArthur Park hosts Kart and Motorcycle contests during the spring and summer months. The racetrack is an expanded amusement kart track originally built on the property that once was a small amusement park. Today, battles between young and old competitors take place on select weekends. The track is not much different than the one Gordon and the LaBonte brothers raced around. Club members operate the races, concession stand, and the tower each week so this is definitely a family sport, but all the work it is worth it when you see the kids taking home trophies making friends," said Nicalee Sowders, head scorekeeper for the AMP Indoor Series. Sowders brother, Bret Sowders competes in motorcycle road-racing or Super Moto, on the asphalt track at McArther Park. It was built in the 1970s as an amusement park and kart racing facility. Since the 1970s, Kart racing and Superbike racers have used the track for practice and sanctioned national, regional and state-level racing events; the amusement park facility has since closed. The track is comprised of three 'mini-track' configurations that allow flexibility for numerous types of kart racing, including oval track and sprint racing. The MacArthur Park Raceway was the official venue of the 2005 Karting Regionals. In 2006 and 2007, the MacArthur Park Raceway was host to the Oklahoma SuperBikers races. Check out the racers at: http://www.macparkraceway.com/

Thirty-seven years ago the first indoor motorcycle flattrack races were held in a barn called Johnson's Arena located in Harrah, Oklahoma 20 miles east of Oklahoma City off of I-40. Tucked away in a suburb of Oklahoma City in Harrah, inside an historic old barn now named the OK Corral Indoor Arena engines roar to life during the winter months when it hosts the Annual AMP Outlaw Winter Nationals Indoor Short Track Point Series races. The building was first host to motorcycle racing in 1972 when native Randy Cleek of nearby Shawnee, Oklahoma won the first Pro Motorcycle race held at the venue. Riders who raced at the barn that later earned National Expert rankings with the AMA include, Ronnie Jones, Scott Adams, Joe Duvall, Danny Cartwright, Charlie Smith, Bret Sowders, Danny and A.J. Eslick among other racing greats. Racing continues today on select weekends at the OK Corral Indoor Arena.

Today the names at the AMP OWN include popular Sprint Car racer Larry Neighbors son Ryan Neighbors Kart Champion from past season, two big teams of racers one from Chandler, Oklahoma the Simpons. Simpons team includes uncle Scott Koonce who races one of the bad to the bone Open Pro Singles motorcycles, Payton Simpson three time past champion in the youth division of motorcycle racing, brothers Dylan and Dalton Simpson. And Team Collins out of Edmond, Oklahoma dad Bryan Collins competes on a Kawasaki 450 in the Open Pro Singles class, son Casey in the Beginner 50s and one of the stars of the AMP Outlaw Winter Nationals Wesley Collins who is last seasons overall Hi-Point Champion of the series. Four Wheeler racers include Harrah's Ryan Early last season's champ in Open Pro Quads, Ada's Gary Rhodes in the 250 Pro. The amateurs include Harrah's Frankie Bardaro, Tre'Than Lee, Tristian McElyea, and another team from Jones the Yeltons, Cody and Logan. The series now in it's sixth season has seen over 900 racing participants in four divisions including Dirt Track Motorcycles, Champ Dirt Karts - Jr. Sprints, Modified Hot Rod Lawnmowers and ATV Quads. Check out the races at: http://www.ampown.com

Over fifty years ago a track opened at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, now known as State Fair Speedway. Back in they hay-days drivers such as Emmett Hahn, Ray Crawford, Harold Leep. Just as impressive is the list of drivers that have won major events at the track. It's been the fastest half mile track in the state, but recently the half -mile has been closed and a new 3/8 mile track constructed. World of Outlaws tour stopped at State Fair Speedway for years along with the AMA Grand National Championship motorcycle Dirttrack series. Today SFS hosts Friday night races for autoracing and select motorcycle racing on the 3/8 mile. A SX Motocross race was held a few years back during the State Fair, and the Vintage Dirttrack Motorcycle Racing Association had two events during the Fairs. Visit them at: http://www.statefairspeedway.com.

Another track taking its rightful piece of the historic pie is I-44 Speedway. I-44 Speedway is an 1/8 mile banked clay oval. Since the track first opened the focus has been on the modified midgets or micros. These scaled down versions of sprint cars have the large wings and hit speeds of nearly 80 mph. They also run a non-winged class. Many drivers have raced to the limits on the high banks. Every year they host a huge event the Oklahoma Mini Sprint Nationals. At I-44 Raceway y there are six different classes to run in and plenty of competition. You can catch young drivers like Morgan Moore hi-point champ in the Restrictor class, Turf Tire champion driver Brandon Jones, Jason Lair top driver in the A-Class, and Trey Marcham last seasons champ in limited sprints. This is the proving ground for young drivers dreaming of driving in races like the Chili Bowl or even NASCAR. Log on to their website at www.I44speedway.com.

If dirt isn't your thing then head east to West Tulsa and the JRP race facilities for some Kart action. The Tulsa Kart Club is road course style track with plenty of pit area and a bank final turn. These road racers have taken go-carts and transformed them into fast, well handling machines. With several different classes to choose from, the Kart Club offers a great environment for racing. Each year they host huge events bringing in hundreds of kart racers from around the country. Kart racing is a huge motor sport and its popularity is growing. Bailey Ring and Cody Miller is just a couple of the racers you'll see at the track. Their season runs into November and gets fired up in March. Go to www.tulsakartclub.org for more information.

Motocross really took hold in the 70's and 80's. Today kids of all ages compete on tracks in Oklahoma big enough to host national events. Cooperland Raceway is one of those tracks. The red dirt and clay is undeniable. With a huge starting area, big jumps and enough turns to satisfy the best riders in the world, Cooperland has become one of the premier tracks in the state. The racing for the younger riders is exactly what helps create champions. These kids get on the dirt and rip through the turns like seasoned pros. Riders like Ashton Bloxom and Gregory Gehrer can hone their skills in testing then compete at a high level in the Cooperland/Yamaha of Stillwater Fall Series. For more information on Cooperland Raceway and upcoming events go to www.cooperlandusa.com.