News Release

For Immediate Release: Sep 01, 2007

Oahe Speedway

Shootout Races Sponsored by Fine Line Auto and Anderson Contractors

with

Dales A-1 Transmission Super Class Series  Race #5

and

O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr Drag Racing League Challenge

Labor Day weekend racing at Oahe Speedway, billed as "Thunder on the

Prairie", started early on Thursday evening. The 2nd annual event was held in downtown Pierre.  19 local racers displayed their cars and fired them up, simultaneously, at 7pm that evening. The gathered crowd, as well as the radio audience listening in on the "Fast Track" program on KCCR 1240 AM, was treated to a bit of the excitement and fury of drag racing. 

In his first appearance at Oahe Speedway, Joe Smith, Emporia, KS, took top honors in the Dales A-1 Transmission Super Class Series. The Smith family accepts the

winners check from track owner, Milton Morris. (Photo by Motor Race Images)

The thunder continued on Saturday with the running of the speedway's Fine Line Auto/Anderson Contractors Shootout races.  Long distance traveler, Joe Smith, Emporia, KS found the track to his liking and took the Box Shootout money back to KS in defeating West Fargo, ND racer,  David Schiffner.  Smith's arrival at Oahe Speedway was delayed Saturday morning with mechanical  trouble just outside Pierre.  After traveling nearly 600 miles from home, his truck suffered transmission problems.  Several area racers and fans pitched in to help get the Smith's to the race track. The

Kansas driver took the situation in stride and made the first call for qualifying. Smith powered in to the finals with rapid reaction times and consistency.  Schiffner defeated Sean Billet, Pierre in the semi finals and Smith singled to gain the finals. In the final, Smith unleashed a .011 reaction time to win when Schiffner redlit. 

No Box competition, found 49 racers looking for the big check.  Randy Compson, Valley City, ND, emerged victorious, in defeating Rick Ryan, Aberdeen, in the finals.  Compson singled into the finals and Ryan put Chad Lunders, Belle Fourche, on the trailer in the semis.  Both Ryan and Lunders were seeking track time in preparation for the upcoming Aaron Koppien Memorial Stock/Super Stock Combo on September 22 at Oahe.   Compson had to face brother, Marty, Pierre, in round 3.  In  the battle of the Compson's, Marty broke out at the finish. 

In the Trophy Shootout, Travis Falcon, Pierre, continues to impress his fellow racers.   In only his second season of racing, Falcon took on rookie Tyler Ehlers, Pierre, in the finals.   Falcon used a .003 reaction time, coupled with a run only .004 seconds off his dial in to sideline Ehlers.  Ehlers defeated Bert Bogner, Oral, in the semis and Brandon Campbell, Pierre,  trailed Falcon in the balance of the semi final round.

The first annual Dales A-1 Transmission Super Class Series concluded over the weekend. The 5th and final race saw KS invader, Joe Smith, win this round.  Smith faced a red lighting Ron Starkey, Rapid City, in the final. Smith took his rear engine dragster to the finals when he defeated Cary  Shonley, Mitchell, in the semis.  Starkey's striking, yellow '67 Nova singled into the final.  Shonley became the first ever Oahe Speedway Super Class Series champion.   Grant Pederson, Brookings,  is the runner up in the series.

The O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr Drag Racing League Challenge was contended on Saturday.    The finals of the Minor class came down to Ashley Holm, Pierre and Wynter Binstock, Mandan, ND.  Rookie Holm took the win when Binstock red lit in  the final.  In the Major class, Gettysburg's Toni Vetter, defeated  Darcy Hagberg, Spencer NE.  Both winners received specially designed trophies for their efforts. 

Monty Frerichs, Rapid City, won the Gamblers race over Doug Percy, Winner.  

Racing action resumes at Oahe Speedway, located 15 miles north of Pierre, on September 22-23. On September 22, with the running of the 3rd annual NHRA Division 5 National Open with Oahe Speedway  class races, NHRA Class race qualifying, and  the Aaron Koppien Memorial Stock/Super Stock Combo.  Sunday, Sept 23,  will see the finals of the NHRA National Open classes as well as Oahe Speedway class races.

Saturday, Sept 22, races get underway at 1pm,  with qualifying and final eliminations at 5pm.  Sunday's action begins at  9am,  with qualifying and finals starting at 1pm.