Grundy County Speedway prepares for its biggest season ever

The Grundy County Speedway is preparing for the 2024 season as it takes on a total of 36 nights, including three new series, at the only asphalt short track in Illinois.

The extended schedule isn’t the only change seen at the track: Promoter Steve Bechtel said the track will have three new divisions, a new figure-eight-style track, and a brand-new division from the High School Racing Association.

“We’re excited to have a figure-eight-style track, which will allow us to have trailer races and drifting-style events,” Bechtel said. “It opens a whole new avenue of things for us on top of just the stock car racing we’ve always done.”

As the schedule has grown, so has the number of people participating. Bechtel said Cheryl Hryn has been the driving force behind getting the High School Racing Association involved at the track.

“It’s always cool when you can get the younger drivers involved in racing as an entry-level class now, maybe as a junior in high school,” Bechtel said. “Maybe five years from now they’re in one of our top divisions at the race track.

“It helps them get their feet wet and know what they can do at the track, and it benefits us down the road to have these guys and girls starting young.”

Bechtel said racing has blown up among women in the past 10 to 12 years. When it started, women were just in lower divisions, but he’s now seeing women taking part in the top divisions, winning races and almost finishing first in total points.

This year’s season will have a different type of racing for everyone, and the demolition derby held during last year’s Grundy County Fair will return. It also will see the return of many of the same events from last year, including Kids Night, Back to School, Fan Appreciation Night and more.

The grandstand officially is open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 13, for practices, but the season’s first race doesn’t take place until Saturday, April 20, with the 47th annual Spring Classic featuring Big 8 series cars, the Mid Am Racing Series, the American Super Cup and Sixers.

The High School Racing Association race nights will take place June 15, July 6, Aug. 3 and Aug. 10.

Races this year will start at 7:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. to get drivers and spectators home earlier.

The High School Racing Association features American six-cylinder sedans that have many safety requirements, and the driver’s school colors and mascot must be incorporated into the paint scheme and design of the car.

Students participating must be entering their freshman year or be current high school students. Those who have just graduated also are eligible. For information on the High School Racing Association, visit highschoolracing.org.

The 2024 racing schedule is as follows, with all races starting at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise specified.

April 13

Open practice: noon to 5 p.m. (pits open at 11 a.m.)

April 19

Open practice: 5 to 9 p.m. (pits open at 4 p.m.)

Free grandstand: 5 p.m.

April 20

47th annual Spring Classic

Big 8 Series, Mid Am Racing Series, American Super Cup & Sixers

April 27

Open practice: noon to 5 p.m. (pits open at 11 a.m.)

Free grandstand – noon

May 4

Cabin Fever Season Opener

Super Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock and Sixers

May 10

Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock and Super Cup

May 11

Spring Fling Enduro 200

May 17

Super Late Model, Mid Am, Pure Stock, Crown Vic, Midgets

May 24

Super Late Model, Street Stock, Pure Stock, Super Cup, Crown Vic

May 31

Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock, Crown Vic, Midgets

June 7

Super Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Super Cup, Spectator Drags

June 14

Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock, Midgets

June 15

Figure 8 Bus Race, Super Late Model, Sixers, HSRA

5-0 Racing for Special Olympics

June 21

Super Late Model, Mid Am, Pure Stock, Super Cup

June 28

Super Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock

GRUNDY COUNTY FAIR RACING EVENTS

July 4

Demolition Derby: 3 classes

July 5

Big 8 Late Model, Mid Am, Super Cup, Crown Vic, Midgets

July 6

Super Late Model, Street Stock, Pure Stock, Sixers, HSRA

July 7

Stars & Stripes 250 Enduro

Kids Power Wheel Racing: TBA

July 12

Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock, Super Cup, Midgets

July 13

ASA Midwest Tour Wayne Carter Classic 100

Midwest Trucks & Midwest Dash Series

July 19

Super Late Model, Street Stock, Super Cup, Crown Vic, Midgets

July 26

Super Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock, Cown Vic

Aug. 3

Super Late Model, Street Stock, Super Cups, Sixers, HSRA

Aug. 10

Figure 8 Trailer Race

Late Model, Mid Am, Pure Stock, Midgets, Sixers, HSRA

Aug. 15

Rusty Wallace Racing Experience

Drive a Late Model or Get a Ride-Along

Aug. 17

Super Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock, American Super Cup

Aug. 24

Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Crown Vic, Midgets

Labor Day weekend – 3 days of racing

Aug. 30

Super Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock, Super Cup

Aug. 31

Fall Brawl 200 Enduro

Plus 2022/2023 Hall of Fame ceremony

Sept. 1

Night of Features: Lee Schuler Memorial 61

Super Late Model, Mid Am, Street Stock, Pure Stock

Crown Vic, Sixers, Midwest Mayhem Midgets

Sept. 7

Night of Thrills: more info coming soon

63rd annual Bettenhausen 100 Memorial Weekend

Sept. 20

Street Stock, Pure Stock, Crown Vic, Midgets

Open practice: Late Model and Mid Am Stock Car Series

After party in dance hall

Sept. 21

Bettenhausen Memorial 100

Mid Am Stock Car Series, Super Cups, Sixers

Oct. 11 to 13

33rd annual Bahama Bracket Nationals

Rain date: Oct. 25 to 27

Oct. 19

Goblin 250 Enduro

Kids Halloween costume contest and candy scramble

Kids Power Wheel races