BY TODD NAVERSON

The 2011 stock car racing season at the Chateau Raceway will start on Saturday, April 9. That day will mark an open practice for any racer who would like to test out their car. It will also be a preview of what fans will get to see in action on Friday nights this summer at the Chateau Raceway in Lansing.

The 2011 season opener is also set for Friday, April 15. Fans will see the same divisions in action as they did last season. Hot laps will get underway at 7 p.m. with racing to follow. Each night will feature the USRA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, Wissota Midwest Modifieds, Wissota Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Hornets.

This year’s schedule features 25 dates and is once again full of specials. The first of which is right out of the gates on April 22 when the IMCA Stock Cars will battle it out for $1,000 to win. This should draw a good field in this highly competitive class.

Another big show is planned for May 13 that will mark the first appearance of the high-flying sprint car class since 1975. The winged warriors of the UMSS Sprint Cars will invade Chateau and will bring the race fans something new and different to the speedway.

The United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) makes three stops on May 27, a special Thursday night show on July 14 and September 2. The 14th annual Mike Guttormson Memorial will be held in conjunction with the May 27 USMTS show. The Thursday, July 14 show was added recently and there will be no racing on Friday, July 15. The September show will once again be a part of the USMTS Casey’s General Stores Hunt For The National Championship.

On July 1, it will be the Wissota Race of Champions qualifier night. The winners in the Wissota sanctioned divisions that evening will be qualified for the Race of Champions to be held at the Wissota 100 at Huron, South Dakota in September. The following week on July 8, it is the highly anticipated fireworks show that is one of the best in the area.

There was another change in the schedule this past week due to mother-nature. With the recent postponing of the World Modified Dirt Track Championship show at Deer Creek and the need for the July 27-30 rain date, Chateau will take Friday, July 29 off.

The speedway fires back up on August 5, the Wissota Street Stocks will get a crack at more prize money with a special planned that night. The Corn Belt Clash Late Models return on August 12 and should draw a good field and an exciting night of racing.

The 2nd Annual Border Wars will commence on September 15 and 16, which will feature a mix of area b-modifieds racing for a bigger purse. The season will conclude on September 30 and October 1 with the Midwest Modified Fall Nationals.

It will be exciting to see who can add their name to the track champion list this season. Several of last year’s champions are moving up to a different class for 2011. Last seasons Wissota Midwest Modified champion Brandon Davis is now in a modified.

Sixteen-year old Casey Trom who became the first female track champion in Chateau’s history will be racing a midwest modified. Also, AJ Zvorak will return to the Wissota Street Stocks and will go for his fourth straight track title. Chris Adams and Jason Cummins will also return to defend their stock car and modified titles.

To receive text messages of track announcements and weather updates, send a text to (507) 391-2486 with your name and you will be added to the list. For more information on the Chateau Raceway, go to their website at www.chateauraceway.net