Since opening in 1964, Fort Wayne’s Baer Field Speedway has provided the widest possible variety of high-speed thrills and entertainment. Known primarily for world class oval track racing with its half and three-eighths-mile tracks, the facility has also seen road course racing; drifting; tractor pulls; monster trucks; go-karts; thrill shows; demolition derbies; motocross…and now… short-track DRAG RACING!

Aimed towards street cars, short-track drag racing utilizes all the same rules and formats of full-size drag racing, but will be held on a 300-foot course. Cars and/or motorcycles will be paired up two-by-two at the head of the front stretch in turn four and will race to the Speedway start/finish line. They will continue to face off with the winner advancing and the loser eliminated until a “class” winner is determined. The concept of short-track drag racing is not new to the area, as it was a regular feature of the old Fort Wayne Speedway in the early 1960’s.

“Hot rodding is a part of American culture,” said Speedway promoter Jon Raney. “Anywhere you look around town, you see people with ‘tricked-out’ and ‘hopped-up’ cars. What we’re aiming to do, is give those people a place to take their rides, plus whatever else people want to bring out, and show them off and run them in a closed, safe environment and may the best man win!”

Baer Field Speedway short-track drag racing will make its historic debut on Monday, May 27, with a special “double elimination” show. All competitors will get a “second chance” and must lose twice before their day is ended. Gates open at 2:30; practice 3:30-4:50; and RACING at 5:00! Admission is $5. Entry fee will be $5 per class. Burnout contest entry is also $5. There will be no entry fee for the car show.

Classes of competition will include: Open Competition, Detroit Iron, Mini-Van, Family Sedan, Front Wheel Drive, Domestic Muscle Car, Import Performance Car, Trucks, Mustang, 4wd, NOS Power, Cycles, and more. A “Burn-Out” contest will follow the racing and each program will be capped off by a “Show and Shine” car show.

Following the debut on Monday, May 27, the drag races will move to their Sunday home and will be run every-other weekend. The dates for the remaining shows will be: June 9 & 23; July 7 & 21; August 4 & 18; and September 1. For more information, check the NEW Speedway website: www.FWRACE.com

http://fwrace.com/StockCars/drag-races/faq/

http://fwrace.com/StockCars/drag-races/rules/

Coming off a successful 50th Season Opener, Fort Wayne’s Baer Field Speedway heads into the Memorial Day holiday weekend, looking to fill the stands with “$20 CAR LOAD/FAMILY NIGHT” this Saturday, May 25. Be it a car, truck, bus, train, plane, boat or bike, any vehicle that can make it onto the property, will see ALL the passengers admitted into the track for just one $20 bill!

On-track action will feature a full five-division “Super Show” of Late Models, Fantastic Sams Modifieds, Street Stocks, Afdent Mini Stocks, and Front Wheel Drives on the 3/8th mile short-track. For added entertainment, kids are invited to bring their bikes from home to compete in BICYCLE RACES and there will be an on-track, pre-race AUTOGRAPH session!
Saturday, gates will open at 2:00; with qualifying at 5:00; on-track autographs at 7:00; and RACING at 7:30! For those not coming by the “car load”, single adult admission is $12 for adults and kids 12-and-under are always FREE along with FREE PARKING!

Monday, May 27, the Speedway will be hosting the first-annual “STREET DRAGS”! Side-by-side drag racing on a 300’ of the Speedway frontstretch. Monday Gates will open at 2:30, with practice at 3:30, and RACING at 5:00. Admission is $5 and there will be a $5 entry fee to participate in each class and/or the “Burnout Contest.”

Baer Field Speedway is located just south of Fort Wayne. Take Bluffton Road just south of Fort Wayne International Airport to Winters Road and follow the signs. Race Day phone is 260-478-7223. www.FWRACE.com.

Following a week delay and after a winter and spring full of anticipation over a new direction and a new look for the facility, Baer Field Speedway hosted the 50th annual Season Opener on Saturday night, May 18.

Following pre-race “racecar rides” for the kids, it was finally time to kick off the long-awaited 50^th season of racing. First up were the Late Models. Returning to the 3/8^th mile short-track for the first time in many years, fans and drivers were unsure of how the racing would unfold. When the green flag dropped, nervousness turned to excitement as a talented field went side-by-side and bumper-to-bumper for the first several laps with Alex Vonderau in the lead. An early caution set up the first-ever side-by-side restart and lining up on the outside, Oliver Fitzwater was able to power by Vonderau and take over the lead. Once in front, Fitzwater did a masterful job of holding off John Gatton Jr. for his first win in over six years. Neal Richardson crossed the line in third followed by the trio of Al Jr, Tommy, and Dean Cook. Defending champion Derek Hoffman, Chad Richardson, Steven Dourin, and Vonderau rounded out the top-10. Tommy Cook was fast time at 16.490 seconds; Gatton won the $50 Economy Auto Parts dash; and Neal Richardson was the heat race winner.

The Fantastic Sams Modifieds saw a dominating performance by Scott Coe. Starting last in the fully-inverted field, Coe sliced has way through traffic to score his third won of 2013, on three different tracks. Brent Martin took second over Jeremy Wallen, Mike Mayes, and Don Skaggs. Sixth through tenth were Zack Loe, Jerry Hammond, Pete Wormcastle, Matt Dimit, and Jan Long. Coe set fast time at 16.172 with Martin winning the dash and Wormcastle taking the heat race.

The Street Stock 20-lap feature was won by Alex Vonderau over Shawn Bonar, Jan long, Zack Vandall, Ryan McIntyre, Frank Casagrande, Josh Perkins, Marcus Method, Eric Manning, and Andrew Estep. Vonderau also set quick time at 17.439 seconds. Bonar scored a win in the dash while Casagrande won the heat. A good field of Afdent Mini Stocks saw 2011 Champion Jake Hinton hold off rookie Keith barker Jr. for the win, followed by Zac Sipe, Kevin Dibble, Alan Puff, Tim Howard, Rob Nave, Eric Woods, Lee Gillingham and Dave Fisher. Barker set quick time at 18.555 seconds. Hinton also won the dahs with Tim Howard winning the heat. A record Front Wheel Drive field saw Brian Janes scoring the win over “Smiling Bob” masters, Brian Martin, R.J. Weick, Shawn Poffenberger, Mike Quintanilla, Chris Jackson, Caesar Guzman Jr., Derrick Poppe, and Jimmy Hendrix. Brian Janes was fastest in qualifying with a lap of 19.333 seconds and heat wins went to Kenny Spillers, Derrick Poppe,and Bob Masters.

Saturday, gates will open at 2:00; with qualifying at 5:00; on-track autographs at 7:00; and RACING at 7:30! For those not coming by the “car load”, single adult admission is $12 for adults and kids 12-and-under are always FREE along with FREE PARKING!

Monday, May 27, the Speedway will be hosting the first-annual “STREET DRAGS”! Side-by-side drag racing on a 300’ of the Speedway frontstretch. Monday Gates will open at 2:30, with practice at 3:30, and RACING at 5:00. Admission is $5 and there will be a $5 entry fee to participate in each class and/or the “Burnout Contest.”.

Baer Field Speedway is located just south of Fort Wayne. Take Bluffton Road just south of Fort Wayne International Airport to Winters Road and follow the signs. Race Day phone is 260-478-7223. www.FWRACE.com.

LATE MODELS

30-lap feature: 1) Oliver Fitzwater, 2) John Gatton Jr., 3) Neal Richardson, 4) Al Cook Jr., 5) Tommy Cook, 6) Dean Cook, 7) Derek Hoffman, 8) Chad Richardson, 9) Steven Dourin, 10) Alex Vonderau, 11) Joe Kunberger, 12) Jesse Opliger, 13) Steve Christman. Fast Qualifier: Tommy Cook 16.490. Economy Auto Parts Dash: John Gatton Jr. Heat: Neal Richardson.

FANTASTIC SAMS MODIFIEDS

30-lap feature: 1) Scott Coe, 2) Brent Martin, 3) Jeremy Wallen, 4) Mike Mayes, 5) Don Skaggs, 6) Zack Loe, 7) Jerry Hammond, 8) Pete Wormcastle, 9) Matt Dimit, 10) Jan Long, 11) Jeff Schmidt, DNS Harold Scott. Fast Qualifier: Scott Coe 16.172. Dash: Brent Martin. Heat: Pete Wormcastle.

STREET STOCKS

20-lap feature: 1) Alex Vonderau, 2) Shawn Bonar, 3) Jan Long, 4) Zack Vandall, 5) Ryan McIntyre, 6) Frank Casagrande, 7) Josh Perkins, 8) Marcus Method Jr., 9) Eric Manning, 10) Andrew Estep, 11) Scott Fishbaugh, 12) Steve Bacon, 13) Tyler Clark. Fast Qualifier: Alex Vonderau 17.439. Dash: Shawn Bonar. Heat: Frank Casagrande.

AFDENT MINI STOCKS

20-lap Feature: 1) Jake Hinton, 2) Keith Barker Jr. 3) Zac Sipe, 4) Kevin Dibble, 5) Alan Puff, 6) Tim Howard, 7) Rob Nave, 8) Eric Woods, 9) Lee Gillingham, 10) Dave Fisher, 11) Chris Howard, DNS Eddie Howard & Brad McBride. Fast Qualifier: Keith Barker Jr. 18.555. Dash: Jake Hinton. Heat: Tim Howard.

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE

20-lap Feature: 1) Brian Janes, 2) Bob Masters, 3) Brian Martin, 4) R.J. Weick, 5) Shawn Poffenberger, 6) Michael Quintanilla, 7) Chris Jackson, 8) Cesar Guzman Jr., 9) Derrick Poppe, 10) Jimmy Hendrix, 11) James Hughes, 12) Kenny Spillers, 13) Josh Miller, 14) Cody Ousley, 15) Ryan Spillers, 16) Rick Poffenberger, 17) Matt Janes, 18) Kayla Shuler, 19) Jacob Bradley, DNS Joshua Kelly. Fast qualifier: Brian Janes 19.333. Heats: Kenny Spillers, Derrick Poppe, and Bob Masters.

Baer Field Speedway officials have admitted a mistake was made in post-race tech for the Street Stocks on Saturday, May 18.

The race-winning car of Alex Vonderau was found to have 57.8% left-side weight, which would put it in violation of the 57% maximum allowed for the Street Stock division. The mistake, came when the tech crew thought that both the Fantastic Sams Modifieds and Street Stocks had the same (58%) maximum left-side percentage.

Since the tech crew thought the car had passed, it was never given the chance to back off the scales and re-weigh. At that point, the win was declared official and the car was sent over to the grandstand side Winner’s Circle.

Acknowledging the mistake, Speedway officials have announced the following: 1) The win for Vonderau will stand; 2) the 11 car (Vonderau) will be penalized 30 points, this will be equivalent of placing it as the last car on the lead lap; and 3) the remaining cars will have their points and pay adjusted accordingly. Second-place Shawn Bonar will now receive feature-winner points and money and everyone else down to 7^th will be likewise adjusted.

“This is an unfortunate situation stemming from having new people in a position and having five new rulebooks to memorize,” said promoter Jon Raney. “We declared the car the winner and we owe it to the fans to not change that retroactively. However, we need to do what we can to make it right to the rest of the drivers and that’s why we’re essentially paying two winner’s purses. We will make up the differences to everyone the next time they visit the Speedway.”

As to the point-penalty vs. disqualification, Raney had this to say, “While it is unlikely that re-weighing the car would have changed anything, it is policy that the car should have been given that chance. Thusly, instead of a DQ and the 11 car receiving last-place points, the decision was made to penalize the car to the tail of the lead lap, or essentially half the field.”

“We appreciate the support of all the drivers who were in attendance last Saturday and hope that they will accept our sincere apology,” said Raney.”

Racing continues on Saturday, May 25, will a full-super show and $20 Car Load Night! There will also be an autograph session and kids bicycle races! Gates will open at 2:00; practice at 3:30; qualifying at 5:00, autographs at 7:00; and RACING at 7:30! Single adult admission is $12. All kids 12 and under are FREE! Plus, plenty of FREE parking!

Baer Field Speedway is located at 4331 Winters Rd. in Fort Wayne, one mile south of the airport on Bluffton Road. Cal 260-478-RACE (7223) or www.FWRACE.com

This was supposed to be a comeback season for Goshen, Indiana’s Mike Wortinger. Nicknamed “Mighty Mike”, the 20-year racing veteran was returning to the cockpit to race alongside his 20 year-old son Spencer.

Now, he faces a different type of comeback, one from devastating injuries suffered in a savage accident.

Running in the Late Model division at the New Paris (IN) Speedway last Saturday night (May 11), father and son were running first and second at the front of the field when disaster struck. Setting up for the third turn of the ¼-mile track, something broke on Mike’s #99 and sent him hurtling head-on into the outside retaining wall. In an instant, a $50,000 car was destroyed and the body of the man trapped inside was shattered.

It took an hour to cut Mike Wortinger from the twisted wreckage. Once free, he was taken by ambulance to a Goshen hospital and then flown to Parkview in Fort Wayne. Now, with a lower back broken in two places; a broken neck; broken sternum; broken pelvis; and two shattered feet, the store manager at Monteith Tire in Elkhart County faces numerous surgeries, months of hospitalization, and near constant round-trips between Goshen and Fort Wayne for his family.

Enter the local racing community.

This Saturday, May 18, there will be a fundraiser in Goshen which includes a bake sale, silent auction, and a raffle. Area racetracks in South Bend; Plymouth; Angola; and New Paris, Indiana; plus Jones; Mottville; and Kalamazoo, Michigan, will all be holding various fundraising efforts as well. Fort Wayne’s Baer Field Speedway intends to give half of the “50/50” raffle as well as a “helmet pass” by drivers through the grandstand, all to help support the family of the injured driver.

“No matter what happened last week, what happened this week at the race track, you all come together. When you watch your childhood hero go through pain, you feel that pain,” said New Paris announcer Tony Eldridge.

Gates will open at 2:00; practice at 4:00; qualifying at 5:30, racecar rides at 7:00; and RACING at 7:30! Adult admission is $12. All scouts in uniform and kids 12 and under are FREE! Plus, plenty of FREE parking!

Baer Field Speedway is located at 4331 Winters Rd. in Fort Wayne, one mile south of the airport on Bluffton Road. Cal 260-478-RACE (7223) or www.FWRACE.com

Arguably the most prolific winner in the history of stock car racing, he was a frequent visitor and winner at Baer Field.

Trickle was a two-time ASA Champion; 7-time ARTGO Champion; 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup “Rookie of the Year”; and had an estimated 1,200 wins in his career.

Trickle’s last Baer Field appearance can in the 1990 “NASCAR Night”, in which he drove Mike Bontreger’s Outlaw to second behind Dale Earnhardt.

Our thoughts and prayers to his family and multitudes of friends and fans…

With Ed Howe at Baer Field

Race fans and racers in the pits will both benefit for the newest Baer Field Speedway improvement!

BFS RADIO!

The Speedway has just finished installation and testing of a new low-power FM signal, that will broadcast the Stock Car PA throughout the Speedway grounds.

No longer will fans have to try to find seats in front of a speaker or racers huddle around a pole in the pit to hear lap times and other information, as it will now be broadcast at 88.5 FM.

“We encourage people to bring their radio headsets with them or teams to put a stereo in their trailers,” said promoter Jon Raney.

Selected by a random draw, one heat each night will be designated as the ”Economy Auto Parts Bonus Heat!” The winner of that heat will receive $50 cash from Economy Auto Parts.

“In the past, we sponsored an award for the fast qualifiers,” said Tony Dager of Economy Auto Parts. ”This, makes it possible that any driver, in any class, could win that bonus on any given night.”

Economy Auto Parts is located at 5114 Maumee Rd, Fort Wayne – Talk to Tony: 749-8313