WS: WM: FF: 2002 Western schedule has 75 race dates

A total of 75 events are listed on the preliminary schedules for USAC Western racing in 2002, with additional events in the negotiation stage. Those additional events will be announced as they become firm.

Expansion of USAC's Western operations in 2002 will witness the birth of three brand-new series, the Ford Focus Midget Series plus "regional" series for sprint cars and midgets.

Twenty dates are already confirmed for the Western Sprint Car Series at more than a dozen facilities, including first-time appearances at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho and the "Bullring" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada. The Sprint cars were rained out in their planned debut at Las Vegas last November. The Sprint car schedule opens at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway on March 23 and closes at Las Vegas November 30.

The Western Midget Series debuts at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway March 9 and also closes at Las Vegas November 30, with more than a dozen tracks involved. Traditional "National" venues again include the "Copper World Classic" at Phoenix, Ariz. March 14-16, the race at Eagle Raceway in Lincoln, Neb. July 30, the annual Belleville (Kans.) Midget Nationals August 1-3 and season events at Tucson, Ariz., the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Irwindale, Calif. and Las Vegas, Nev. As in the past, numerous events will be co-sanctioned by the BCRA (Bay Cities Racing Association).

Returning to the Sprint car and Midget fold in 2002 will be Altamont Raceway Park in Tracy, Calif., with a June 22 "doubleheader" on tap there.

The highly-anticipated debut of USAC's brand-new Ford Focus Midget Series comes March 9 at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway and continues with 20 events at six different tracks, including a return of USAC to the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, Calif. The 1/4-mile paved Orange Show oval hosts May 18 and June 22 races.

"Regional" Sprint car and Midget races are planned at two tracks, Madera (Calif.) Speedway and Stockton (Calif>) Speedway.

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