Certainly the most talked about change so far this fall is the number of dates that the track will offer next season, but when compared to the past two seasons, and the havoc that rain has caused, the 10 race program will actually offer more events than 2008 did and it will be only 2 less than 2009.  Kawartha will make all attempts to make up rain outs in 2010 to be able to offer all 10 nights.  This is something that was not practiced in the past.  If a night was lost due to rain there was no attempt to re-schedule the event and this has led to shortened seasons due to the weather for the past two years.Back on the docket for 2010 are the 50 lap races for the Thunder Cars and the Mini Stocks with two for each, along with three 100 or more lap races for the Late Model division.

The most notable item missing from the schedule is the absence of the ACT series in July.  When asked about the missing ACT event, Kawartha promoter Derek Lynch had this to say, “Our relationship with the American Canadian Tour has not changed in any way other than we can not make a full tour event work from a financial standpoint.  Both Tom Curley and I have examined the event over the past three years, and the purse we have to offer, in order to make it appealing for the ACT team’s to travel, is just more than we can bear.  We are also just out of reach distance wise for the bulk of the Castrol Series Quebec teams. Kawartha Speedway will still be an ACT affiliate track, we will still run an ACT legal Late Model as our premier class and we will still be able to offer one or more of our drivers a chance to take part in any of the ACT Invitational races such as the Loudon, New Hampshire event” 

The 7th Annual Summer Sizzler will return to its original format of a Triple 50 event and will be run under the banner of Kawartha Speedway.  The 3 options for Kawartha Speedway Late Models will be in place as far as the rules are concerned for the event.  Lynch also made it clear that the Late Model landscape will not change at Kawartha. “We have been able to open up a great opportunity for our younger drivers to buy inexpensive, quality equipment, through the drivers and teams within the ACT series.  We have seen at least 5 drivers from lower divisions be able to move into our Late Model program in the past two seasons due to the ACT Late Model program.  You will not find a more affordable style of car for a premier division.  We invite all Late Model drivers to utilize any of our 3 rules packages for the division, but make no mistake that the ACT Late Model is the car of  choice at Kawartha” states Lynch. 

Area Late Model drivers looking to run some added extra distance events still have the great options of being able to travel to Capital City Speedway,  Autodrome St. Eustache or Airborne Raceway in Plattsburgh New York.  All within 5 hours of the Fraserville speed plant.

The OSCAAR Series will be back for two events in 2010.  The popular Super Late Model series will be on hand at Kawartha for opening night, as has become the norm, for a 50 lap feature.  The Don Beiderman Memorial, an event that yearly moves from track to track, is one of the events in the works for the second OSCAAR date in August.  Kawartha has hosted the event in the past and is working with OSCAAR officials to bring it back to Kawartha for the upcoming season.  Details will be released as the event planning is completed. 

Ontario Legend Car Series boss Paul Yerro has confirmed that the lightening quick legends will return to Kawartha for 4 events in 2010.  Kawartha is a favorite stop for the Legends series drivers and all events will take place on Friday nights.  Also slated in on the final Friday night in September is the Ontario Pro Challenge series.  Recent rumors indicate that the series has flourished to all time high of 24 cars that will support the travelling show on a full time basis in 2010.

The extra distance events for both the Thunder Cars and the Mini Stocks, that have become staple events at Kawartha, will be back again in 2010.  Events in both divisions always draw huge car counts and provide some of the season’s best racing.  The Mini’s will run two 50 lap events, one in July and the other in September.  These events have enticed drivers from as far away as Ottawa and Barrie in the past few seasons and next year promises to be the same.  The Thunder Car division will also run a pair of 50 lap contests.  Kawartha Speedway and Barrie Speedway are due to announce a 4 race series that these two events will be a part of.  Details will follow in the coming weeks.  In the past some of the stiffest competition at the Kawartha Thunder Car events has come from Barrie Speedway competitors.  With the added incentive of a points fund attached to the four race series we may see even more drivers make the trip from the tricky 1/3 mile to the Kawartha high banks and vice versa.

After having time to consider the opportunity to run 10 events at Kawartha Speedway, several drivers have indicated that it is a much better fit for their racing plans than in years past.  It offers some family time and it also relieves some of the cost burden of getting to the track 15-20 times a year. Drivers that we have spoken with have said that although they have a sizeable investment, and love to race, the economy has tightened things up considerably in the past 12 months and the chance to run for a championship and only have to get to the track 10 times is right up their alley.  Other drivers have indicated that the 10 race plan at Kawartha is the primary reason they plan to race there in 2010.  They say it makes the most sense due to their work and business commitments.

Whatever the reasons, it looks like once again Kawartha Speedway will be the place to be in 2010.  With several new teams registering in every division to accent Kawartha’s already jam packed pool of talent, along with an action packed schedule, Kawartha Speedway will continue to showcase the best racing talent anywhere in Ontario.

Kawartha Speedway.  Where the Stars of Tomorrow Race Today!