The dawn of the 2019 racing season is quickly approaching us and while everyone is gearing up for another big year of racing there is one class in particular that is really setting itself up for a big year. No, it's not the late models, modifieds, or the sprint cars. No, rather it is the INEX Legends that will be looking to turn a lot of new heads this year! The INEX Legends have been turning heads and making news over the winter as a handful of tracks announced that they would be adding the class to their weekly shows. These tracks would be Southwest Speedway and Jamestown Speedway. Another track that will be adding the INEX Legends to their program part time will be Sheyenne Speedway. Sheyenne Speedway is a case where the changes of another track allowed them to reap the benefits of the decision made. The INEX Legends will be visiting Sheyenne Speedway six times this year as they are scheduled to race every other scheduled week. They will also be racing at their regularly sanctioned tracks as which include Dacotah Speedway, Red River Valley Speedway, Tri-County Speedway, and Buffalo River Race Park.
The big talking point from a North Dakota perspective is that Saturday night is going to be a busy night across the state for INEX racing as three tracks will be running the class. The tracks include two newcomers as Jamestown Speedway and Southwest Speedway and the other track throwing a slight wrinkle into racers plans is Buffalo River Race Park. Buffalo River Race Park has made the decision to change their night of racing from Sunday to Saturday to hopefully see an improvement at the front and back gate. While some may see this as being problematic and forcing drivers to choose between tracks, many will agree that this is a good problem though. This opportunity gives the INEX Legends the ability for greater exposure and it opens up a lot more racing opportunity for its drivers. The drivers will be seeing on average two to three nights a week of potential racing. There were also be a few weeks where a potential of four nights of racing will occur. Overall, this is will be a very busy season for all the INEX Legend drivers.
The summer will also have some big events scattered throughout it with one of the highlights being the North Dakota Legends Tour taking place June 13 through June 16. The tour will start in Wishek at the Tri-County Speedway (7:30 P.M.) before heading over to the Dacotah Speedway Friday night (7:00 P.M.). From there the tour will head east towards the Jamestown Speedway for Saturday nights portion of the tour, before concluding Sunday night at the Sheyenne Speedway (7:00 P.M.).
Coming into the 2019 racing season the defending track champions are Preston Martin at the Tri-County Speedway, Donavin Weist at the Dacotah Speedway, Tim Estenson at the Red River Valley Speedway and also at the Buffalo River Race Park. However, there will be a changing of the guard out in the eastern part of the state as Tim Estenson has pursued the dream of racing sprint cars full time out in California. This is an incredible nod to the talent that can be found in the INEX Legends racing division. While one door opens for Estenson, it also closes the door on him defending his track championships. So who might step up to the challenge of taking a track championship? Only time will tell and it will unfold as we go through a Legendary season.
For more INEX Legends information and to follow along their busy season head over to the Dakota Legends Racing facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dakotalegendsracing/.