This year has been a life altering year for everyone across the world. During a time where we are constantly being told that we should accept this "new normal" and where everything is being shut down, one thing remains normal and that thing is the Dakota Classic Modified Tour! This Friday kicks off the 31st Annual Dakota Classic Modified Tour and that is saying something! Through all the turmoil the Turr has found a way to adapt and survive and that is truly impressive!
Let's look at the Turr in general. It has survived all sorts of situations to make be around for 31 consecutive years. A wise man once told me that any big racing event has to make it 5 years in order to be considered a long lasting event. The Dakota Classic Modified Tour has made it 31 years...yeah that's extremely impressive. From having to change classes to changing tracks it has simply found a way to survive the test of time. Then came 2020 where multiple schedule changes were saw, a double header was added by Estevan then taken away by the Canadian government, Nodak was dropped but then added back because of the state fair cancellation, and to top it all off the Red River Valley Speedway makes it's return to the Tour for the first time in many years. Yes, 2020 threw a ton of curveballs at the Turr but it kept moving forward and refused to cancel!
Then came the sponsorship issues that 2020 has brought forward. During a time where sponsorship is tough to find because of the pandemic shut down, the Turr also had lost their primary sponsorship of Kupper Chevrolet when it was sold. This would be a daunting blow to the Turr but a familiar name associated with the Turr would step up again. Bob Kupper would return and help the Turr as Moritz Sport & Marine would become the title sponsor. Yet, this wouldn't stop the Turr from upping the ante. This year saw an increase of pay for non qualifying and other parts of the purse as well. The Turr listened to the drivers and did their best to help everyone who would be competing. Once again, the Turr adapted to the ever so changing racing scene and the other curveball thrown by 2020.
Finally, the Dakota Classic Modified Tour saw a pre-entry driver list that saw extremely strong numbers for the modifieds and a record breaking pre-entry list of stock car drivers! The list was stopped at 83 pre-entered modified drivers and 44 stock cars. The other staggering fact is that 15 states will be represented in the modified division and 7 states will be represented by the stock car division. In such a crazy time, these numbers are absolutely staggering as they buck the trend of what racing has had to deal with.
Come this Friday, race fans definitely need to get out and support this great Turr. Those involved have gone above and beyond to make sure that it goes off without a hitch and to say that it will be an extra special treat to take in this spectacle is an understatement. Once, again the Dakota Classic Modified Tour goes out of it's way to show why it is the premier racing tour in the nation and why it has become the standard barrier of what a great racing tour should measure up to. So with all of that said, racers pull the belts tight, fans get your tickets, and we will see you all at the races!
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