BRAINERD, Minn. – NASCAR is coming to Brainerd International Raceway this weekend, highlighting three full days of racing action during the 4th Annual Street Car Showdown.
New this year to BIR’s racing lineup, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West is a 50-lap, 125-mile race Saturday on BIR’s challenging 2.5-mile, 13-turn Competition Road Course. An hour-long practice session is Saturday morning, followed by qualifying at 1:45 p.m. and the race at 4:30 p.m. NASCAR races rain or shine.
On the drag strip, the Muscle Car Series kicks off the first of three races this season. The series, which starts Friday and ends with eliminations on Sunday, is a perennial favorite among race fans because of the huge horsepower on display and the fast times. Center stage is the “fast five” classes: Pro Outlaw, Outlaw, King Street, Real Street and True Street. The fastest cars can top 200 mph and crack 7 seconds. In all 14 classes will compete this weekend, with time trials and qualifying Friday and Saturday, and eliminations on Sunday.
When NASCAR isn’t on the road course, national- and regional-level racers will be putting on a show as part of the Sports Car Club of America’s (SCCA) Harvey West Classic. Fans will be treated to a variety of high performance sports cars and racing cars competing for regional and national points.
Throughout the weekend, NitroMike Kunz will be showing off his beefed-up “Walking Tall PT Cruiser” with 120 mph passes down the drag strip while doing a wheelie. Technically, the car is a 10.40-second drag racer that runs on methanol alcohol and happens to ride a wheelie for a quarter mile.
Saturday night, Junk FM will provide live music at BIR’s Wheelie Bar & Grille.
“I’m not sure we could fit anything else into the schedule this weekend,” BIR Owner Jed Copham said. “It’s going to be a great weekend of racing here, and we’re super excited about the NASCAR K&N race on Saturday. These guys are really talented drivers, and for some, the next step is Sprint Cup or Nationwide Series, so they’re all business when they get on the track. Fans are in for a real treat.”
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West is a development program for young up-and-coming drivers who are working their way up to Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series. Legendary driver Parnelli Jones, Kevin Harvick (currently No. 8 in Sprint Cup) and David Gilliland (No. 30 in Sprint Cup) are among a long list of notable NASCAR drivers who got their start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.
Racing starts daily at 8 a.m. Tickets are available at the gate. Daily admission is $25 for adults, $15 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids 5 and younger. On-site camping is free with the purchase of a multi-day ticket.
Now in its 44th season, Brainerd International Raceway is one of North America’s largest race tracks, featuring a world-class quarter-mile drag strip, the 3.1-mile, 10-turn Donnybrooke Road Course, the 2.5-mile, 13-turn Competition Road Course, 300 acres for rustic camping, 164 full-service RV sites and 12 on-site condos. BIR is about 120 miles north of the Twin Cities. For more information, visit www.BrainerdRaceway.com, or call 1-866-444-4455.
