BRAINERD, Minn. – A Labor Day tradition is on tap for race fans next weekend at Brainerd International Raceway as the 24th Annual Muscle Car Shootout showcases incredible drag racing and road racing, a classic car show, live music and a lot more.
Fans are in for a full weekend of intense racing, as series championships in both drag racing and road racing are on the line. Drag racers will be gunning for a series championship during the grand finale of the three-race Muscle Car Series. And on the Competition Road Course, teams in SCCA Pro Racing’s Trans-Am Series are wrapping up their season with only one race left after this one, so points will be at a premium for drivers who still have a shot at a championship in the 10-race series.
Also on the road course, Ducati will be testing its superbikes on Friday, and the Jack Pine Sprints will feature SCCA regional racers Saturday and Sunday. They’ll be sharing the road course with the Trans-Am Series, which is qualifying and racing on both Saturday and Sunday. With only one race left – Road Atlanta in November – competition is expected to be fierce.
There’s plenty to see and do off the track as well. On Saturday, a classic car show will be on the infield behind the main grandstand, and Common Ground will provide live music Saturday night in The Wheelie Bar & Grille (no cover charge). Kids can take part in free games and activities Saturday afternoon as well.
On the drag strip, more than 300 cars are expected to compete, with 11 series championships up for grabs. At center stage will be the “fast five” classes, where speeds exceed 200 mph and times can dip below 7 seconds. Except for the Outlaw Class, all the Muscle Car Series classes are being contested, with two or more drivers in the hunt for hardware. In the Outlaw Class, Mike Bauerly is going for a sweep of all three series races and a repeat of the class championship. He’s got a sizeable – but not insurmountable – lead in the point standings.
Simon Gregg, the top driver for Minnesota’s Derhaag Motorsports, is leading the point standings in the Trans-Am Series. Tony Ave, who won the last three Trans-Am Series races at BIR and clinched last year’s series championship at BIR, is in third place but is coming off a big win earlier this month at Road America. Amy Ruman is in second place and has been consistent all season. The Trans-Am Series and the Jack Pine Sprints race rain or shine.
On-site camping is available and tickets can be purchased at the gate. Daily admission is $25 for adults and $15 for kids ages 6-12. Kids 5 and younger are free.
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.
