Dirt Racing Continues At South Dakota Track Saturday

Park Jefferson International Speedway is hosting a race this weekend as NASCAR legend Ken Schrader explains how the show will go on.

As my boyfriend and his family are big racing people, this news was exciting to me and I'm sure for fans of the sport everywhere. As they are personal friends of Ken Schrader, it is exciting to know he is finding a way to press on amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

While many in the sports world are concerned about how to accommodate fans moving forward, Park Jefferson International Speedway was going to try it out before releasing a statement Thursday saying they would not be hosting spectators.

The original plan, according to the speedway's website, was to have 700 fans (20% of their 4,000 seating capacity).

However, in a release on the website on Thursday, April 23rd, they will not be hosting fans though the race will be broadcast on Speed Shift TV.

"After discussions with the South Dakota Department of Health, other state officials and county commissioners, Front Row Challenge Motorsports and Park Jefferson Speedway have decided to run Saturday’s Open Wheel Nationals event without spectators," Park Jefferson said.

The race will still feature 64 teams total of 410 sprint cars and IMCA Modified racing while adhering to CDC guidelines.

"We're just a small race track in rural South Dakota trying to give some entertainment and a little bit of a break from some of this madness that's going on right now, said track owner Adam Adamson, as cited by ESPN from an interview with Argus Leader. "We think we can do so in a safe environment."

It is a big step away from the iRacing events regular NASCAR watchers have become used to, though Schrader has had his own jabs about that.

If you have been missing out on sports, catch the dirt fly this Saturday, April 25th where Schrader and Kenny Wallace will both be taking to the track.