Northern Stars Invitational happening this weekend

NEWS RELEASE
SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL MOTORPLEX
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LAIRD TOWNSHIP - Superior International Motorplex (formerly known as Laird International Raceway) will be holding the Northern Stars Invitational this coming weekend, Friday Sept. 14 and Saturday Sept. 15, 2018. 

The weather forecast for the weekend looks fantastic, but if needed Sunday, Sept 16 will be our rain date. This will be the final event of the season at the track and it will finish with some “BANGS” that you won’t want to miss!

Weekend Activities

Racing on Friday night will include a regular show in:

• Northern Fencing Super Late Models,
• Superior Truck Repair Michigan Modifides,
• Northland Auto Body Factory Stocks, and
• Great Lakes Bus Tours Factory Four divisions

Friday Racing action will be followed by two School Bus “Heat Races”. Main grandstand gates open on Friday at 5:30 p.m., with qualifying beginning at 6 and opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. with racing right after that.

Racing on Saturday will include all four divisions, with special Memorial Races:  

• The Northern Fencing Super Late Models will race a 73 Lap feature with $2,000 to win, in honour of Michael Parsons.
• The Superior Truck Repair Michigan Modifides will race a 66 lap feature, with $1,200 to win, in honour of Ed Wellwood.
• The Great Lakes Bus Tours Factory Fours will race twin 33 lap features (full invert), with $300 to win.
• The Northland Auto Body Factory Stocks will also race twin features of 36, and 37 laps.

Saturday Racing action will be followed by a School Bus “Feature Race”, then to top off the weekend a DEMOLITION DERBY. Main grandstand gates open on Saturday at noon, with opening ceremonies beginning at 3 p.m. Should the Saturday show be rained out, we will hold the events on Sunday.

Onsite basic camping is available at the track for the weekend. Parking for camping starts on Thursday.

Memorials

During the weekend we will be honouring some special people from the local race community:

Micheal Parsons passed away on Aug. 16, 2016 at the age of 56.

Superior International Motorplex track promoter Donnie Varcoe said, “Michael Parsons was involved in racing since the days of racing at old track on 5th line (1980s). He raced the number 73 in those days and the same number when he raced his Super Late Model at Laird Raceway in the 2000 and 2001 seasons.  He was helped by his father good old Bud Parsons, who was known locally for his engine building skills.  The Parsons were involved in racing a long time in this area.  We will honour him with a 73 Lap Super Late Model race, and twin Factory Stock races totalling 73 laps.”

Ed Wellwood passed away on May 20, 2018 at the age of 42.

Varcoe said, “Ed Wellwood was a drag racer that had lots of friends in the racing community.  Ed was a local trucker and heavy duty mechanic that worked for his family business H. Wellwood and Sons.  Other members of Ed’s family have raced and are still racing.  His Uncle Dick, and John Hayes raced in the Laird Factory Stock division for years.  His two cousins, Jerry and John Ross are currently racing at Superior Motorplex and other area tracks.  Ed will be honoured with a 66 lap Modified race and twin 33 lap  4 cylinder races this weekend.”

Ronald Armstrong passed away earlier this month on Sept. 4

Varcoe said, “Ronnie Armstrong was a long-time supporter of local short track racing.  He was on the racing teams of Roddy Speers, and Brent Palumbo.  Most recently he was helping one of his nephews – Jay Palumbo -  as a team member.   Ronnie was well liked by the racing community.  Ed will also be honoured through the twin Factory Four features on Saturday.”

Superior International Motorplex is located off Highway 17, east of Echo Bay, on Lake George Road. Map and directions can be found on our website.

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