VADO, N.M. — Vado Speedway Park is the nation’s newest dirt track venue, and Jan. 2-5 it will launch the 2020 World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series season.
The inaugural four-night Battle at the Border presented by GottaRace.com, Rancho Milagro Racing, Barnett Harley Davidson and Mesilla Valley Transportation promises to be the event everyone is talking about, as not only the opener for the World of Outlaws, but also the first high-profile dirt late model event of the new season.
More than $130,000 will be on the line during the four-night event, opening with a full practice session Thursday, Jan. 2, for teams to shake down their new equipment.
The practice night will be followed by three separate points races, including two $5,000-to-win features, and culminating with a $15,000-to-win, 50-lap main event on Sunday, Jan. 5.
Next year will mark the first time the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series will start a season west of the Mississippi River.
“When you put the World of Outlaws name to anything, it becomes a real show,” said Vado Speedway Park General Manager Rue Stone. “When you come to their events and you see all of the drivers, the haulers, the t-shirt trailers, sponsors, attention and everything else they bring, that’s why I chose to go with the World of Outlaws. It’s a first-class operation.”
Designed in part by 2004 World of Outlaws Late Model champion Scott Bloomquist, the multi-million-dollar facility sits near the base of the 9,000-foot Organ Mountains, delivering the most spectacular view of any dirt track in the country.
Paved fan parking, concrete midways, concrete pit pads, stadium quality suites, modern restrooms and concessions, Musco lighting, aluminum seating with wide aisleways and level camping just a short walk from the pits and grandstands only begins to paint the picture.
Reaction to the three-eighths-mile clay oval — located off Interstate 10 between Las Cruces, N.M. and El Paso, Texas — has been every bit as positive as the staff was hoping for.
“You just really have to see it to believe it,” Stone said.
“Vado Speedway Park is a remarkable facility built by a passionate team of people, and we are excited to open our 2020 season there,” World of Outlaws COO Tom Deery added. “Royal Jones, Rue Stone and their crew have years of experience promoting successful events in the region (Vado had 147 cars for a recent practice night), and we are looking forward to working with them to make the 2020 Battle at the Border a huge race weekend fans won’t want to miss.”
In addition to a full slate of World of Outlaws travelers – including Brandon Sheppard, Chase Junghans, Darrell Lanigan, Ricky Weiss, Shane Clanton and Dennis Erb Jr. – many top drivers from across the country will also be turning their first laps of the 2020 season, including Bloomquist, Jimmy Mars, Bobby Pierce, Shannon Babb, Scott Ward, Don Shaw and Stormy Scott.
The Battle at the Border will start a seven-race run that includes the DIRTcar Nationals Feb. 12-15 at Volusia Speedway Park, kicking off the season for the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series.
Competitors’ best three finishes from the first seven nights of racing will count toward the overall season championship.
“Adding the Battle at the Border is a very progressive move for our brand and series,” series director Casey Shuman said. “Building an event from the ground up can be a challenging, yet rewarding, experience. I’ve had the pleasure to work with Rue Stone and Royal Jones, and everything they do is top of the line, and Vado Speedway Park is no different.
“They have built an amazing facility and it’s exciting to have the World of Outlaws be part of it.”
Joining the Outlaws in 2020 at Vado will be the Summit Racing Equipment USRA Modified Series and a host of local X-Mod competition.