The calendar turns over to June and the majority of the country’s major racing series will be in action highlighted by a busy time for the midget contingent with the opening of Indiana Midget Week, IndyCar’s return to the streets of Detroit and the NHRA’s annual trek to New England.
Midget Madness
The arrival of June will mark the busiest time of the year for the country’s top midget racing teams.
The Xtreme Outlaw Series kicks off a three-race weekend June 1 at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill. From there the series will make a two-night stand at Wayne County Speedway in Illinois. Cannon McIntosh leads the standings into the three-race run.
But after leaving Illinois, midget teams are only getting started, as a Sunday night tilt at Indiana’s Tri-State Speedway will kick off seven consecutive nights with the annual arrival of Indiana Midget Week.
The USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget Series will sanction the seven-night run that visits seven Hoosier state dirt tracks.
Detroit City
With apologies to songwriting great Bobby Bare, the NTT IndyCar Series is going home to Detroit City.
After many years racing on Belle Isle, the Detroit Grand Prix will begin in 2023 when the event returns to its original home on the streets of Downtown Detroit. The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will bring a dynamic street-festival atmosphere to the Motor City. The new Grand Prix will feature three full days of activities and celebration on some of Detroit’s most popular and active Downtown areas, including racing on a new 1.7-mile, nine-turn street circuit along Jefferson Avenue, Bates Street, Atwater Street, St. Antoine, Franklin Street and Rivard.
The first Detroit Grand Prix was run on the streets of the Motor City in 1982 as a Formula 1 race.
Alex Palou leads the IndyCar Standings heading to Detroit.
Gateway Bound
The NASCAR Cup Series will make its second visit to WorldWide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill.
Ross Chastain holds a one-point lead over Coca-Cola 600 winner Ryan Blaney heading into the 15th event of the season. Joey Logano won the inaugural Cup Series race at the 1.25-mile track last June.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will also be on the card.
Hall of Fame Weekend
The Corn Belt Clash of the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship will take center stage at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway on Friday and Saturday night.
The annual appearance by the non-winged sprint cars at the legendary half-mile oval also coincides with Induction Weekend for the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
SPEED SPORT’s Ralph Sheheen will be among this year’s inductees who include Ken Hamilton, Chad Kemenah, Cory Kruseman, Bobby Marshall, Joey Saldana, Johnny Capels, Paul Hazen, Tommy Sanders, Max Dolder, Alan Kreitzer, Johnny Vance and Joie Ray.
New England
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will make its annual trek to New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
The Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will take center stage, with Pro Modified also on the professional schedule, as both the Pro Stocks and Pro Stock Bikes will have the weekend off.
Steve Torrence leads the Top Fuel standings and Matt Hagan is on top in the Funny Car division.
Northern Lights
With a tie atop the standings between four-time champion Brad Sweet and Carson Macedo, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will head north for a two-race weekend.
Friday night will see the series visit River Cities Speedway in North Dakota, while Minnesota’s Ogilvie Raceway will host The Greates Show On Dirt on Saturday night.
Late Models
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will make a two-day stop at West Virginia Motor Speedway for the Historic 100, which was won by Jonathan Davenport last season.
Meanwhile, the World of Outlaws Case Construction Late Model Series will contest events at Tri-City Speedway in Illinois and Paducah Raceway in Kentucky.