New road course allows for the addition of 4 new spectator events, more racing BRAINERD, Minn. Brainerd International Raceway announced its 2009 schedule, which features two new drag races, two new road races, an expanded Bracket Drag Racing Series and more available track time for clubs and organizations that want to rent the track for their racing schools and events. BIR’s new 2.5-mile, 13-turn Competition Road Course, which was christened last fall, provides more track availability because it separates the new road course from the drag strip, allowing both to be used simultaneously. The result is a more extensive and diverse motorsports calendar. A comprehensive calendar is available on BIR’s new Web site: www.BrainerdRaceway.com. Two new road racing events have been added to the calendar, the first of which is Aug. 7-9 when the Sports Car Club of American returns to BIR for the Jack Pine Sprints. The race features a variety of familiar SCCA sport racers, such as Formula cars, GTs, vintage racers, Corvettes, Morgans, TVRs, Lolas and more, all competing on the new Competition Road Course. BIR will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mini Cooper June 27-28 by hosting the Mini Cooper Can-Am Challenge. Featuring Mini Coopers from around the country, the race is open to all Classic Minis and selected Mini-powered variants. On the drag strip, BIR added a third Outlaw drag race to the mix: the Index Class Eliminator. Similar in format to the Show & Go and Coca-Cola Muscle Car Shootout, the Index Class Eliminator will feature the ultra-quick Outlaw, Pro Outlaw, King Street and Real Street classes. By adding the new event, BIR created a three-race series where racers will compete for series points and a track championship at the end of the series. It’s scheduled for May 29-31. Another new drag race on the calendar is the Modern Automotive Performance Sport Compact Proving Grounds July 10-11, which features front-, all- and rear-wheel-drive and turbo-charged imports and sport compacts. “Our new 2.5-mile Competition Road Course has given us a lot of flexibility in offering more racing and different types of racing,” BIR owner Jed Copham said. “We’re committed to offering our race fans a wide variety of world-class racing, and adding the new track is the first step in doing that.” In addition to the new events, BIR’s schedule includes perennial favorites that include the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, which is Aug. 13-16 and features the top drag racers in the world, including household names like John Force, Tony Schumacher, Brandon Bernstein, Larry Dixon and Minnesotans Greg Anderson and Jason Line. The Thunder at the Lakes NHRA Divisional Race over Memorial Day weekend will again feature Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars, serving as an exciting preview to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. The Show & Go is a Fourth of July favorite, and the Coca-Cola Muscle Car Shootout Labor Day weekend closes out the summer. BIR’s amateur Bracket Drag Racing Series is benefiting from the expanded schedule as well. Traditionally a five-race series, this year’s version will feature seven weekend races, starting May 9-10. The Wednesday Night Drags Street Legal Style program has expanded as well. This event has grown increasingly popular, especially with young drivers. This year, 10 Wednesdays are on the schedule, starting May 6. Gates open at 5 p.m. for anyone with a helmet, valid drivers license and a street-legal car, truck or motorcycle. They use the burn-out box, light tree and scoreboard, and can make as many passes as time allows. The track shuts down at dusk. “We’re really excited about this year because we have almost twice as much racing going on, and a nice mix of racing as well,” Copham said. “This season will be a lot of fun for fans who want to be exposed to some different types and styles of racing. And they’re all affordably priced so families can get a taste of what we’re offering at a reasonable price.” The BIR Performance Driving School is also benefiting from the extra track time. The school has added 17 open school days for those who want to learn how to better handle a car at high speeds on a race track. It’s educational AND fun, as students get to drive a real race car on a real race track. Now in its 41st 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 new 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. Check out our new Web site for more information, www.BrainerdRaceway.com, or call the BIR Ticket Office at 218-824-RACE (7223). # # # 2009 Schedule Brainerd International Raceway May 1-3 Central Roadracing Association Motorcycle Racing May 6 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style May 8 Open Test & Tune Drag Strip May 9-10 BIR Bracket Drag Racing Series May 20 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style May 22-24 Thunder at the Lakes NHRA Divisional Race May 29-31 Index Class Eliminator Drag Racing Featuring Outlaw Drag Racing June 3 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style June 5 Open Test & Tune Drag Strip June 6-7 BIR Bracket Drag Racing Series June 17 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style June 19-21 Central Roadracing Association Motorcycle Racing June 19 Open Test & Tune Drag Strip June 20-21 BIR Bracket Drag Racing Series June 27-28 Mini Cooper Can-Am Challenge July 1 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style July 3-5 23rd Annual Show & Go Featuring Outlaw Drag Racing July 10-11 Modern Automotive Performance Sport Compact Proving Grounds July 17-19 Central Roadracing Association Motorcycle Racing July 22 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style July 24 Open Test & Tune Drag Strip July 25-26 BIR Bracket Drag Racing Series Aug 5 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style Aug 7-9 SCCA Jack Pine Sprints Land O’ Lakes Double Regional Aug 13-16 28th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Aug 21-23 Central Roadracing Association Motorcycle Racing Aug 21 Open Test & Tune Drag Strip Aug 22-23 BIR Bracket Drag Racing Series Aug 26 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style Sept 2 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style Sept 4-6 Coca-Cola Muscle Car Shootout Featuring Outlaw Drag Racing Sept 9 Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style Sept 11 Open Test & Tune Drag Strip Sept 12-13 BIR Bracket Drag Racing Series Sept 25-27 Central Roadracing Association Motorcycle Racing Oct 2 Open Test & Tune Drag Strip Oct 3-4 BIR Bracket Drag Racing Series BIR Performance Driving School Dates May 4 May 11 May 25 June 8 June 15 July 3-5 July 13 July 27 Aug 3 Aug 31 Sept 4-6 Sept 21 Oct 5