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The American Boat Racing Association set its 2009 season schedule this week with a seven-race campaign. That's one more than last season and it's a big one -- the Oryx Cup World Championship in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 12-14.
"Every step we make to get our boats to Doha for the Oryx Cup is truly an exciting moment for our sport," said ABRA chairman Sam Cole. "I think that excitement for everyone will increase as we go through our 2009 schedule in North America."
Other changes to the schedule include pushing the Thunder on the Ohio event -- usually the sport's season opener in late June -- back to Aug. 21-23; and an exhibition race Aug. 8-9 in Kelowna, British Columbia.
The Tri-Cities' annual event, the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup, is scheduled for July 24-26.
Northwest tours combine
The two late model travelling series from last year -- the Late Model Challenge Series and Northwest Tour -- have merged for 2009.
The series will be known as the ASA Northwest Late Model Tour and will hit tracks throughout the northwest, including Yakima and Wenatchee.
Scott Ellsworth, who once spent a season as the public address announcer at Tri-City Raceway in West Richland, is the promoter and owner of the new series.
"I'm very excited," Ellsworth said. "I have not been in this position before. The way things are going with the merger, we just had a drivers meeting and we had great attendance, I think we'll have 15 cars that travel with the series full-time with 11 races. And local cars can join in at any of those races."
Ellsworth expects Steve Thompson of West Richland and Scott Walker of Prosser to compete, as well as Yakima drivers Mike Longton, Owen Riddle and Erick Hargraves. Former driver BJ Tidrick of Yakima will be a crew chief for a rookie.
"Right now we have six rookies going for rookie of the year," Ellsworth said. "I've never heard of that many in one season. It's a new era."
Ellsworth said that racing has suffered with a drop of sponsorships, but "with the tracks excited with what we've done I think we picked the right time to do this. The tracks are excited about having this. We feel people won't be traveling much this year, but people may show up to the track because they're still going to spend money on entertainment."
Sand & Sage at TC Raceway
The local Sand & Sage Autocross club is using the asphalt at Tri-City Raceway this year for its event races.
Paul Alderman sold the track a year ago to Benton County, which will eventually use the land for business.
Bonanza Raceway closed
Walla Walla's Bonzana Raceway drag strip is unlikely to have any action in 2009.
Rocky Jennings said the recent downturn in the economy has made it tough to keep the track going.
"As of this moment, we haven't even thought about racing in 2009 at all," Jennings said. "If we do, it won't be until April."
First Horn Rapids race Feb. 28
The opening race at Richland's Horn Rapids ORV Park is set for Feb. 28, when the Pacific Racing Organization's Northwest National Motocross takes place.
ULHRA races once in Tri-Cities
The Unlimited Lights Hydroplane Racing Association will have one race in the Tri-Cities this year, instead of the two it had in 2008. The boats will race in conjunction with the ABRA unlimiteds during the Lamb Weston Columbia Cup in late July.
Motorsports calendar
All dates are subject to change
FEBRUARY
8 - NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, Calif.
12 - Sprint Cup Gatorade 150 Duels, Daytona, Fla.
13 - Camping World Trucks Daytona 250, Daytona, Fla.
14 - AMA Supercross, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
14 - Nationwide Camping World 300, Daytona, Fla.
15 - Sprint Cup Daytona 500, Daytona, Fla.
20-22 - Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals, Chandler, Ariz.
21 - Nationwide Stater Bros. 300, Fontana, Calif.
21 - Camping World Trucks San Bernardino County 200, Fontana, Calif.
21 - AMA Supercross, Georgia Dome, Atlanta
21 - Sand & Sage Autocross Winter Heat No. 1, Tri-City Raceway
22 - Sprint Cup Auto Club 500, Fontana, Calif.
22 - Sand & Sage Autocross Winter Heat No. 2, Tri-City Raceway
28 - Nationwide Sam's Town 300, Las Vegas
28 - AMA Supercross, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
28 - PRO Northwest National MX race 1, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
MARCH
1 - Sprint Cup Shelby 427, Las Vegas
1 - PRO Northwest National MX race 2, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
6 - AMA Supercross, Daytona Beach, Fla.
7 - Camping World Trucks race, Hampton, Ga.
8 - Sprint Cup race, Hampton, Ga.
8 - Eastern Washington Dirt Riders Association cross country race, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
12-15 - ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla.
13-15 - KJ McKinster Memorial Spring Challenge, Tri-City Kart Club, Richland ORV Park
14 - AMA Supercross, Superdome, New Orleans
14 - Black Widow MX race 1, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
15 - Black Widow MX race 2, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
21 - Nationwide Sharpie Mini 300, Bristol, Tenn.
21 - AMA Supercross, Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis
21 - Sand & Sage Autocross Winter Heat No. 3, Tri-City Raceway
22 - Sprint Cup Food City 500, Bristol, Tenn.
22 - Sand & Sage Autocross Winter Heat No. 4, Tri-City Raceway
27-29 - O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, Baytown, Texas
28 - Camping World Trucks Kroger 250, Martinsville, Va.
28 - AMA Supercross, Rogers Center, Toronto
28 - PRO Northwest National MX race 3, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
28 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Monroe
29 - Sprint Cup Goody's Cool Orange 500, Martinsville, Va.
29 - Formula One Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
29 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Italy
29 - PRO Northwest National MX race 4, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
APRIL
2-5 - SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas
3-5 - Tri-City Kart Club Gold Cup, Richland ORV Park
4 - Nationwide O'Reilly 300, Fort Worth, Texas
4 - AMA Supercross, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
4-5 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Yelm
5 - Sprint Cup Samsung 500, Fort Worth, Texas
5 - Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur
5 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Bulgaria
5 - Black Widow MX race 3, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
6 - IRL Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Fla.
11 - Nationwide Pepsi 300, Gladeville, Tenn.
12 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Turkey
16-19 - Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Commerce, Ga.
17 - Nationwide Basha's Supermarkets 200, Avondale, Ariz.
18 - Sprint Cup Subway Fresh Fit 500, Avondale, Ariz.
18 - AMA Supercross, Qwest Field, Seattle
18 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 1, Tri-City Raceway
18-19 - Tri-City Kart Club Race No. 1, Richland ORV Park
18-19 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Moses Lake
18-19 - Apple Cup, Yakima Speedway
19 - IRL Long Beach Grand Prix, Long Beach, Calif.
19 - Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
19 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 2, Tri-City Raceway
25 - Nationwide Aaron's 312, Talladega, Ala.
25 - Camping World Trucks O'Reilly Auto Parts 250, Kansas City
25 - AMA Supercross, Salt Lake City
25 - Northwest Outlaws, Wenatchee
25-26 - Pacific West Coast MX races 1-2, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
25-26 - Unlimited Lights at Chandler, Ariz.
26 - Sprint Cup Aaron's 499, Talladega, Ala.
26 - IRL Road Runner Turbo Indy 300, Kansas City
26 - Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
26 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Netherlands
MAY
1 - Nationwide Lipton Tea 250, Richmond, Va.
1-3 - O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals, Madison, Ill.
1-3 - Northwest NHRA races, Boise, Idaho
2 - Sprint Cup Crown Royal 400, Richmond, Va.
2 - AMA Supercross, Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
2 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Wenatchee
2 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
2 - Ephrata Raceway Park season opener
2-3 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Entiat
8 - Nationwide Diamond Hill Plywood 200, Darlington, S.C.
9 - Sprint Cup Southern 500, Darlington, S.C.
9 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Spokane
9 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
10 - Formula One Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona
10 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Portugal
15 - Camping World Trucks race, Concord, N.C.
15-17 - O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn.
16 - Sprint Cup All-Star Race, Concord, N.C.
16 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
16-17 - Tri-City Kart Club Race No. 2, Richland ORV Park
16-17 - Black Widow MX races 4-5, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
17 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Spain
22-24 - Tri-City Kart Club at Boise Gold Cup
22-24 - Northwest NHRA races, Mission, British Columbia
23 - Nationwide race, Concord, N.C.
23 - Camping World Trucks race, Mansfield, Ohio
23 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
23 - Northwest Outlaws, Ephrata
23-24 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Ronan, Mont.
24 - Sprint Cup Coca-Cola 600, Concord, N.C.
24 - IRL Indianapolis 500
24 - Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
29 - Camping World Trucks race, Dover, Del.
29-31 - O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, Topeka, Kan.
30 - Nationwide Heluva Good! 200, Dover, Del.
30 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 3, Tri-City Raceway
30 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
30-31 - Tri-City Kart Club Race No. 3, Richland ORV Park
30-31 - PRO Northwest National MX races 5-6, Airway Heights
31 - Sprint Cup Dover 400, Dover, Del.
31 - IRL ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225, West Allis, Wis.
31 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Great Britain
31 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 4, Tri-City Raceway
JUNE
4-7 - NHRA Route 66 Nationals, Joliet, Ill.
5 - Camping World Trucks WinStar World Casino 400, Fort Worth, Texas
6 - Nationwide Federated Auto Parts 300, Gladeville, Tenn.
6 - IRL Bombardier Learjet 550, Fort Worth, Texas
6 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Yakima
6 - Northwest Outlaws, Wenatchee
6-7 - Tri-City Kart Club Race No. 4, Richland ORV Park
6-7 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Issaquah
6-7 - PRO Northwest National MX races 7-8, Washougal
7 - Sprint Cup Pocono 500, Long Pond, Pa.
7 - Formula One Turkish Grand Prix, Istanbul
7 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of France
11-14 - NHRA SuperNationals, Englishtown, N.J.
12-14 - Tri-City Kart Club at Chilliwack Gold Cup
13 - Nationwide race, Sparta, Ky.
13 - Camping World Trucks race, Brooklyn, Mich.
13 - Desert Thunder Stadium MX Series race 1, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
13 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Post Falls, Idaho
13 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
13 - Northwest Outlaws, Tenino
14 - Sprint Cup LifeLock 400, Brooklyn, Mich.
19 - Camping World Trucks race, West Allis, Wis.
19-21 - Northwest NHRA races, Kent
20 - Nationwide race, West Allis, Wis.
20 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
20 - United States Sprint Boat Association, St. John
20-21 - Pacific West Coast MX races 3-4, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
21 - Sprint Cup Toyota/Save Mart 350, Sonoma, Calif.
21 - IRL Iowa Corn Indy 250, Newton, Iowa
21 - Formula One British Grand Prix, Silverstone, England
21 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Germany
25-28 - Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
27 - Nationwide Camping World RV Sales 200, Loudon, N.H.
27 - Camping World Trucks O'Reilly 200, Millington, Tenn.
27 - IRL SunTrust Indy Challenge, Richmond, Va.
27 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 5, Tri-City Raceway
27 - Desert Thunder Stadium MX Series race 2, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
27 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Kent
27 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
27-28 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Burley, Idaho
37-28 - PRO Northwest National MX races 5-6, Portland
28 - Sprint Cup Lenox Ind ustrial Tools 301, Loudon, N.H.
28 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Latvia
28 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 6, Tri-City Raceway
JULY
3 - Nationwide Winn-Dixie 250, Daytona, Fla.
3-5 -- ABRA Indiana Governors Cup, Madison, Ind.
3-5 - Tri-City Kart Club at Portland Gold Cup
4 - Sprint Cup Coke Zero 400, Daytona, Fla.
4 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
4 - Northwest Outlaws, Yakima
5 - IRL Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
5 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Sweden
10 - Nationwide Dollar General 300, Joliet, Ill.
10-12 -- Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup, Detroit
10-12 - Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Morrison, Colo.
10-12 - Northwest NHRA races, Woodburn, Ore.
11 - Sprint Cup Lifelock.com 400, Joliet, Ill.
11 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
11 - Northwest Outlaws, Port Angeles
11-12 - Tri-City Kart Club Race No. 5, Richland ORV Park
11-12 - Unlimited Lights at Chamberlain-Oacoma, S.D.
11-12 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Olympia
12 - IRL Honda Grand Prix of Toronto
12 -- Formula One German Grand Prix, Nurburg, Germany
17-19 - Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, Kent, Wash.
18 - Nationwide race, Madison, Ill.
18 - Camping World Trucks Built Ford Tough 225, Sparta, Ky.
18 - Desert Thunder Stadium MX Series race 3, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
18 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
18-19 Unlimited Lights at Polson, Mont.
24 - Camping World Trucks race, Clermont, Ind.
24-26 -- ABRA Lamb Weston Columbia Cup, Tri-Cities
24-26 - Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals, Sonoma, Calif.
25 - Nationwide race, Clermont, Ind.
25 - AMA Motocross, Washougal, Wash.
25 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Monroe
25 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
25 - Northwest Outlaws, Ephrata
25 - United States Sprint Boat Association, Albany, Ore.
25-26 - Unlimited Lights at Tri-Cities
26 - Sprint Cup Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, Indianapolis
26 - IRL Rexall Edmonton Indy
26 - Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
31-Aug. 2 -- ABRA Chevrolet Cup at Seafair
AUGUST
1 - Nationwide race, Newton, Iowa
1 - Camping World Trucks Toyota Tundra 200, Gladeville, Tenn.
1 - IRL race, Sparta, Ky.
1 - Desert Thunder Stadium MX Series race 4, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
1 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
1 - Northwest Outlaws, Tenino
1-2 - Unlimited Lights at Seattle
2 - Sprint Cup Pennsylvania 500, Long Pond, Pa.
2 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Belgium
3-9 - Loretta Lynn Amateur MX finals, Tennessee
8 - Nationwide Zippo 200, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
8 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 7, Tri-City Raceway
8 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
8 - United States Sprint Boat Association, Port Angeles
8-9 -- ABRA Kelowna, British Columbia, exhibition
8-9 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Oroville
9 - Sprint Cup Centurion Boats at the Glen, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
9 - IRL race, Lexington, Ohio
9 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Czech Republic
9 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 8, Tri-City Raceway
13-16 - Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, Minn.
14-16 - Tri-City Kart Club at Tacoma Gold Cup
15 - Nationwide race, Brooklyn, Mich.
15 - Desert Thunder Stadium MX Series race 5, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
15 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
15-16 - Unlimited Lights at Silverdale, Wash.
16 - Sprint Cup race, Brooklyn, Mich.
19 - Camping World Trucks race, Bristol, Tenn.
20-23 - Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, Mohnton, Pa.
21 - Nationwide ra ce, Bristol, Tenn.
21-23 -- ABRA Thunder on the Ohio, Evansville, Ind.
21-23 - Northwest NHRA races, Acton, Mont.
22 - Sprint Cup race, Bristol, Tenn.
22 - Desert Thunder Stadium MX Series race 6, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
22 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Roseburg, Ore.
22 - Yakima Speedway weekly races
22 - Northwest Outlaws, Yakima
22-23 - Tri-City Kart Club Race No. 6, Richland ORV Park
23 - IRL Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County, Calif.
23 - Formula One European Grand Prix, Valencia, Spain
28 - Camping World Trucks race, Joliet, Ill.
29 - IRL Peak Indy 300, Joliet, Ill.
29 -- 9-3 Yakima Speedway weekly races
29 - United States Sprint Boat Association, St. John
29-30 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Pateros
30 - Nationwide race, Montreal
30 - Formula One Belgian Grand Prix
30 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Netherland
30 - Black Widow MX race 6, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
SEPTEMBER
2-7 - NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Clermont, Ind.
4-6 - Tri-City Kart Club at Spokane Gold Cup
5 - Nationwide race, Hampton, Ga.
5 - Northwest Outlaws, Port Angeles
5-6 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Yakima
6 - Sprint Cup race, Hampton, Ga.
6 - IRL Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
11 - Nationwide race, Richmond, Va.
12 - Sprint Cup Chevy Rock & Roll 400, Richmond, Va.
12 - Camping World Trucks race, Madison, Ill.
12 - ASA Northwest Late Model Tour, Wenatchee
12 - Yakima Speedway season championships
12 - Northwest Outlaws, Tenino
12 - United States Sprin t Boat Association, Albany, Ore.
12-13 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Spanaway
13 - Formula One Italian Grand Prix
13 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of Brazil
13 - Black Widow MX race 7, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
17-20 - NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Concord, N.C.
18-20 -- ABRA San Diego Bayfair on Mission Bay
19 - Camping World Trucks RV Rental 200, Loudon, N.H.
19 - IRL race, Motegi, Japan
19 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 9, Tri-City Raceway
19 - Desert Thunder Stadium MX Series race 7, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
19 - Yakima Speedway season championships
19 - United States Sprint Boat Association, Port Angeles
19-20 - Tri-City Kart Club Race No. 7, Richland ORV Park
20 - Sprint Cup Sylvania 300, Loudon, N.H.
20 - FIM World Motocross Grand Prix of United States
20 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 10, Tri-City Raceway
24-27 - O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals, Ennis, Texas
25-26 - Northwest NHRA races, Eagle Point, Ore.
25-27 - Tri-City Kart Club at Pat's Acres Gold Cup
26 - Nationwide Dover 200, Dover, Del.
26 - Camping World Trucks Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350
26 - Northwest Outlaws, Wenatchee
26-27 - Unlimited Lights at Port Angeles, Wash.
26-27 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Lake Chelan
27 - Sprint Cup Dover 400, Dover, Del.
27 - Formula One Singapore Grand Prix
27 - Black Widow MX race 8, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
OCTOBER
1-4 - Yakima Speedway Fall Classic
2-4 - NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals, Millington, Tenn.
2-4 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Issaquah
3 - Nationwide Kansas Lottery 300, Kansas City
3 - Desert Thunder Stadium MX Series race 8, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
4 - Sprint Cup Kansas 400, Kansas City
4 - FIM Motocross of Nations, Italy
9-11 - Virginia NHRA Nationals, Dinwiddie, Va.
10 - Nationwide Camping World 300, Fontana, Calif.
10 - IRL race, Homestead, Fla.
10 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 11, Tri-City Raceway
10 - Tri-City Kart Club Race No. 8, Richland ORV Park
10-11 - Region 10 Inboard boat races, Lincoln City
11 - Sprint Cup Pepsi 500, Fontana, Calif.
11 - Formula One Japanese Grand Prix
11 - Sand & Sage Autocross season event No. 12, Tri-City Raceway
11 - Tri-City Kart Club Race No. 9, Richland ORV Park
11 - Black Widow MX race 9, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
16 - Nationwide race, Concord, N.C.
17 - Sprint Cup race, Concord, N.C.
17 - Desert Thunder Stadium MX Series race 9, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
18 - Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo
24 - Nationwide race, Millington, Tenn.
24 - Camping World Trucks race, Martinsville, Va.
25 - Sprint Cup race, Martinsville, Va.
25 - Black Widow MX race 10, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
29-Nov. 1 - ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals
31 - Camping World Trucks race, Talladega, Ala.
NOVEMBER
1 - Sprint Cup race, Talladega, Ala.
1 - Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
6 - Camping World Trucks Lone Star 350, Fort Worth, Texas
7 - Nationwide O'Reilly Challenge, Fort Worth, Texas
8 - Sprint Cup Dickies 500, Fort Worth, Texas
12-14 -- ABRA Oryx Cup World Championship, Doha, Qatar
12-15 - Automobile Club of SoCal NHRA Finals, Pomona, Calif.
13 - Camping World Trucks race, Avondale, Ariz.
14 - Nationwide race, Avondale, Ariz.
14-15 - Black Widow MX races 11-12, Horn Rapids ORV Park, Richland
15 - Sprint Cup race, Avondale, Ariz.
20 - Camping World Trucks Ford 200, Homestead, Fla.
21 - Nationwide Ford 300, Homestead, Fla.
22 - Sprint Cup Ford 500, Homestead, Fla.
