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(4/13/2014) By: John Ostermann, Vice-President The newly formed Upper Peninsula International Racing Association located at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba, will kick off the 2014 season with a huge Grand Opening event scheduled for May 16th and 17th. NASCAR racing veteran Ken Schrader will bring his I.M.C.A modified up from Mooresville North Carolina to race against Upper Michigan and Northeastern Wisconsin's best modified drivers. Schrader who is currently retired from the Sprint Cup Series is still racing a Nationwide car on a limited basis, handing over the majority of the driving duties to a younger Matt Tifft so he can focus on his first love, short track dirt racing. Schrader's entry in the Escanaba event will be one of the sixty six races he will participate in this year all throughout the Midwest. The event will kick off Friday night with over one hundred and thirty cars in five divisions expected to participate. The Friday night segment will include Sprint cars, Street Stocks, Sport 4's and Micro Sprints all competing in their heat races and qualifying races. Saturday will welcome the I.M.C.A. modifieds running their full show while the feature events will be held for the remaining divisions. There will be an on track interview with Ken Schrader, as well as an autograph session for the fans. Shortly after there will be a 25 lap modified feature that pays $500 to the winner. Defending U.P.I.R. modified Champion Dale Peterson of Rapid River will return to battle Schrader as well as defend his crown. Others modified drivers expected to compete in the opener include U.P.I.R. 2012 champion Matt Valiquette and other U.P.I.R. stand outs including Lonnie Dalgord, Chris Pepin, Pat Richer, Chuck Carmin, Anthony Harper, and Chip Laskowski. There will also be several Wisconsin drivers that make the trek to Upper Michigan that are looking forward to racing against the NASCAR veteran, to be announced at a later date. In the Street Stock division, Champion Joe Johnsen will move up to the Modified Division, opening the door for Paul Wagner, the 2012 Champion along with others including Ron Jenshak, Ron Borchert, Bill Ebben, and Eric Mathieson to compete for the U.P.I.R. crown. Tom Dubord Jr. who won his first Sport 4 championship will have several drivers gunning for the top spot including Robbie Iverson, Justin Lauscher, and Bryon Stemick. 600 Sprint Car Champion Matt Peterson will return to defend his crown against the up and coming Kristy Peterson who dominated on the GLIR circuit this winter. 650 Sprint Car Champion Gary Dubord Jr. has decided to take the year off. Jered Cech, Steve Miller, and Jeff Ives will all be strong contenders for the 600 championship. In our most coveted junior division defending Champion 12 year old, Jessie Liss will be moving up a class to the 650 Sprints, to team up with his sister Justina, opening the door for many other junior racers including Logan Getzloff and Tyler Getchell who placed second and third last year. Others drivers including Ty Springer, Joey Stankowicz and Drake Degnan will also compete for their first title. The Upper Peninsula International Racing Association information can be found at www.upirtrack.com or by calling Tom Dubord 906-399-7760 or John Ostermann 906-361-0597.

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