Cedar Lake Speedway
Fast Facts: Cedar Lake's 31st USA Nationals
By Robert Holman
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: Aug. 2-4 (one $6,000-to-win program on Thursday followed by Saturday’s $50,000-to-win finale)
Track: Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. (3/8-mile high-banked clay oval).
Sanction: World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series
Purse: $50,000-to-win, $2,000-to-start ($6,000-to-win on Thursday)
Tickets: Adult general admission is $25 Thursday, $30 Friday and $35 Saturday; see below for discounts for children and more information.
On the web: cedarlakespeedway.com and woolms.com
Track phone: (612) 363-0479 or (866) 425-7386
Last year’s winner: Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind., who claimed his first career USA Nationals victory.
Video: Pay-per-view video at dirtondirt.com; DirtonDirt.com productions feature every lap of World of Outlaws Late Model Series action — including Thursday's $6,000-to-win tuneup program, Friday's preliminary action and Saturday's 100-lap, $50,000-to-win finale — as well as support division competition for USRA and NASCAR Late Models.
Notes: The 2018 USA Nationals marks the 31st running of the crown-jewel event that began in 1988. The event is sanctioned by the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series. … The two-day format features times trials, heat races and a dash on Friday that will be used to set the top 18 drivers for Saturday’s 100-lap finale. Saturday’s action includes consolation races to set the remainder of the starting grid. The top two finishers in each heat race will qualify for the dash. The dash finish determines how they will start in the 100-lapper. … A complete $2,500-to-win program for NASCAR-sanctioned Late Models is scheduled both Friday and Saturday. … The weekend kicks off Thursday with a complete program paying $6,000 to win for World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series, along with a full program for USRA Limited Late Models. … Sixteen drivers have won the race, eight more than once; Hall of Famers Scott Bloomquist and Billy Moyer top the list with five wins each. … Bloomquist last won in 2010, while Moyer’s five victories came in ’93 or before during the event’s first six editions. … Moyer has 26 feature appearances, including the first 15. … Along with his five wins, Moyer has four runner-up finishes. … There have been six winners in the last six years. … Two-time winner Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., is the only home-state driver to win the race. Mars has 19 feature appearances, with 10 top-five finishes. His victories came in ’96 and ’09.
(Complete USA Nationals coverage)
USA Nationals Winners
Year: Winner, hometown
1988: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1989: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1990: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1991: Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D.
1992: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1993: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1994: Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1995: Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1996: Jimmy Mars, Elk Mound, Wis.
1997: Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D.
1998: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
1999: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2000: Davey Johnson, Greensburg, Pa.
2001: Dale McDowell, Rossville, Ga.
2002: Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
2003: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2004: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2005: Dale McDowell, Rossville, Ga.
2006: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2007: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2008: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2009: Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
2010: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2011: Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
2012: Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
2013: Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
2014: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2015: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2016: Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
2017: Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
(Complete race history)
Weekend purses
Thursday feature
1. $6,000
2. $3,000
3. $2,000
4. $1,750
5. $1,500
6. $1,400
7. $1,300
8. $1,200
9. $1,100
10. $1,000
11. $900
12. $850
13. $800
14. $775
15. $750
16. $700
17. $660
18. $640
19. $620
20-24. $600
Saturday feature
1. $50,000
2. $20,000
3. $10,000
4. $6,000
5. $5,000
6. $4,500
7. $4,250
8. $4,000
9. $3,750
10. $3,500
11. $3,250
12. $3,000
13. $2,800
14. $2,650
15. $2,500
16. $2,400
17. $2,300
18. $2,200
19. $2,100
20. $2,075
21. $2,050
22. $2,025
24. $2,010
24-26. $2,000
Event schedule
Thursday
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
5 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model time trails
- Late Model heats
- Late Model consolations
- Late Model feature
- Complete show for USRA Limited Late Models
- Party in the Cedar Lake Arena
Friday
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast in east and west restaurants
11 a.m. and noon - Tubing on Apple River
1 p.m. - Trout fishing
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
5 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model time trails
- Late Model heats
- Late Model dash
- Complete show for NASCAR Late Models
- Party in the Cedar Lake Arena
Saturday
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast in east and west restaurants
11 a.m. and noon - Tubing on Apple River
12:30 p.m. - FansFund Luncheon
2 p.m. - Lawn mower racing in arena
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
4:30 p.m. - Driver Autograph/Meet & Greet
5 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model consolations
- USA Nationals
- Complete program for NASCAR Late Models
Tickets
Thursday
Adults (17-and-up): $25
Students (6-16): $12 (children 5-and-under free)
Advance three-day pass: $80 adults/$40 students
Pit pass: $35
Friday
Adults (17-and-up): $30
Students (6-16): $15 (children 5-and-under free)
Advance two-day pass: $60 adults/$30 students
Advance three-day pass: $80 adults/$40 students
Pit pass: $35
Saturday
Adults (17-and-up): $35
Students (6-16): $17 (children 5-and-under free)
Advance two-day pass: $60 adults/$30 students
Advance three-day pass: $80 adults/$40 students
Pit pass: $45
(Advanced tickets available online or by calling (612) 363-0479 and must be purchased at least two days before event)
Camping
Call (612) 363-0479
