Cedar Lake Speedway
Fast Facts: Cedar Lake’s 35th USA Nationals
By Robert Holman
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: Aug. 4-6 (standalone $6,000-to-win program Thursday followed by Friday preliminaries for 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 Case Late Model Series
Purse: $50,000-to-win, $3,000-to-start ($6,000-to-win on Thursday)
Tickets: Adult general admission is $30 Thursday, $35 Friday and $40 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: Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who claimed his second career USA Nationals victory.
Video: Live streaming at DIRTVision.com
Notes: The 2022 USA Nationals marks the 35th running of the crown-jewel event that began in 1988. … The two-day format features double heat races and an eight-car dash Friday that will be used to set the top 16 drivers for Saturday’s 100-lap finale. Saturday’s action includes consolation races to set the remainder of the starting grid. The top drivers in passing points will qualify for the dash. The dash finish determines how they will start in the main event. … The purse for the 28 feature starters was increased by $15,950 in 2019, which included raising the start money from $2,000 to a minimum of $3,000. … A complete program for the track’s weekly Late Models is scheduled both Friday and Saturday paying $2,500-to-win each day. … The weekend kicks off Thursday with a complete program paying $6,000-to-win for World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series. … Nineteen drivers have won the race, nine 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 from 1988-1993, the first six editions of the event. … Moyer has 28 feature appearances, including the first 15. He last started a USA National feature in 2020, finishing fifth … Along with his five victories, Moyer has four runner-up finishes. … The last 13 USA Nationals have produced 11 winners, including six winners in the last six events. … Two-time winner Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., is the only home-state winner. Mars has 22 feature appearances, with 11 top-five finishes. He finished 23rd last season. His victories came in ’96 and ’09. … Davenport is the last repeat winner (2021, ’15). … Brandon Overton (2020) of Evans, Ga., was the third Georgian to win the race (Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, 2001, ’05; Davenport, Blairsville, 2021, ‘15). … Five of the previous 20 USA Nationals winners traveled more than 1,000 miles one-way to get to the New Richmond, Wis., oval. Overton traversed 1,251 miles, the longest ever by the USA Nationals champ, followed by Tim McCreadie (1,131 miles) of Watertown, N.Y., Chris Madden (1,124) of Gray Court, S.C., Rick Eckert (1,066) of York Pa., and Davenport (1,046) … The independent Fans Fund gathers donations from track supporters to draw far-flung drivers to the event with travel-cost incentives. This year’s invitees includes Garrett Smith, Joseph Joiner, Drake Troutman, Kye Blight, Trevor Gundaker, McKay Wenger and more. … Cedar Lake’s Late Model track record is 12.972 seconds owned by Jason Rauen of Farley, Iowa.
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.
2018: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
2019: Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
2020: Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
2021: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
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. 20-26. $600
Saturday feature
1. $50,000
2. $20,000
3. $10,000
4. $6,000
5. $5,000
6. $4,800
7. $4,600
8. $4,400
9. $4,200
10. $4,000
11. $3,800
12. $3,600
13. $3,400
14. $3,350
15. $3,300
16. $3,250
17. $3,200
18. $3,150
19. $3,100
20. $3,075
21. $3,050
22. $3,025
23. $3,010
24-28. $3,000
Event schedule
(All times local)
Thursday
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
5 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7 p.m. - Competition begins
Late Model time trials
Opening ceremonies
Limited Late Model heats (10 laps)
Late Model heats (10 laps)
Late Model consolations (10 laps)
Limited Late Model feature (20 laps)
Late Model feature (30 laps)
After party in the Cedar Lake Arena
Friday
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast in east and west restaurants
11 a.m. and noon - Tubing down the Apple River
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
5 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
6 p.m. - Drivers meeting
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
Opening ceremonies
7 p.m. - Competition begins
Late Model heats Round 1 (12 laps)
Limited Late Model heats (12 laps)
Late Model heats Round 2 (12 laps)
Limited Late Model consolation (12 laps)
Late Model dash (8 laps)
Late Model Fans Fund Dash (12 laps)
Firework show
Limited Late Model feature (40 laps)
After party in the Cedar Lake Arena
Saturday
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast in east and west restaurants
11 a.m. and noon - Tubing down the Apple River
12:30 p.m. - Fans Fund Luncheon
2 p.m. - Lawn mower racing in arena
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
5 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
4:30 p.m. - Drivers' autograph session
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
Opening ceremonies
7 p.m. - Competition begins
Late Model consolations (15 laps)
Limited Late Model heats (12 laps)
Limited Late Model consolation (12 laps)
Late Model consolation race (15 laps)
Limited Late Model feature (40 laps)
USA Nationals (100 laps)
Tickets
Thursday
Adults (17-and-up): $30
Students (6-16): $15 (children 5-and-under free)
Pit pass: $35
Advanced Friday/Saturday pass: $70 adults, $35 students
Advanced three-day pass: $95 adults, $47 students
(Reduced two- or three-day advanced tickets available online or by calling 612-363-0479. Must be purchased at least two days before the event starts.)
Friday
Adults (17-and-up): $35
Students (6-16): $17 (children 5-and-under free)
Pit pass: $40
Saturday
Adults (17-and-up): $40
Students (6-16): $20 (children 5-and-under free)
Pit pass: $45
Camping
Call (612) 363-0479
