NASCAR has announced it will restructure its regional
touring series divisions beginning in 2007.
Citing declining support for the
Elite Division style of racing at all levels, NASCAR
said it will focus its resources and efforts on those
Divisions that will help build and sustain a better
developmental program for the future.
"Support for the Elite
Divisions has been on the downswing for a number of
years," said NASCAR Vice-President of
Communications and Regional Touring Jim Hunter.
"This change will allow NASCAR to focus more
attention on the Grand National and Modified touring
divisions."
Following the 2006 season, the
four current Late Model Elite Division Tours will be
discontinued. The Elite Division tours were formed
nearly 20 years ago, in the Southeast, Midwest,
Southwest and Northwest regions of the country.
"These tours were originated
to offer NASCAR's weekly member tracks special events
once or twice a year. The Elite Division was designed to
allow the best local racers an opportunity to race
periodically at an advanced regional level," said
Hunter. "The cost of competing at this level has
escalated significantly over the years and participation
has continuously declined in every region. It has also
become extremely difficult for our member tracks to
successfully host these events."
Beginning in 2006 and continuing
in 2007, NASCAR will implement several Grand National
Division changes in an effort to reduce the cost of
competing in the Busch North Series (which will be
re-named the Busch East Series) and the AutoZone West
Series. These changes include a less-costly
"spec" engine, as well as composite bodies.
The tentative 2006 NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division schedules are listed below.
2006 NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Midwest Series schedule
Sun., June 4* Colorado National Speedway, Erie, Colo.
Date TBD Rockford (Ill.) Speedway
Date TBD The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis.
Fri., July 14 Raceway Park, Shakopee, Minn.
Date TBD LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway, West, Salem,
Wis.
Date TBD I-94 Raceway, Sauk Centre, Minn.
Sat., Aug. 19* Colorado National Speedway, Erie,
Colo.
Sat., Oct. 7 LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway, West
Salem, Wis.
* Combination event with NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series
2006 NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Northwest Series schedule
Sat., Apr. 15 Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Wash.
Sat., May 20 Yakima (Wash.) Speedway
Sat., June 10 Magic Valley Speedway, Twin Falls,
Idaho
Date TBD Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval, East
Wenatchee, Wash.
Sat., July 15 Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Wash.
Sat., July 22 Yakima (Wash.) Speedway
Sat., Aug. 5 Magic Valley Speedway, Twin Falls, Idaho
Date TBD Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Wash.
Sun., Sept. 3 Yakima (Wash.) Speedway
Sun., Sept. 17 Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval, East
Wenatchee, Wash.
Date TBD Meridian (Idaho) Speedway
2006 NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southeast Series schedule
Sat., Apr. 29 Greenville-Pickens Speedway,
Greenville, S.C.
Date TBD Houston (Tex.) Motorsports Park
Sat., May 27 South Boston (Va.) Speedway
Fri., June 16 San Antonio (Tex.) Speedway
Date TBD Music City Motorplex, Nashville, Tenn.
Date TBD Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Greenville,
S.C.
2006 NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series schedule
Sun., Jan. 22 Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway
Date TBD Stockton 99 Speedway, Stockton, Calif.
Date TBD Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway
Sat., June 4* Colorado National Speedway, Erie, Colo.
Sat., June 17 Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway
Sat., July 15 Stockton 99 Speedway, Stockton, Calif.
Sat., Aug. 19* Colorado National Speedway, Erie.
Colo.
Thurs., Nov. 9 Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway
* Combination event with NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Midwest Series
SCHEDULES ARE TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE
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