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PAVING COMPLETED AT CORDOVA
In 2008, nearly $200,000 has been spent in facility upgrades. MJ CONSTRUCTION & FABRICATION TO SPONSOR T/S & T/D SERIES
The MJ Construction & Fabrication Top Sportsman and Top Dragster Shoot-out is a new ultra fast bracket series designed to encourage fast side by side race action. The first race of 2008 is May 31st. CDP DEBUTES NEW TRACK SCRUBBER
The Boss Scrubber will replace the use of "rice hall" type products for clean-ups on the quarter-mile race surface at CDP. In addition, the Boss Scrubber will be used to clean the track surface before race events as well as during larger events. "We are only one of a hand full of race tracks to get a Scrubber" mentioned Gardner. "Over the next few years, use of the Boss Scrubber will be the standard for all major tracks" he went on to say. In addition to the 100 gallon main soap solution tank, the Scrubber also has two more 100 gallon tanks, one with a mild mix soap solution and the other for fluid recovery. In addition, the Scrubber also has a dryer to evaporate any solutions remaining on the track after a cleaning and also can be utilized to dry the track surface after rain.ROUND #2 OF BRACKET POINTS THIS SATURDAY It might have been cold and windy, but the bracket racing action was hot this past Saturday at Cordova. "We could have probably called the race off for cold weather" said Scott Gardner. "However, I knew many racers were itching to get on the track with some competition" he continued. Unfortunately the raced was marred by two incidents as Gage Curry has his Jr Dragster rollover after a rear-end failure. Thankfully, he was not hurt in the incident. Also in round two of the Pro ET class, Rich Dawson lost control of this Camaro and smacked the wall. As a precaution he was taken by helicopter to a local hospital with bruising and a hand injury. He was scheduled to be released on Monday, May 5. "If there is any one thing that could be pointed out from these incidents is that the new safety wall did what it was intended to do" said Scott Gardner. Points bracket race #2 is scheduled for this Saturday, May 10 as it is also the deadline for entering the points program for 2008. BATTLE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS RACING INFORMATION The Battle of the High Schools is this Sunday, May 2, 2008. Gates open at 8 AM with racing underway at 9 AM. Street driven vehicles are legal along with street bikes and race cars (10-second slower). No dragsters, quads, sleds or dirt bikes are allowed. You need to be in High School and have a valid state drivers license (including a motorcycle license should you be on a bike) to participate. Should you have any further questions, please contact our office at 309-654-2110. BIG WEEKEND PLANS MADE After several weeks of poor weather and the postponement of several events, Cordova Dragway Park is planing a big weekend (May 2 - 4) of nearly non-stop racing to make up for lost events. The marathon begins on Friday with a Rev-Hard Fun Night with open racing for everyone. Following that event is the first Rev-Hard Midnight Mayhem Event open to street legal cars and trucks. Then after a few hours of sleep the track re-opens on Saturday afternoon with the first Bracket Points Race of the season. The final race of the weekend is the Goodtimes Superstore Battle of the High Schools on Sunday. "We are really looking forward to some decent weather and an opportunity to string several events together" said Scott Gardner. "This is baptism by fire for the staff" continued Gardner. Cordova Dragway Park wants to thank all those who have attended events in not the best weather conditions. REV-HARD FUN NIGHT & MAYHEM The Rev-Hard Friday Fun Night and Midnight Mayhem Series kicks off this Friday, April 25th. Friday Fun Night is open for everyone with test-n-tune, trophy and gamblers races. Then the popular Midnight Mayhem Series kicks with racing for street legal cars and trucks. "Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can kick-off night racing in style" said Scott Gardner. The Midnight Mayhem event features instant green and flag starts. In addition, the popular flag girl contest and db drags return. On Saturday there is a program change as gates will now open at 12 Noon with test-n-tune, trophy, gamblers and Jr racing underway at 1 PM. "We needed to push back the schedule to give our staff a little more sleep time" explained Gardner. For more information click on the "This Week" section of the website. Burbon’s to Sponsor Sportsman at NostalgiaFest Cordova Dragway Park is pleased to announce the edition of Burbon’s Fine Dining and Spirits (101 South East Street Annawan, IL) as the sponsor of ALL the sportsman classes at the AC Delco NostalgiaFest (an NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series Event) June 20-21, 2008. The race will now feature Burbon’s Nostalgia Eliminator (NE I-V) and Burbon’s Hot Rod on both Friday and Saturday, and Burbon’s Bracket Combo on Saturday. “We are very happy to welcome Burbon’s to the family of sponsors here at CDP,” said Jim “Tazz” Hines, Public Relations Director, “Lloyd and Cheryl are just the type of people that fit in at CDP; race fans, sportsman supporters, and fun,” Tazz continued, “We were brought together by another great sponsor, Ernie of K&E Auto (MBA primary and second chance) introduced us to Burbon’s.” Tazz concluded. The AC Delco NostalgiaFest presented by RM Distributing features Nostalgia Top Fuel, Funny Cars, and Altereds, along with Gassers, A Fuel and Jr Fuel Dragsters, Burbon’s Sportsman Classes, and exhibition cars. Also scheduled to appear is Master-of-Ceremonies “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, who also will lead the Cacklefest in one of his legendary “Swamp Rat” Dragsters, Grand Marshall Shirley Muldowney, Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick, Guest Announcer Bret “Mr. Dirt” Kepner, and others. The NostalgiaFest weekend will also be host to “The Eyeball Burn-out” Invitational Car Show presented by Wizzard Road Shows, along with other displays and vendors. ROUND #3 -- CORDOVA TO RACE SUNDAY The pesky rain front is finally moving out of our region and gates will open at 11 AM Sunday, April 20th for the Spring Warm-Up and Swap Meet. "I'm extremely confident we will finally get to race on Sunday" mentioned Scott Gardner. "The grounds are drying nicely today Saturday and it's all systems go" he continued. MIDWEST BRACKET ALLIANCE KICKS OFF Year number two of the Midwest Bracket Alliance (MBA) gets underway Saturday and Sunday, April 26 & 27 at Cedar Falls Raceway. The MBA is a three track series where the Champion in Super Pro and Pro categories win a race car make-over. The Series is conducted over the course of the season at Cedar Falls, Cordova and Eddyville Raceways. The 2007 Pro ET Champion Eric Bjorheim said “Receiving all these prizes has been incredible, the companies have been great to deal with, and very generous with all of their awesome products they let me choose from.” “Heck, I even got a personal “Thank You” letter from Vic Edelbrock himself” he continued. In all, Eric received more than $15,000 in product awards. “This year we are working on securing additional sponsors for more than just the two champions” said Dan Driscoll. “We will continue to update the participating companies as the season goes on” He said. 2008 MBA EVENTS
2008 MBA SPONSORING COMPANIES
Note: The posting companies are responsible for the distribution of all products. The race tracks do not express a guarantee of these postings. WILKERSON SCORES BIG NHRA WIN
Wilkerson is scheduled to appear at Eddyville Raceway Park at the Musco Lighting Night of Fire event on Saturday, July 5 and returning to the O’Reilly Auto Parts World Series of Drag Racing on Saturday, August 23. The staff of ERP and CDP tip their hats to the Springfield based nitro team for a great start to the 2008 season.RACING ACTIVITIES CANCELLED
Cold, windy and poor racing conditions has lead to the postponement of the Spring Warm-Up & Swap Meet from April 12-13 to Sat & Sun., April 19-20. “The long range forecast calls for temperatures to rise into the 60’s and 70’s” said Scott Gardner. “Providing a much better opportunity for traction as well as a general safety issue” continued Gardner. Gates will open both Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20, at 11 AM with time runs underway at 12 Noon till 5 PM each day. The Swap Meet will also take place both days. Spectator admission for each day is $8. Test-n-tune is $20 per day and a Swap Space is $15 (including one admission) per day or $25 for the weekend. VOLUNTEER DAY A HUGE SUCCESS WITH RECORD ATTENDANCE
The list of projects underway or completed on Volunteer Day was staggering and included; preparation of a section of pit area for paving, dressing of the roadway edges, installation of electrical boxes and conduit for the timing system, cleaning and scraping of the race track, painting of grandstands, staining of fences, repairing of doors, cleaning of the tower and other buildings, and the demolition of the pit side concession building (which was built in the 1950's) and much more.
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL
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After weeks of waiting for the weather to clear, the latest paving project was completed at Cordova Dragway Park. Areas paved included an additional section of pit area and some roadway sections. "The cost of paving has sky rocketed as oil prices have climbed" said Scott Gardner. "I'm just happy we could get this completed" he continued. 
Current Cordova Dragway Park facility renovations in addition to the paving include a new pit side concession building, the completion of the final phase of pit lighting and the installation of the concrete drag strip safety walls. 
MJ Construction & Fabrication has stepped up to be the title rights sponsor of the TS & TD Shoot-out Series at Cordova Dragway Park. "It's awesome to have the support of a racer who also owns his own business" said Scott Gardner. "Mike Jensen and his family run a top line operation" he continued.
Cordova Dragway Park has purchased a high tech Track Scrubber. Utilized at NHRA National Events, the "Boss Track Scrubber" is positively the best system to clean up oil, antifreeze, transmission fluids and almost any other product that destroys traction on race track surfaces. "The Scrubber is an extremely fast and efficient machine to clean-up oil downs" said Scott Gardner. "It will decrease our down time while efficiently restoring the track surface condition" continued Gardner. 
Nitro funny car driver/owner Tim Wilkerson scored his first victory in nearly two years on the NHRA circuit this past weekend on the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Wilkerson, who has qualified #1 twice in five races is proving that a multi-car team is not necessary required to win races on the NHRA Circuit. Wilkerson moved into the second spot in Powerade Points with his victory run. In the final round he stopped the John Force powerhouse team by denying Ashley Force her first National Event win.
"It's hard to believe one day can make so much difference in the appearance of Cordova Dragway" commented Scott Gardner following Volunteer Day at CDP this past Saturday. Nearly 100 people attended the annual Volunteer Day and helped to make the biggest changes ever to the facility in one single day.
"My guess is that we have made more changes and facility improvements this Spring than has ever been done in that short of time period" continued Gardner. "The racers and fans should be excited to see what is happening out here" he concluded. The Cordova staff sends a special thank you to all those who provided their labor and tools to make our facility better.
The new safety wall at Cordova Dragway Park has been poured after several weeks of preparation. It's awesome" said Track Operator Scott Gardner. "Dan Beale and his guys along with Slip-Tech did a great job" he continued. The wall is 32" high and runs past the quarter mile finish line where it will meet up with concrete Jersey sections. "It makes the track look wider" mentioned Gardner. "Clearly this addition will make our track better and safer"