BIR announces 2010 racing schedule;
SCCA Trans-Am Series returns to BIR after 20-year hiatus

(December 8, 2010) - Brainerd International Raceway today announced its 2010 racing schedule, which includes the return of Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Pro Racing’s Trans-Am Series.

The Trans-Am Series race is scheduled for Sept. 4-5 on BIR’s 2.5-mile, 13-turn Competition Road Course. Details of the event will be announced later, but fans can expect the same thrilling wheel-to-wheel road racing that has made the series so popular over the last 42 years and attracted some of the greatest names in motorsports.

The series features a wide variety of high-performance sports cars, including exotic cars such as the Qvale Mangusta, Panoz Esperante and Jaguar XKR, which won six of the last seven series championships. But fans will also see muscle cars, such as Mustangs and Camaros, as well as imports like Audi and Nissan.

BIR was an annual stop for the Trans-Am Series from the late 1960s to 1989 and helped establish the racetrack as a major motorsports facility by featuring some of the top drivers at that time, including Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Tom Sneva and even actor Paul Newman, who won his first professional race at BIR during the Uncola Nationals. The series hasn’t been held at BIR since 1989.

“We are really excited to have the Trans-Am Series back at BIR,” said Gary Curtis, BIR Racing Series Director. “The series has a very colorful and storied history at BIR that dates back to the late 1960s during the series’ glory days. We still have a lot of race fans who remember those events and have asked us over the years when we’re bringing back Trans-Am Series racing. Well, that time is now.

“The Trans-Am Series has played a major role in making BIR what it is today, a world-class racetrack,” he said. “It’s wide-open racing with high-powered cars that are piloted by extremely talented drivers. And they’ll be competing on a very challenging road course that promotes a lot of passing. That’s a recipe for some outstanding racing.”

Currently, the Trans-Am Series race is the only major road race on the schedule, but other events may be added in the near future. Meanwhile, the drag racing schedule is full of perennial favorites, including the 29th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Aug. 12-15, which features the best drag racers in the world, like John Force, Tony Schumacher, Ron Capps, Brandon Bernstein, Larry Dixon and Ashley Force Hood. Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars, Pro Stock cars and Pro Stock Motorcycles are showcased, as well as a number of Sportsman classes.

For Nationals, BIR is transformed into a race fan’s paradise. In addition to sensational racing on the track, every ticket includes a pit pass, so fans can visit the pits and stand within feet of where the teams are working on the cars. Drivers make themselves accessible in the pits for autographs and to visit with the fans.

For many, the action is in BIR’s infamous campground, affectionately called The Zoo. It’s what differentiates BIR from all the other tracks on the NHRA circuit. No other track has on-site camping, and none celebrates the NHRA Nationals like BIR fans in The Zoo. You’ll find drivers and their crews visiting with fans in The Zoo, human rickshaw races and the most interesting collection of motorized “partywagons” anywhere in the country.  

NHRA Fans can get a taste of Nationals over Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30) during the Thunder at the Lakes NHRA Divisional Race, which is an excellent preview to Nationals. Top Alcohol Dragsters and Funny Cars provide most of the entertainment by posting 5-second runs at 280 mph, just a hair slower than the nitro-burning Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars featured at Nationals. The event also includes Sportsman drag racing. 

The 2010 season will include the 2nd Annual Outlaw Street Car Series, which is a three-race drag racing series that highlights the “fast five” classes: Pro Outlaw, Outlaw, King Street, Real Street Unlimited and Real Street Natural. Most of the cars competing in the Outlaw classes will cover the quarter mile in 6-7 seconds at 200 mph. These cars crank out insane horsepower that yanks their front wheels right off the ground at the starting line.

The first series race is May 21-23 during the 2nd Annual Street Car Showdown, which will also include eight Index Classes and a number of other Sportsman classes. The second series race is July 2-4 during the 24th Annual Show & Go, which will have a similar drag racing program in addition to a classic car show, a spectacular fireworks display, live music and games for kids of all ages. The third and final Outlaw Street Car Series race is Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3-5) during the 22nd Annual Coca-Cola Muscle Car Shootout, which is similar in format to the Show & Go, including the drag racing program, classic car show, fireworks and live music.

The Bracket Drag Racing Series kicks off May 8-9. The seven-race series features some of the top amateur drag racers in the Midwest. Each weekend event attracts more than 400 dragsters, cars, trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles and Junior Dragsters. Racers are competing for series points, prize money and, ultimately, a track championship. The remaining six weekends will be scheduled in the near future.

For those who want to try drag racing, or to settle a score with a buddy, BIR’s Wednesday Night Drags – Street Legal Style program is just the ticket. BIR opens the track at 4 p.m. on select Wednesday nights and racers can run the drag strip as many times as they want until dusk. They use the light tree, the timing system (time and speed) and scoreboards. There’s even an announcer calling the action. The first Wednesday is May 5. More will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

The Central Roadracing Association brings club racing to BIR’s road courses five weekends next season starting April 30-May 2. Amateur racers hone their skills during these weekends, learning how to be better racers and competing against others during the club’s racing program. These events are open to the public.

“We really like how the schedule is shaping up so far,” BIR Owner Jed Copham said. “We’ll continue to add events to the calendar and ensure that there’s a wide variety of racing available to our fans. We’ve been committed to offering a mix of drag racing, road racing and other special events, and we’ve been able to do that. Our 2.5-mile Competition Road Course is going on its second season and gives us a lot of flexibility in the types of events we have and when we offer them. We can’t wait to start racing!”