Sports : NASCAR veteran Schrader to be part of Vinton Frostbuster Modified field

Ken Schrader joins the Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified field for the Thursday, March 31 Frostbuster special at Benton County Speedway.

The popular NASCAR driver will be among contenders for a $1,000 winner’s check and a berth on the ballot for the 2016 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.

Completing the season-opening program at Vinton are IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars running for $500 to win, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods for $400 to win and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks for $250 to win.

Pit gates open at 5 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. and racing starts at 7:15 p.m.

The same four classes are on the card each night of Frostbuster Week, which starts Wednesday, March 30 at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. Frostbusters are also scheduled Friday, April 1 at Marshalltown Speedway and Saturday, April 2 at Boone Speedway. Schrader will race all four nights.

IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, regional and Allstar Performance State points will be awarded at all four shows. Entry fees each night are $30 for Modifieds, $25 for Stock Cars and $20 for SportMods and for Hobby Stocks. Pit passes are $25.

One thousand dollar point funds will be paid to top five drivers in each division. Champions will be eligi­ble to qualify for their respective race of champions events during the IMCA Speedway Mo­tors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September and will receive jackets and plaques during the national awards banquet in November.

Nearly 350 different drivers from 12 states and Canada competed at Frostbuster events last year. Ben­ton County Speedway winners were Troy Cordes of Dunkerton in the Modifieds, Damon Murty of Chelsea in the Stock Cars, Dysart’s Sam Wieben in the Northern SportMods and Benji Irvine of Oelwein in the Hobby Stocks.

More information about the upcoming Frostbuster is available from Benton County Speedway promoter Mick Trier at 515 201-5526. The track website iswww.jjamracing.net.

The regular point season starts April 10 at Vinton.