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Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 4, 2016) – There is plenty of action surrounding the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown, which has featured two exciting nights of racing at Cocopah Speedway. Ohio native and defending All Star Circuit of Champions champion Dale Blaney captured the opener on Friday before NASCAR star Kyle Larson dominated Saturday’s event. As the semi-banked, 3/8-mile oval is being prepared for Round 3 on Tuesday, the local community has a variety of...more

(Photo by Matt Hill) Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 3, 2016) – Dale Blaney has risen to the top of the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown championship standings following a strong opening weekend at Cocopah Speedway. Blaney claimed Friday’s opener before earning a fourth-place finish on Saturday, making him the only driver out of 46 competitors who has registered two top fives. That gives the Ohio native a 14-point lead over NASCAR star and Saturday feature winner Kyle...more

(Photo by Pole Position Photo) Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 2, 2016) – Kyle Larson seemed somewhat surprised at his margin of victory Saturday night at Cocopah Speedway, where he powered to his first victory of the new year during Round 2 of the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown. “I was checked out?” he asked a crew member prior to the Victory Lane celebration at the offseason’s premier 410ci winged sprint car event in the United States. Larson, who was driving for...more

(Photo by Bobby McMorris) Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 1, 2016) – Dale Blaney kicked off the new year in style as he led all 30 laps of the opening feature for the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown on Friday at Cocopah Speedway. Blaney bested 45 other competitors to claim the $12,000 top prize and take the lead in the points standings after Round 1. Action continues on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies for Round 2, which also pays $12,000 to win and $1,000 to start...more

When the opportunity arose to return to Arizona for the Winter Heat Series, Craig Dollansky was eager for the chance especially to join a legendary West Coast team, the Tri-C Machine #3 sprinter owned by Clyde and Marion Lamar. “Jonathan Allard, their primary driver, is a good friend of mine and currently racing in New Zealand so it gave me a chance to join up with their team,” commented Dollansky. “It was good to get in the car and back to racing. Clyde and Marion have a great team and I...more

Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Dec. 3, 2015) – A notable points fund is up for grabs during the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown. Cometic Gasket, JE Pistons and K1 Technologies have returned as points fund sponsors and will distribute $10,000 among the top five finishers in overall points during the premier offseason 410ci winged sprint car event in the United States, which is hosted by Cocopah Speedway on Jan. 1-2, Jan. 5 and Jan. 8-9. “We are thrilled that Cometic...more

(Photo by Matt Hill) Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 5, 2016) – Steve Kinser powered to a pair of top-15 finishes last weekend during the opening two rounds of the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown at Cocopah Speedway. Kinser, who is driving under the Steve Kinser Racing banner with primary partnership from Arctic Cat throughout the marquee event, kicked off the action last Friday by charging from 10th to fourth place during a heat race at the 3/8-mile...more

(Photo by Justin Brester) Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 13, 2016) – The focus for Steve Kinser throughout the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown was to use the marquee event featuring five races in nine days at Cocopah Speedway for a little research and development. “We definitely wanted to win provided the opportunity, but our biggest objective was to figure out some things for this team when Kraig returns to the United States and begins the 2016 season next month,”...more

February 20, 2015 Phoenix, AZ: Something Old, Something New named the weekly column of old facts and new opinions of my late father, Bob Eckert of Allentown, PA. Barry Shultz and later Galen Koller were the editors who printed pop in Keystone Auto News from 1977-84. Father was so flattered by Barry’s offer that he never left despite allure of Area Auto Racing News in Trenton, NJ. Then as now, AARN is The Race Paper around dad’s Delaware Valley backyard. That his column stayed in one spot...more

(Bill W) January 14, 2015 – Following the “Winter Heat” event in Arizona, the Wayne Johnson Racing #77x team will take a brief respite in their Knoxville, Iowa headquarters. Racing in Florida heats up next month and the team will be back on the road. They found speed as the events at Cocopah Speedway near Yuma, Arizona went on last weekend. One place they couldn’t find any luck with was the draw. Wayne acknowledges that the team learned a lot on the trip. “We learned a lot with the KPC...more