Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery officials have released the 2024 oval track racing schedule going into the track’s second year of ownership under Nick Bohanon. The track features the historic 555-mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banked turns that first opened in 1947 and a ¼ mile short track inside the half mile oval. The 2024 schedule is a mix of traditional events and a huge new event and the return of a historic event to the legendary High Banks!
The season will open on Sunday, Apr. 14, with action on the big track from the Salem Super Cars and Mike’s Muffler & Brakes Crown Vic Big Track Series, and racing on the short track that day from the On-Site Plumbing Heating & Air Crown Vic Short Track Series, Diesel Boys Race Parts & Karts Legends, and Scrappers.
The Derby Hangover Duel 75’s will take place on Sunday, May 5, with Diesel Boys GAS Series and Mike’s Muffler & Brakes Crown Vic Big Track Series racing in 75 lap features. Also racing that day will be the Salem Super Cars, On-Site Plumbing Heating & Air Crown Vic Short Track Series and Diesel Boys Race Parts & Karts Legends.
The King of the Highbanks, an exciting new event added to the schedule for 2024, will take place on Saturday, June 8, featuring the Midwest Modifieds Tour Presented by Wheeler Trucking, the Vore’s Compact Touring Series and the CRA Street Stocks/Diesel Boys GAS Series Challenge.
The Semi’s High Banks Challenge will return on Saturday, June 22, for the American Big Rig Racing Series, which put on a great show this past season battling on the High Banks! Also, racing that day will be the Mike’s Muffler & Brakes Crown Vic Big Track Series, On-Site Plumbing Heating & Air Crown Vic Short Track Series and Scrappers.
The traditional Firecracker 200 Weekend is up next, with racing on both Friday, July 5th and Saturday, July 6th, with Sunday, July 7, as the rain date if needed. On Friday the Diesel Boys GAS Series will have open practice. Racing on Friday will feature the Mike’s Muffler & Brakes Crown Vic Big Track Series in their Big Bang 100, the Salem Super Cars, the first race of the season for the On-Site Plumbing Heating & Air Crown Vic Figure 8 Series and Diesel Boys Race Parts & Karts Legends. On Saturday the On-Site Plumbing Heating & Air Crown Vic Figure 8 Series and Diesel Boys Race Parts & Karts Legends will complete their double header weekend along with the On-Site Plumbing Heating & Air Crown Vic Short Track Series. Saturday night’s main event will be the traditional Firecracker 200 for the Diesel Boys GAS Series with a huge fireworks show after that main event.
The ARCA Menards Series 200 lap event will be held in 2024 on Saturday, July 27. That race will be the 110th ARCA Menards Series event held at Salem Speedway. The Diesel Boys GAS Series will also be in action that night.
The Cruisin the High Banks event Presented by ACE Hardware of Salem will be on Saturday, Aug. 17. The Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman will be in action that night along with the Diesel Boys GAS Series, Salem Super Cars and Mike’s Muffler & Brakes Crown Vic Big Track Series. There will also be a Classic Car Cruise-In that evening with those cars making laps on the legendary High Banks.
The previously announced return of the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial with the Auto Value Bumper to Bumper 500 Sprint Car Tour on Saturday, Sept. 7, will be up next. The Kenyon Midgets and Diesel Boys Race Parts & Karts Legends will also race that night. The Midwest Vintage Racecar Club will also be on hand that night with their cars on display and making some laps on the High Banks!
The first ever Salem Fall Brawl will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21, featuring the Diesel Boys GAS Series, Salem Super Cars, Mike’s Muffler & Brakes Crown Vic Big Track Series On-Site Plumbing Heating & Air Crown Vic Short Track Series, Diesel Boys Race Parts & Karts Legends and Scrappers. Feature winners will receive a pair of boxing gloves as part of their winner’s trophy for this event!
The huge season finally, the 36th Annual Halloween 200 Weekend, will take place on Saturday, Oct.19, and Sunday Oct. 20. On Saturday, Halloween 200 Street Stocks will have open practice. The 3rd Annual Spooky 200 for the Mike’s Muffler & Brakes Crown Vic Big Track Series will take place on Saturday along with racing action from the Salem Super Cars, On-Site Plumbing Heating & Air Crown Vic Short Track Series and On-Site Plumbing Heating & Air Crown Vic Figure 8 Series. Sunday will be headlined by the 36th Annual Halloween 200 along with racing action from Diesel Boys Race Parts & Karts Legends and the Scrappers. There will be an open practice for all divisions on Friday, Oct.18.
More detailed information on the 2024 schedule will be released in the near future. More information on Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery is available on the track’s website at www.salemspeedway.com and with social media posts on the track’s Facebook page.