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Trenton, NJ – Friday night’s February 20 preliminary action at Trenton’s CURE Insurance Arena for the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals will create plenty of stress for the 95 registered drivers from 12 states seeking one of just 24 starting spots in Saturday, February 21’s A-Main event.
Hyper Racing, however, has added even more excitement by posting an additional incentive to race harder on the first night of the event.
The top eight starting spots for Friday’s Preliminary Night feature will be determined by a random Hyper Racing draw among drivers who finish in the top two spots of each A-Qualifier held earlier in the evening.
Drivers often frown when they draw poorly — but that may not be the case thanks to the Hyper Draw twist.
Drivers who draw front starting spots one through four will compete for $1,000 to win. Those who draw the higher yellow Hyper Bonus numbers — five through eight — will race for increased winnings based on how far back they start.
The driver who draws the worst number — eighth — will race for double the standard payout, or $2,000 to win the 25-lap Preliminary Night feature, thanks to Hyper Racing of Lewisburg, Pa. A driver who draws seventh will race for $1,750; sixth pays $1,500; and fifth pays $1,250.
Money matters — but it isn’t the most important accomplishment on Friday night. The top five finishers and five highest point earners throughout the program will advance directly to the front starting positions in Saturday night’s $5,000-to-win A-Main.
Only the 60 fastest cars in Friday’s group qualifying sessions will advance to the four A-Qualifiers. The other 35 drivers must compete in one of two Last Chance Qualifiers that open Friday’s program, with the top finishers in each advancing to the rear of the A-Qualifiers.
In each A-Qualifier, the top five drivers advance to Friday night’s Preliminary Night feature, top two to the Hyper Bonus redraw. Drivers finishing sixth through twelfth transfer to the B-Main, with the remainder heading to the C-Main. The C-Main transfers four drivers to the back of the B-Mains, and each B-Main advances two drivers to the rear of the A-Feature.
Friday, February 20, doors open at 6 p.m., with racing beginning at 7 p.m. All seating on Friday is general admission, allowing fans to move throughout the arena and watch from different vantage points.
Saturday’s doors open at 4 p.m., with a special autograph session at 5 p.m. featuring top competitors. The “alphabet soup” program includes two E-Mains, two D-Mains, and two C-Mains, with the top five from each advancing to the next letter. Two B-Mains will transfer the top seven from each, filling out the 24-car starting field.
Thanks to Trenton’s banked, multi-groove dirt surface, advancing through several letters to reach the A-Main has proven possible in the past.
In 2020, New Jersey driver Jon Keller pulled off an incredible feat by advancing from the E-Main through four letters of the alphabet to earn the 24th starting spot in the A-Main. Keller then charged forward to win the 50-lap main event.
Saturday’s program also includes the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Dash featuring the top 10 drivers from Friday night.
Great seats are available through Ticketmaster, including special VIP tickets, which include front-row seating, a pre-race track walk, and a meet-and-greet with a top driver. Online Ticketmaster fees can be avoided by purchasing tickets at the arena box office in advance or on the day of the event.
Action begins Thursday night in Trenton with Slingshots and Junior Sprints competing in a one-day program. Grandstand tickets for Thursday’s event are available at the box office only on the day of the event — including all fees — for $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.
For more information about the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals, visit indoorautoracing.com or check out the series’ Facebook page.
