Springfield set to kick off 2016 season wiuth Haase Memorial

  • April 12, 2016

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—Springfield Raceway will be kicking off the 2016 racing season at the quarter-mile clay oval this Saturday, April 16, with five classes of cars battling for a season championship and honoring our friend, Don Haase, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 46.

Springfield Raceway co-owner Jerry Hoffman had previously worked with Haase in the mid-1990s. Haase was the type of guy who could fix anything, and he was one heck of a mechanic. He loved all sports and just being outside. When the raceway was bought back in 2007, a tech man was needed and Haase was the man for the job. He was the tech man for one year and early the next year became the track's flagman.

Sadly, Haase passed away due to complications from diabetes and didn't get to drop the green Flag in 2008 at the Springfield Raceway, so each and every year to start the racing season Haase's children Lyndsay, Christopher and Taylor climb the flag stand and drop the green Flag in honor of their dad.

USRA Modifieds and Out-Pace USRA B-Mods will headlinbe the program this Saturday, April 16, with Midwest Mods, Legends Cars and Pure Stocks also competing.

The pit gate opens at 3 p.m., grandstands open at 5:30, hot laps begin at 6 and the first green flag will drop around 6:30.

General admission is $12, kids ages 6-12 are $5 and children 5 and under get in for free. Pit passes are $30.

For more information go to www.springfieldraceway.com.