Cedar Lake Speedway
Fast Facts: Cedar Lake's 33rd USA Nationals
By Robert Holman
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: Aug. 6-8 ($6,000-to-win program Thursday followed by Friday prelims and Saturday’s $50,000-to-win finale)
Track: Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis. (3/8-mile high-banked clay oval).
Sanction: World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series
Purse: $50,000-to-win, $3,000-to-start ($6,000-to-win on Thursday)
Tickets: Adult general admission is $30 Thursday, $30 Friday and $40 Saturday; see below for discounts for children and more information.
On the web: cedarlakespeedway.com and woolms.com
Track phone: (612) 363-0479 or (866) 425-7386
Last year’s winner: Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., who claimed his first career USA Nationals victory.
Streaming video: Pay-per-view video at DIRTVision.com ($24.99 apiece for Thursday and Friday; $29.99 for Saturday; or $59.99 for three-day package)
Notes: The 2020 USA Nationals marks the 33rd running of the crown-jewel event that began in 1988. The event is sanctioned by the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. … The two-day format features double heat races and an eight-car dash on Friday that will be used to set the top 16 drivers for Saturday’s 100-lap finale. Saturday’s action includes consolation races to set the remainder of the starting grid. The top two finishers in each heat race will qualify for the dash. The dash finish determines how they will start in the 100-lapper. … The purse for the 28 feature starters was increased by $15,950 in 2019, which included raising the start money from $2,000 to a minimum of $3,000. … A complete program for the track's weekly Late Models is scheduled Friday and Saturday. … USRA Limited Late Models compete in Thursday's program. … Eighteen drivers have won the race, eight more than once; Hall of Famers Scott Bloomquist and Billy Moyer top the list with five wins each. … Bloomquist last won in 2010, while Moyer’s five victories came from 1988-1993, the first six editions of the event. … Moyer has 27 feature appearances, including the first 15. He last started a USA National feature in 2017, finishing 28th … Along with his five wins, Moyer has four runner-up finishes. … The last 11 USA Nationals have produced 10 winners, including eight winners in the last eight events. … Two-time winner Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., is the only home-state driver to win the race. Mars has 20 feature appearances, with 10 top-five finishes. His victories came in ’96 and ’09. … Josh Richard of Shinnston, W.Va., is the last repeat winner (2016, ‘11). … Chris Madden’s victory last season was the first by a South Carolina native and came in his fourth USA Nationals start. … Four of the previous 18 USA Nationals winners traveled more than 1,000 miles one-way to get to the New Richmond, Wis., oval. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., traversed 1,131 miles, followed by Madden (1,124 miles), Rick Eckert (1,066 miles) of York Pa., and Jonathan Davenport (1,046) of Blairsville, Ga. … Cedar Lake’s Late Model track record is 12.972 seconds held by Jason Rauen of Farley, Iowa. … Cedar Lake’s Fans Fund drivers for 2020: Jason Feger, Chris Simpson, Bobby Pierce, Kyle Strickler, Rick Eckert, Tyler Carpenter, Ross Bailes, Rusty Griffaw, Jason Papich, Gordy Gundaker, Stormy Scott and Scott Ward. The drivers receive donated money to offset traveling expenses. (Complete USA Nationals coverage)
USA Nationals winners
Year: Winner, hometown
1988: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1989: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1990: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1991: Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D.
1992: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1993: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1994: Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1995: Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1996: Jimmy Mars, Elk Mound, Wis.
1997: Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D.
1998: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
1999: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2000: Davey Johnson, Greensburg, Pa.
2001: Dale McDowell, Rossville, Ga.
2002: Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
2003: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2004: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2005: Dale McDowell, Rossville, Ga.
2006: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2007: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2008: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2009: Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
2010: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2011: Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
2012: Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
2013: Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
2014: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2015: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2016: Josh Richards, Shinnston, W.Va.
2017: Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2018: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
2019: Chris Madden, Gray Court, S.C.
(Complete race history)
Weekend purses
Thursday feature
1. $6,000
2. $3,000
3. $2,000
4. $1,750
5. $1,500
6. $1,400
7. $1,300
8. $1,200
9. $1,100
10. $1,000
11. $900
12. $850
13. $800
14. $775
15. $750
16. $700
17. $660
18. $640
19. $620
20-26. $600
Saturday feature
1. $50,000
2. $20,000
3. $10,000
4. $6,000
5. $5,000
6. $4,800
7. $4,600
8. $4,400
9. $4,200
10. $4,000
11. $3,800
12. $3,600
13. $3,400
14. $3,350
15. $3,300
16. $3,250
17. $3,200
18. $3,150
19. $3,100
20. $3,075
21. $3,050
22. $3,025
23. $3,010
24-28. $3,000
Event schedule
Thursday
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
5 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model time trails
- Opening ceremonies
- Limited Late Model heats (10 laps)
- Late Model heats (10 laps)
- Late Model consolations (10 laps)
- Limited Late Model feature (20 laps)
- Late Model feature (30 laps)
- Party in Cedar Lake Arena
Friday
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast in east and west restaurants
11 a.m. and noon - Tubing down the Apple River
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
4 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
6 p.m. - Drivers meeting
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
- Opening ceremonies
7 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model heats Round 1 (12 laps)
- Limited Late Model heats (12 laps)
- Late Model heats Round 2 (12 laps)
- Late Model dash (8 laps)
- Late Model FansFund Dash (12 laps)
- Limited Late Model feature (40 laps)
- Party in Cedar Lake Arena
Saturday
8:30 a.m. - Breakfast in east and west restaurants
11 a.m. and noon - Tubing down the Apple River
12:30 p.m. - Fans Fund Luncheon
2 p.m. - Lawn mower racing in arena
2 p.m. - Pit gates open
4 p.m. - Grandstand gates open
4:30 p.m. - Driver autograph/meet & greet
6 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
- Opening ceremonies
7 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model consolations (15 laps)
- Limited Late Model heats (12 laps)
- Late Model Last Chance race (15 laps)
- Limited Late Model feature (40 laps)
- USA Nationals (100 laps)
Tickets
Thursday
Adults (17-and-up): $30
Students (6-16): $15 (children 5-and-under free)
Pit pass: $35
Friday
Adults (17-and-up): $30
Students (6-16): $15 (children 5-and-under free)
Pit pass: $40
Saturday
Adults (17-and-up): $40
Students (6-16): $20 (children 5-and-under free)
Pit pass: $45
Camping
Call (612) 363-0479
