ONA, WV-A new chapter in the storied history of Ona Speedway will be wrote this Saturday, October 26th for the Haunted Majestic Halloween Bash. For a 61 year old speedway known for having big events, including the NASCAR Cup Series back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the track will now be known for hosting one of the highest paying Crown Vic races in the United States.
Crown Vic racing has taken the country by storm. YouTube star Cleetus McFarland helped streamline the popularity of the division with events at his own Freedom Factory and Bristol Motor Speedway. McFarland sells out some of the country’s most popular short tracks each year with huge Crown Vic races, including one at Indianapolis Raceway Park that featured NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart. In a day and age where short tracks are looking for affordable ways to get people from the stands to the track, the Crown Vic division has rejuvenated short track racing at many tracks across the country.
The Ona Speedway joined the Crown Vic fury and started running the class weekly this season. Although the growth has been a little slower than expected, the class has already produced incredible racing and brought several new drivers from the grandstands to the track. The geographical location of Ona Speedway has the track a 4-5 hour drive of multiple Crown Vic racing hot spots. This led to track promoter/operator T. J. Layne to announce the Haunted Majestic Halloween Bash that boasts a winners purse of $5,000 with 40 or more cars. The event has been talked about in many racing circles since it’s announcement in July, and now is about to become a reality.
The pre-entry list shows a mix of nearly every Crown Vic racing hot spot in the United States for what is set to be a true battle of the best in the country. Winners, track champions, and top runners from Ona Speedway (WV), Shady Bowl Speedway (OH), Midvale Speedway (OH), Portsmouth Raceway Park (OH), Jennerstown Speedway (PA), Sportsdrome Speedway (IN), Salem Speedway (IN), Plymouth Motor Speedway (IN), Winchester Speedway (IN), Freedom Factory (FL), 5 Flags Speedway (FL), Cordele Motor Speedway (GA), South Alabama Speedway (AL), and Montgomery Motor Speedway (AL) among others. The pre-entry list represents the best Crown Vic drivers in the United States. A win on Saturday doesn’t only get you a large sum of money, it gets you bragging right of saying you beat the best in the country.
This alone makes Saturday’s Haunted Majestic Halloween Bash a must-see event. But the action packed racing card doesn’t stop there. Race fans are used to a huge Modified race at Ona in the fall. Saturday will be no different with the Air Systems 40 in memory of Wes Smith that will pay LG Pressure Washing Modifieds $2,000 to win. Making this race big was the idea of Wes Smith. An anonymous donor last Friday stepped in to add $1,000 to the purse in memory of Wes to now make this race pay as much as the Mountaineer 100 usually pays to win. Fans can expect a strong field of Modifieds with top runners from several different tracks. This race being 40 laps versus the 100 laps we’ve been accustomed to in the fall will make for a totally different and exciting race dynamic as drivers will be hammer down the entire 40 laps.
The speedway will also host the CRS Super Truck Series for their championship race. The stars and trucks of the series will battle for 50 laps and the final checkered flag of the season for the tour. The CRS Super Trucks have became a yearly stop at Ona for the past several years and always put on great racing. Saturday will be no different. It also marks the first time since 2020 that the tracks have ran a 50 lap race at Ona.
The racing card stays jam packed with a $1,000 to win Haunted Majestic Street Stock special presented by a customer at JR’s Frame & Body. Last week’s $1,000 to win Street Stock race saw a thrilling battle between Buck Purtee and Tommy Rowe with Purtee taking the win. A strong field of 12 cars was in attendance. The Contempo Trophy & Awards UCAR’s and Three Sixteen Motorsports INEX Legends Cars also had thrilling races last week and will be in action for $500 and $400 to win respectively.
The action will all get underway on Friday, October 25th with an open practice from 11 am until 6 pm for all classes. Pit passes Friday are $20 for ages 13 and up and FREE for ages 12 and under. Saturday’s racing action will begin at 4:00 pm. General admission Saturday is only $20 for ages 13 and up and FREE for ages 12 and under. All access pit passes are $40 for ages 13 and up and FREE for ages 12 and under.
For more information visit www.onaspeedway.com.
