Forestburg’s Area 53 Raceway is set for a busy 2022 season.
The season started for racers over the May long weekend when bracket racing began for the year, giving the operators of the facility the opportunity to highlight the improvements made at the venue.
Over the winter and spring a wheel chair ramp had been added, along with closer parking, repairs to the track, the parking area and announcement speaker upgrades.
The next event at the facility is another set of bracket racing days on June 18 and 19, followed by more bracket racing and the Calnash 2000 over the July long weekend. The prize for the Calnash event is $2,500.
In August, the Miles of Mayhem returns on Aug. 17 which is then followed by bracket racing on the weekend of Aug. 27 and 28.
Bracket racing returns the following weekend, with the addition of a pit bike race on the Saturday. According to Corey Kozey, one of the directors of the facility, for the pit bike event “nearly” anything goes. People can race quads, side-by-sides, bikes, etc, and all will be separated into different classes.
On the weekend of Sept. 17 and 18 the Steven Chapman Memorial Race will be held, which will feature a minimum $4,000 payout, according Kozey.
Finally, if the weather holds out that long, bracket racing will return for one final weekend on Oct. 1 and 2.
For those wishing to check out the races, a food truck will be taking station on site at some of the larger events.
Gate admission is going to remain by donation for the season as a way to encourage people to get out and watch.
“With the way the economy is right now, admission gets out of reach for a lot of people,” said Kozey.
“We’d rather see people out there enjoying it.”
For racers wanting to check out Area 53, fees for 2022 will be $60 per day, per class, for non-members, or 50 per day, per class for members.
