Hartford, MI - As the 2023 season continues to close in, more and more schedule releases are popping up across the region. Hartford Speedway joined the list of tracks to announce their schedule, which was a welcome sign of good things to come after the "rumor mill" had them joining a short list of tracks going to a "specials only" format.
The schedule features a full summer of racing from May through September. Open-wheel fans will find exactly what they're looking for at Hartford in 2023, with DIRTcar UMP Modifieds nearly every weekend, plus a vast array of Sprint Car events. Plus, the west Michigan facility will see the DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour in July.
Hartford Motor Speedway finds themselves in a unique spot in 2023 being one of two remaining race tracks to still run the DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned Modifieds. Alongside Butler Motor Speedway, the pair are on an island now after Merritt Speedway (Lake City, MI) and Tri-City Motor Speedway (Auburn, MI) opted to switch over to IMCA Modifieds, joining tracks like Crystal Motor Speedway, Thunderbird Raceway, and Mt. Pleasant Speedway. While some tracks may not have the official IMCA Modified sanctioning, the "B-Mod" division they run is extremely similar.
Hartford has also clearly invested in Sprint Cars in 2023, with seven shows dedicated to the open wheel warriors. The Great Lakes Super Sprints Presented by Engine Pro and ARP will make five stops at Hartford including May 19, June 16, July 7, August 11, and September 8th. The Great Lakes Traditional Sprints make three trips this season, June 9, July 7, and September 22nd.
Also this season, Hartford Speedway unveils their new budget division, Ford Crown Vics. The division is widely popular at pavement tracks in Indiana, but Hartford becomes the first track in the Mitten State to welcome the entry-level division.
Here's a look at the full Hartford Motor Speedway Schedule:
Story - Zach Hiser, Horsepower Happenings
Photo - Horsepower Happenings File Photo