Image credit: Nick Coward / RACECAR Illustrated
In an unprecedented announcement on Wednesday (Apr. 9) morning, Skagit Speedway's ownership group have thrown their support behind the budget friendly Sportsman Sprint Car division, pledging to give away four RaceSaver Engines valued at approximately $20,000USD each.
According to an official press release from Skagit Speedway the incredibly generous offer comes with next to no-strings-attached, a sentiment strongly echoed by track Race Director Gaylon Stewart when speaking with RACECAR Illustrated late Wednesday afternoon.
It’s amazing, and absolutely unprecedented! The top 12 in final owners points for the Sportsman Sprint Cars in 2025 will be entered into a draw, which we’ll do at the Champions Banquet. Four names will be drawn, they just need to be in attendance at the banquet to win. That’s all! The whole offer, from start to finish, other than competing for points and attending the banquet, is effectively no-strings-attached. Of course we hope that people will race the engines locally and help build inventory for them in the region but there is no contracts, no requirements to run the engines, nothing like that. It’s a pretty amazing opportunity for a lot of people.
When asked a little bit more about how the deal came together, Stewart was quick to direct praise to Skagit Speedway owners Kevin Rudeen and Jon Hager for their selflessness in making these kinds of programs happen.
It all comes from Kevin and Jon's generosity. The whole team here recognize and believe in the importance of the Sportsman Sprint Car division at Skagit Speedway. Kevin in particular has been a long time supporter of the RaceSaver program and even though there is no plan to adopt these specifications exclusively at Skagit, it is a fantastic opportunity to get behind the Sportsman class and put these beautiful engines out there in the wild.
The RaceSaver Engine giveaway announcement comes on the heels of sweeping weekly purse payout increases for the 2025 season; bumps that will see more money paid out down the fields of every class, solidifying Skagit’s status as one of the highest weekly paying dirt tracks in the United States.
Skagit Speedway will open their 71st season on Saturday April 26th with a huge program featuring 410 Sprint Cars, Sportsman Sprint Cars and IMCA Modifieds. The 2025 calendar comprises 28 nights of racing competition that will also feature 360 Sprint Cars, North West Focus Midgets and Hornets.
You can find the complete schedule here.
You can see the official press release below.
