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PIGEON, Mich. — Promoter Laura Burk has reason for optimism at Owendale Speedway. The racetrack in Pigeon is adding a division in 2009, the UMP Modifieds.

"We're hoping that our season is going to be better than last year," she said. "We have a new division, the UMP Modifieds, and we hope that [will help to]  generate more interest. With the economy and gas prices, 2008 was a little slow for us.

"We're looking forward to a good year this year."

The quarter-mile dirt oval has a test and tune scheduled for Saturday, May 2. The season starts with best-looking car and five divisions on May 9. The season finale, with champions crowned, is set for Sept. 5.

Burk says that Owendale's two biggest nights will be the Super Race Day on July 3 and its program on Aug. 29. Both nights will feature the sprint cars.

"Everybody likes it when the Sprints on Dirt come to town," Burk said. "We always ask them if they'll do a four wide before they get the green flag. That's an awesome sight."

Among the other highlights will be the blind-driver race on Aug. 15 and the spectator drags May 30 and Aug. 22. The blind-driver race is often called a mother-in-law race. The driver is blinded, and someone in the backseat tells him where to drive. In the spectator drags, spectators will race their own cars, and there will be eliminations.

Another highlight, Burk said, is the Australian Pursuit, set for May 23 and July 18. Once a driver is fully passed, he has to leave the track.

"We also have grocery-cart races with carts from a local grocer," she said. "One person pushes, and another person rides. Then they get halfway and the other person pushes the rest of the way around. It's funny to watch. Carts tip over and people get tired."

Burk also enjoys the Legends cars, set to race at Owendale on Aug. 1.

The track will pick junior fans, a boy and a girl, each weekend, and they'll receive rides around the track with their favorite drivers.

Burk says there are no major rules changes this season.

The defending track champions are Ryan LaFave in Limited Lates, Steve Puvalowski in Sportsman, Bob Berlin in Streetstock, Aaron Karg in Road Warriors and Jodie Garbacz in Lady Racers. LaFave won the Limited Lates title by 143 points over Bill Murawski Jr.

Car count hasn't been great. Owendale had about 20 total cars in Limited Lates, 16 in Sportsman, about 30 total cars in Streetstock, five in Road Warriors and three or four in Lady Racers.

"In Streetstock, we had 25 to 30 cars, but we weren't very consistent," Burk said. "Sportsman averaged maybe 10, and Limited Lates averaged maybe 15 cars. I'd like to see all of our divisions grow."

Burk says she has strong ties to Owendale Speedway. Her husband raced there and worked there, and the track attracted her.

"I enjoy Saturday nights, meeting people," said Burk, who works in the loss-prevention division of a bank when she's not working at the racetrack.

How would Burk draw fans to the track?

"We're friendly. We're a local track," Burk said. "We're the only one in the thumb of Michigan, and we welcome everyone to come visit our track."