The WISSOTA 100 is returning to Dakota State Fair Speedway in 2009.

DSFS track promoter Orville Chenoweth was informed late Friday afternoon that the WISSOTA board of directors had accepted the track’s bid to host the event, which is scheduled for Sept. 16-19.

“We had the Central Region 100 here last year with 227 cars without any problems, so that was a huge selling point,” Chenoweth said of the board’s decision to pick DSFS. “They felt the facility here was one of the better ones around and it was well organized.”

Also bidding for the WISSOTA 100 were tracks in Aberdeen, Grand Forks, N.D., and Brainerd, Minn.

“When we considered the success of our first visit to DSFS last year for the Central Region 100, along with the type of facility we hope to have as we take our premier event to new heights in the coming years, DSFS seemed like a really good fit,” said Terry Voeltz, who is the president of the WISSOTA board of directors.

Last year WISSOTA had three different 100 events - Eastern Region, Central Region and Western Region - but has decided to go back to holding just one WISSOTA 100 event this season. The board made the decision to revert back to just one event after WISSOTA member promoters voted overwhelmingly to return to a single WISSOTA 100 in 2009.

“It’s been a long time since we as an organization put on and event the size we expect this one to be. We’ve had at least two WISSOTA 100s running together each year since 1992, so this is going to return us to our roots, if you know what I mean, with just one big event,” said WISSOTA board member Phil Mertens. “We are serious about turning this back into the single biggest, most prestigious dirt track event in our region, and we want to invite all of our racers to be involved in it.”

Chenoweth says the event could draw an estimated 500-600 race cars or more.

Aiding Chenoweth in his bid to land the event were the staff from the Huron Chamber and Visitors Bureau, along with Dr. Robert Hohm, Terry Smith of Jack Link’s Beef Jerky and the South Dakota National Guard. Several other businesses will become involved as the event draws near.

Several aspects of what Dakota State Fair Speedway has to offer appealed to the board as they made their decision on a host site. “Our board members had a spirited discussion on the many pros and cons of all the facilities which presented proposals to us, and we believe we got down to the core priorities that we need to focus on as we move forward and create the best WISSOTA 100 program that our racers and fans will experience,” Voeltz said.

A well-prepared track is always a top priority and members of the board liked what they saw a year ago and what fans at DSFS have grown accustomed to from Chenoweth and his staff at Dakota Promotions, Inc.

“Racers and fans both told us last year that the racing at the 100 in Huron was some of the best they had ever seen at the track,” said WISSOTA board member Scott Hughes. “So apparently the changes Orv and the crew have made in the last year or two are paying off. The track is wide and fast and three-wide racing is no problem at DSFS.

“In fact, maybe we should line our features up and start them three-wide!” he added.

The grandstand, which has a seating capacity of 7,000, was another asset for DSFS.

“You hear this all of the time and it’s a bit of a cliche, but there’s not a bad seat in the house at Huron,” said board member Sue Lloyd. “I was there for the Central Region 100 last year and I can testify to that.

“It’s one of the best seating arrangements for race crews of any track in WISSOTA without a doubt,” added WISSOTA board member Rob Palmer. “The people in the pits pay a premium price to go to the races and they deserve a great seat every bit as much as the fans coming in the front gate. They get that as Dakota State Fair Speedway.”

The available campsites, which total 1,200, on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds was also a huge factor in the decision.

“The camping facilities are probably the best available at any track in our six-state, two-province region,” said WISSOTA board member Gus Omundson, who has been in charge of camping reservations for WISSOTA 100s for a number of years. “We’ll have lots of room for everyone within easy walking distance of the race track. The ground is all level and grassy and we’ll be able to accommodate every kind of tent or camper imaginable.

“Reservations will be made through the South Dakota State Fair Office, so all of that will be done very professionally,” he added.

Camping reservations can be made by calling Shelly at the State Fair office at (605) 353-7340.

A revamped racing program for the WISSOTA 100 will make each of the four nights a must-see event for the fans.

“Every night will be a big event in its own right,” said WISSOTA board member Bill Engelstad. “We will make sure this is a real racer-friendly format but also an action-packed show each night; no matter what night a fan stops in, he or she gets to see a really good show

“The local fans aren’t going to want to wait for Saturday night thinking that’s the ‘big night’ - they are all going to big nights at this WISSOTA 100,” he said.

Special events scheduled for the WISSOTA 100 include a barbeque feed for drivers and crews on the opening night provided by Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, dances and the South Dakota State Beer Garden under the grandstand, along with a whole host of family and kid-friendly entertainment provided by the National Guard Mobile Events.

For more information on the WISSOTA 100 go to www.wissota.org or contact Dakota Promotions Inc. at (605) 352-4848.