FORKSful of Fury: Rev Up Your Night at River Cities Speedway

Ever wondered what makes automobile racing one of the most electrifying spectator sports on the planet? You won’t find the answer by flipping channels at home. To feel that real adrenaline surge—the kind that shakes the bleachers and sends dust swirling into the sky—you’ve got to be there, up close, where the engines roar and the ground trembles.

That’s why River Cities Speedway is the place to be from May through mid‑September. Every Friday night, this iconic 1/3‑mile bullring dirt/clay track erupts with Premier Racing. Hot Laps fire off at 6:30 PM, engines thunder at 7 PM and skilled regional drivers battle it out for the coveted checkered flag. It’s fast. It’s loud. It’s everything racing fans crave.

But the thrills don’t stop at the track—this place has history baked into every turn. The Grand Forks County Fairgrounds, home of River Cities Speedway, first opened in 1903, hosting horse races and even a two‑mile automobile race that drew such massive crowds the National Guard had to protect the prized horses. Eventually, horsepower gave way to actual horsepower as cars and motorcycles took over the half‑mile track.

In 1937, the racing scene leveled up with a brand‑new WPA‑built grandstand—dedicated in person by President Franklin D. Roosevelt before a jaw‑dropping crowd of 20,000. He even joked that he should’ve made the grandstand bigger, earning thunderous applause. By the late 1950s, the track was reshaped into a quarter‑mile oval, forcing drivers to stay in high gear and keep their engines screaming.

Fast‑forward to 1999, when Grand Forks Speedway officially became River Cities Speedway. Today, racers tear it up in four thrilling divisions: NOSA Outlaw Sprints, NLRA Late Models, Wissota Midwest Modifieds and Wissota Street Stocks. It’s the only track in North Dakota—and one of the few in the entire Midwest—to run both a 410 Outlaw Sprint Car division and an NLRA Late Model division every week.

And trust me, the fans show up. Grandstands fill fast as locals cheer on their favorite drivers under the bright Friday‑night lights. Grab a cold drink, snag a taco‑in‑a‑bag or a classic hot dog and swing by the beer garden if you’re feeling festive. Kids get in on the fun, too, with the Friday night candy toss—always a hit. When the final flag waves, head to the pits for autographs, photos and souvenirs. Snag a T‑shirt, meet the drivers and soak in the energy that makes this place unforgettable.

If you’re craving an evening packed with nonstop thrills, roaring engines and pure racing magic, it’s time to make tracks to River Cities Speedway. Check out this year’s lineup of special races listed below. It’s stacked with can’t‑miss action that will leave your pulse pounding long after the lights go dark!

SPECIAL EVENTS

Season Opener // Friday, May 15

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork Western Renegade Non-Wing Sprints

Memorial Day Special/Wayne Anderson Cup Night 1 // Thursday, May 21

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork INEX Legends

World of Outlaws 1st Leg of the Northern Tour/Don Mack Classic // Friday, May 29

  • World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models

Wayne Anderson Cup Night 2 // Friday, June 12

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork WISSOTA Modifieds
  • Hornets

All Sprint Night! // Friday, June 19

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Superior Customs IMCA Red River Sprint Series
  • WW Wallwork NLSA Lightning Sprints
  • Western Renegade Non-Wing Sprints

World of Outlaws Late Models Series // Friday, June 26

  • World of Outlaws Late Models Series
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks

Independence Day Special // Thursday, July 2

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork INEX Legends
  • Mid-Season Track Championship: Friday, July 10

Mid-Season Track Championship // Friday, July 10

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork WISSOTA Modifieds

King of the Wings // Friday, July 17

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Superior Customs IMCA Red River Sprint Series
  • WW Wallwork NLSA Lightning Sprints
  • Western Renegade Non-Wing Sprints

Wayne Anderson Cup Night #3 // Friday, July 24

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks

Hall of Fame Night // Friday, August 7

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks

Back to School Night/Bus Races // Friday, August 14

  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork WISSOTA Modifieds
  • School Bus Races

Wayne Anderson Cup Finale // Friday, August 21

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • Superior Customs IMCA Red River Sprint Series
  • WW Wallwork INEX Legends

World of Outlaws 2nd Leg of the Northern Tour // Friday, August 28

  • World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models

Season Championship/Thursday Night Special // Friday, September 3

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork INEX Legends

Prelude to the Johnny // Thursday, September 10

  • Blud Lubricants NLRA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork WISSOTA Modifieds

John Seitz Memorial Night 1 // Friday, September 11

  • Blud Lubricants WISSOTA Late Models
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork WISSOTA Modifieds

John Seitz Memorial // Saturday, September 12

  • Blud Lubricants WISSOTA Late Models ($9,200-to win)
  • Titan Machinery WISSOTA Midwest Mods
  • Cirrus Aircraft WISSOTA Street Stocks
  • WW Wallwork WISSOTA Modifieds

All Sprint Night! // Friday, September 18

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Superior Customs IMCA Red River Sprint Series
  • WW Wallwork NLSA Lightning Sprints
  • Western Renegade Non-Wing Sprints

Season Finale // Friday, September 25

  • Buffalo Wild Wings NOSA Sprints
  • Superior Customs IMCA Red River Sprint Series
  • WW Wallwork WISSSOTA Modifieds
  • NLSA Lightning Sprints
  • Western Renegade Non-Wing Sprints

Premier Racing Series tickets are: $23 for Adults; $10 for Students ages 16-18, College Students (with ID) and Active or Retired Military (with ID); and Free for Kids 15 years old and younger. Save $3 by purchasing through any of the Advance Ticket Outlets: Northdale Oil (GF and EGF) The Rock Bottle Shop; Gateway Cenex and NAPA Auto Parts. Additional information, including a full race schedule, may be found at RiverCitiesSpeedway.com.