ALGER — There will be a mix of old and new at this year’s Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup, the three-day crown jewel of the Skagit Speedway season.

The 37th annual event kicks off today with a mixture of former champions and new competitors. There will also be minor tweaks to both the racetrack and the format of the event, which boasts $150,000 in total prize money and one of the best lineups in sprint car racing.

There will be no repeat champion this year. Last year’s winner, Brandon Wimmer, was unable to compete due to commitments on his home circuit.

But the field is stocked with several former champions, including two-time winner Jonathan Allard (2005, 2006), three-time winner Brent Kaeding (1991,1996 1999), and other strong competitors including Bud and Tim Kaeding. Read The Full Story