In what might be the most ambitious (and hilarious) announcement in Perris Auto Speedway history, promoter Don Kazarian revealed plans to convert portions of the track to grass for the next Night of Destruction.
According to Kazarian, the Figure 8, Mini Stock road course, and quarter-mile Demo Cross tracks will be transformed into lush green grass, inspired by England’s grass track racing.
“I was watching Speedway racing from England on YouTube, and they showed some highlights of grass track racing,” Kazarian said with a grin. “It was wild. Then I thought, Night of Destruction is already crazy—why not make it crazier?”
The announcement detailed an elaborate plan to seed the track with a special tough turf from the Detroit Grass Seed Company, promising a surface that could withstand the chaos of Demo Cross and Figure 8 racing. Kazarian even joked about watering the grass before races to make it extra slippery, ensuring drivers would be “slipping and searching for traction just like always.”
To maintain the grass, Kazarian claimed he enlisted the help of Lane Hofarth, last year’s Figure 8 Trailer Champion, and his sons. The family reportedly outfitted their cars with lawn mower blades to trim the grass during races.
“This is going to be fun,” Hofarth said in the announcement. “We tested the blades in our front yard. After a few adjustments, they worked great. If our cars survive the night, we might even start a lawn care side hustle.”
The announcement didn’t stop there. Kazarian addressed the logistical challenge of sprint cars and stock cars sharing the same straightaways as the grass tracks. His solution? Tarps.
“I bought a bunch of heavy-duty blue tarps on Amazon,” he said. “We’re melding them together to cover the grass portions for sprint car and stock car events. It’s the best and safest option I could think of.”
When asked how drivers feel about the tarps, Kazarian quipped, “I haven’t exactly told them yet.”
The announcement concluded with a wink and a nod to the Speedway’s April Fools’ Day tradition. “I hope everyone has a very happy April Fools’ Day,” Kazarian said before heading off to “water the new racetrack lawn.”
But before you start picturing lawnmower races or drivers slipping on freshly watered turf, remember the date: April 1. Every year, the Speedway’s April Fools’ Day tradition brings a mix of creativity and humor to the racing community, and this year’s announcement is no exception.
While the grass track racing concept is purely fictional, the real action at Perris Auto Speedway is no joke. The next event, Heimark Distributors’ Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PASSCAR Super Stocks, Street Stocks, and American Factory Stocks, is set for April 11. Night of Destruction returns on April 25, promising all the usual mayhem with Demo Cross, Figure 8s, Trailer Figure 8s, Mini Stocks, and Double Deckers.
Tickets for all events are available at tix.com or at the gate on race night. For more information, visit perrisautospeedway.com or follow the track on Facebook and Instagram.
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