High School Racing Association Books Dates in Michigan; Aims to Bring Youth into Racing

West Salem, WI - Fans in the MARC Region are being introduced to another initiative to keep the youth movement strong in motorsports. The High School Racing Association (HSRA) is designed as a low-cost way to get kids into motorsports, while also reaping the support of their area high school. On Monday night, HSRA Director Jonathan Eckelburg joined the Horsepower Happenings Podcast to talk about the sanctioning body as they prepare for their first-ever events in Michigan.

The HSRA was founded in 2020 as a collaboration between LaCrosse Speedway and Madison International Speedway, who saw a need to get youth into the sport. The HSRA was an economical answer to get youth into the sport, helping put aside the need for huge amounts of money, extensive background knowledge of the sport, and a family heritage of the sport. Since 2020, HSRA events have been added to tracks in Minnesota, Illinois, and now Michigan.

Metro Detroit's Flat Rock Speedway and West Michigan's Russell's M-40 Speedway have committed to multiple dates with the HSRA in 2026. The cars, which are 6-cylinder, American-Made, Front Wheel Drive vehicles, are to remain completely stock with the exception of safety upgrades. Model year 2010 and older, the cars are not allowed to upgrade the engine, driveline, or tires & wheels. Eckelburg explains that the HSRA is working with area high schools to explain what opportunities exist with the HSRA.

"If there's an automotive or tech ed program, we speak to those instructors who are already going to have a passion for automotive and working on cars," Eckelburg said. "But, we also go at it from an athletic perspective, working with the Athletic Directors at the schools. We've had a number of schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois that have made Auto Racing through HSRA a letterable sport. They can recognize these racers as athletes at their school."

To keep student athletes at an amateur level and within the rules of the NCAA and student

athlete restrictions, no driver shall receive any monetary purse or compensation. Each driver who becomes eligible to compete in the Regional Championship event will receive an HSRA patch. State Champions will receive a champion flag and jacket in addition to their patch. Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in each HSRA feature event.

HSRA is open to any high school-aged student, 14-19 years old. If a student wants to race with the HSRA but doesn't have the support of their local high school, Eckelberg says they are still welcome to compete in the Series.

For the tracks, the process is simple. A $500 sanctioning fee to cover the administrative costs of the HSRA, and then the HSRA asks you to score and direct the races, and provide tech inspection support as needed. Eckelberg says that each event will have an HSRA Track Director to offer support and guidance to the track and the team.

Eckelberg says that Flat Rock & Toledo Speedway President, Ron Drager was instrumental in bringing the HSRA to Michigan.

"Ron and I have had some great conversations over the last couple of years about Flat Rock and Toledo," Eckelberg explained. "He and I spoke again at PRI this year and were able to make it happen. Then, M-40 came along too because they heard about it being at Flat Rock. Once we get into a couple of tracks and see success at a couple of tracks, it just continues to expand and grow, and I really hope that is the case in Michigan, too."

HSRA will be in Michigan at Flat Rock Speedway on Saturday, June 27th and Saturday, August 22nd. They're scheduled to be at Russell's M-40 Speedway on Saturday, June 20th, Saturday, July 25th, and Saturday, August 1st.

For more information on the High School Racing Association, visit HighSchoolRacing.org. Find High School Racing Association on Facebook.