Buffalo Chip: Sturgis Racing Heats Up
Racing fans: prepare for an action-packed week of racing action at the Buffalo Chip PowerSports Complex the first week in August. From 4x4s and jet-powered tractors to flying trucks and one-wheeled drag races, spectator excitement will be running high all week.
The AMA Extreme Dirt Track National ATV Championship Series starts the week with some insanely fun 4×4 racing action on Fri., July 31 and Sat. Aug. 1. These ATV powerhouse machines and their professional drivers shred the track as they battle for points in the series. Last year racers participating in the series, along with EDT officials, chose the Buffalo Chip PowerSports Complex as their hands-down favorite after being asked to vote for the best overall track and facility.
The Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling Association cranks up the action on Sun., Aug 2 and Mon., Aug 3 with “Thunder at the Chip.” These monumental machines, some with jet-powered engines, get up to 7,000 horsepower as they tear up the track in a race to drag the most weight.
TORC: The Off-Road Championship Series brings a new level of excitement to the track with 900-horsepower, off-road trucks that hit speeds in excess of 100 mph and soar 200 feet in the air as they clear the well-placed moguls. TORC races will take place Tuesday, Aug. 4 and Wednesday, Aug. 5. The hillside location of the TORC-built track gives spectators a unique view of the full track and land rush start, so audiences won’t miss any of the action. TORC’s professional four and two-wheel drive Trophy Trucks, as well as its Pro Light Class, will each be taking their turn through the difficult course, offering multiple opportunities to take in the high-energy excitement of some of off-road racing’s finest and most fearless drivers.
The Nitro National Pro Hill Climb takes to the Buffalo Chip’s rugged 300-foot hill on Thursday, Aug. 6 and Friday, Aug. 7. This event has drawn national attention, having even been featured on CMT Bike Week. Thousands of dollars in prize money is at stake, and the fierce competitors of the Hill Climb will be pushing it to the limit to make sure they’re the ones who will be taking it home after the Sturgis Rally.
The TerraCross Championships take over the track on Thursday, Aug. 6 and Friday, Aug. 7. These races feature some wicked off-road competition through a rough and muddy course complete with terrorizing obstacles such as rocks, logs and jumps.
The UniMotorCyclists Association Drag Races on Saturday, Aug. 8 are a spectacle well-worth attending. The one-wheeled drag racers must pop a wheelie and keep the wheel balanced throughout the entire tilt with no steering or brakes. The event also includes many zany contests.
Tickets for PowerSports events may be purchased online at buffalochip.com for a discount or at the gate on the day of the event.