WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (May 20, 2011) - With one of the most competitive fields of weekly Late Models in the region, a new concept for doing business with Super Late Model Drivers and a few special events along the way - the 2011 season at Dells Raceway Park has fans gleaming with anticipation.

The season is slated to start Saturday, May 21 with Opening Night presented by Gawronski Signs and Advertising.

Highlighting opening night will be the Vintage Cars and the wildly popular Automotion Burnout Contest. Highlighting the action each and every Saturday will be the ultra-competitive Late Model division.

Four drivers had a shot at the 2010 crown in the Late Model division at Dells Raceway Park last season. Before the gates closed for the final time in 2010, Corey Jankowski was celebrating his second consecutive championship.

If Jankowski is to secure his third consecutive, he'll have to face down some familiar foes, and a few more that are out to take top honors in the division.

In the familiar foe category will be the driver who came just three points shy of swiping a title in his first season - Mike Lichtfeld. Lichtfeld set the class on its ear last season when the rookie grabbed three feature wins, including one on the final night of racing.

Joining those two at the top last season were youngster Davey Pennel and veteran Rich Schumann Jr. Both are slated to return to action this season with their title hopes high. Pennel will return in his familiar blue and white 29 after a tryout with the Richard Petty Driver Search last season, and the "Schumannator" will be back in black in his number 54.

In fact, 11 of the top 12 drivers from 2011 will be back to keep the pressure on Corey Jankowski.

Joining the weekly contingent will be title contender Dan Lensing. Lensing returns after a hiatus from DRP with a championship on his mind.

The top competitors will have some extra incentive to qualify into the Fast Dash each week. The Wegner Automotive Research Fast Dash Clash awaits top drivers on Sept. 3 with a $2,000 top prize. DRP officials are confident the top prize will lure several top guns from other tracks to the venue in an attempt to qualify for the FDC.

New for the Late Models this season will be two weeks off from action at DRP. On July 23 and August 20 the Super Late Models will grab headlining honors while the Late Models take a break. The Super Late Models will also take to the third-mile on May 28, Friday, July 1 and Sept. 10.

Over 20 drivers have signed up to compete in the Alive For Five Super Late Model Series presented by Advanced Engine Concepts. With drivers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Florida ready to do battle - the series promises to be an all-Midwestern affair with some out-of-region flair.

Several young drivers the likes of Matt Tift, who will drive for Iron Eagle Racing and Tim Schendel and Anthony Campi, who will drive for Super Star Motorsports will face off against the likes of multi-time track champion Jeff Kendall, Kenny Reiser and Steve Holzhausen.

Headlining on five dates, the Super Late Models will be joined by one of the fastest-growing series in the Midwest on July 1 and 2 - the Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series.

The MSRXSS will bring racers from all over the country including Indy 500 veteran Davey Hamilton and up-and-coming open wheel super star Bobby Santos III. The Sprint Cars will qualify and have a shootout on July 1 and run the remainder of the Must See Racing/BioBased U.S. Nationals on July 2.

Another guest division will come to rumble twice this season when the Mid-American Stock Car Series stops by for Dells Duel Part One on June 11 and Dells Duel Part Two on Aug. 20.

In three trips for the MASCS last season, three different winners visited victory lane. Among them were 1996 MASCS champion Mark Pluer, MASCS Rookie of the Year Tyler Bauknecht and eventual Champion Lyle Nowak.

Mid-American will also give away a trip to the Phoenix NASCAR weekend in November with Paige Decker and Decker Racing. Fans can sign up on both dates with the trip begin given away on Aug. 20.

With all the action headlining at DRP this season, fans will also be treated to the three weekly support classes, which will see sizeable growth in 2011.

Over a dozen drivers have registered for the growing Sporstman division. The division includes rookies who have made a jump from other divisions in Kelsey Schultz and Sandy Cook. Another rookie, Eric Melby, finished an impressive second in the Joe Shear Classic at Madison International Speedway on May 1. Melby hopes to chase down defending champion Daron Fish in the title hunt.

A title will also be defended in the Pure Stock division. Dave Trute returns with a new racer as his championship mount will be driven by car-owner Bill Zeman in 2011. Last season's runner-up Mark Hohl, fourth-place Kevin Gilding and Rookie of the Year Mark Ailes will also return to do battle.

One title will be up for grabs, however. The bandit title chase is wide open with nearly 30 competitors expected on a weekly basis. With the top three drivers moving on, only fourth-place finisher Arnold Preston and fifth-place finisher Kurt Kolden return.

Youth may be the theme in the division as 13-year-old Haley Kapp returns with some title buzz in a new racecar. Youngsters Ali Pennel, Colton Morgan and Spencer Wilhelm also are too young for a driver's license, but not too young to grab the wheel at DRP.

With plenty of great racing action each Saturday night, DRP will also have three special Sunday events - all of which will see reduced admission price this season as compared to last season.

The first special event is Memorial Day Mayhem on Sunday, May 29. The event will mark the debut of the figure-8 layout for the bus races, trailer races, relay races and chain races. On hand as well will be the Demolition Devil, Hedgehog ATVs and stunt bike racer Joey B.

DRP will host a similar event with a few crazy twists when the Labor Day of Doom comes to town on Sunday, Sept. 4.

Rounding out the special event schedule is the Action Auto Promotions Demolition Derby. The Demo Derby will cap off a spectacular 4th of July weekend with a large contingent of demo racers expected to be on hand and fireworks rounding out the evening.

For more information on the entire 2011 Dells Raceway Park schedule visit www.dellsracewaypark.com

The fan gate at Dells Raceway Park opens Saturday at 3 p.m. Qualifying for all divisions will begin at 3:30, prior to the burnout at 5:30 and racing at 6:30. Admission is $10 for an adult, $7 for youth (age 10-15), $7 for seniors (62 and older), and all kids 9 and under are admitted free.

Dells Raceway Park is located at N1070 Smith Road, five minutes north of downtown Wisconsin Dells, Wis., off highway 12-16. For more information including the latest news, the 2011 schedule and more visit www.dellsracewaypark.com.