Speedway, Ind. ~ The 2019 version of the Sno-Drift National Rally was not one for the timid. Temperatures plummeted leading up to the two-day event centered around the Atlanta, Mich. area, reaching well below -20-degrees, a blistering measuring stick for the 30+ teams that entered.
Things are expected to be a tad bit different for the 2020 version, with temperatures hovering closer to 30-degrees above zero, and a possible mix of snow to brighten up the festivities.
The warmer weather will be welcomed as the American Rally Association, presented by AMSOIL starts its 2020 National Championship campaign at the winter rally. Forty-one cars are registered for the January 24-25 event, including last year’s overall winner Piotr Fetela. The driver of the number 94 Ford Proto will head to Michigan with a new co-driver, Kamil Heller. The duo will be matched up front by Ford’s Barry McKenna, who will be leading a slew of Ford Fiesta R5’s, all of whom will be competing for the overall win and the RC2 class win.
All of the competitors, including the 24 registered regional teams, will see similar stage roads and events surrounding this year’s Sno-Drift. While much remains the same, there are a few subtle differences this year.
One change is to the overall schedule, highlighted by a later start on Friday. Organizers pushed the start of the Parc Expose to 4:30 PM ET with the first car heading out at 6:00 PM. The move was made to help teams get more time during recce on Friday morning, and also to allow more people to see travel to the region without disrupting their work and school schedules.
As for the racing, snowfall totals in the area are down compared to 2019. There is a base layer of ice on the stages, but the warmer temperatures and softer conditions prior to the winter freeze could make for a rough ride during the 116-miles of stage roads.
Spread across the 17 stages, Sno-Drift was forced to cancel its popular Super Special stage, a gravel pit that was no longer a suitable option to the organization. But event organizers have done a great job with five spectator areas set-up over the two days of racing. One of the most popular stops on the 2020 ARA tour will take place at Sno-Drift with the return Bonfire Alley where fans line the five mile, heavily wooded road with fires scattered every 30-40 yards as the final group of cars make their way through the final stage of the weekend.
The ARA will have full coverage of Sno-Drift on its social channels, including exclusive content on its YouTube Channel starting on Thursday night. For live event results, go Live Stage Results.