BARK RIVER – Bark River International Raceway will be part of the Lucas Oil Midwest Short Course League this summer.

The new off-road, short course series name and logo comes from the newly-formed partnership between Bark River International Raceway, Crandon International Raceway (Wis.), ERX Motor Park (Elk River, Minn.) and the Lucas Oil group.

The tracks recently joined forces with the Lucas Oil Group to ensure strength and longevity in off-road, short course racing in the Midwest. This collaboration is the first in a decade that unifies short course racing under one umbrella.

“We were going for a new and fresh look and wanted a cool name to help create the unity we’ve all been wanting for many years,” said Ritchie Lewis, director of race development for Lucas Oil, about the new logo and league name.

For 2018, current Midwest rules will remain in place and be sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Midwest Short Course League. Driver registration, fees and purses, and league website are being finalized.

Bark River International Raceway will have representatives at the upcoming Morr Motorsports Swap Meet later this month, in Lena, Wis., to speak with drivers.

Along with the new name and series look, Bark River will add professional off-road racer and nationally syndicated radio host Jim Beaver as the weekend track host.

Beaver is a third-generation driver who currently competes in off-road’s premier Trick Truck Division, as well as being a factory Polaris RZR driver in the Polaris RZR Star car.

His radio show, the Down & Dirty Radio Show powered by Polaris RZR, is the No. 1 motorsports radio show in the United States, on iTunes and is syndicated to 200 AM/FM networks domestically and streams internationally to the American Forces Network.

“Excitement is building as we add racers, in-track entertainment, plan to launch the opening of ticket and camping sales, and iron out logistical details,  said Courtney Prost, director of development for Bark River International Raceway. “The planning of this is late in the year, but the support we have been shown from fans, racers and area businesses is no surprise in our incredible area.”

Pro and Sportsman drivers will be broadcast on national television and streamed online, which will benefit both the racers and corporate partners. Local and national businesses have shown support for the track through partnerships, which allow financial support to the track in return for extensive marketing coverage to the partnering organization.

Partnerships are available at any level and are customized to fit each business’ marketing and budget needs.

Ticket and camping sales will open May 1 on BarkRiverOffRoad.com.

In previous years, racing was conducted Saturday and Sunday, whereas moving forward, points racing will begin Friday night and run through Sunday. Friday night entertainment will be the band Sore on Sunday and Runaway Train will take the stage Saturday night.

Ticket prices are $25 per day Saturday and Sunday, or $40 for a weekend pass. The Saturday, day pass will gain the user access to the Friday night events as well.

2018 Lucas Oil Midwest Short Course League Pro and Sportsman schedule:

June 15-17 – 25th Forest County Potawatomi Brush Run Crandon, Wis.

July 13-15 — Third Annual ERX Off-Road National Elk River, MN

Aug. 10-12 – 43rd Bark River Off-Road Rumble in the U.P., Bark River, Mich.

Aug. 31-Sept.1 — 49th World Championship Off-Road Races Crandon, Wis.

Sept. 2 — Third annual Crandon World Cup/AMSOIL Cup Crandon, Wis.