Lawn mower racing comes to SWF

The Sunshine State will make lawn mower racing history as the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) presents a three-race STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series this weekend beginning in LaBelle.

On Friday, April 4, at 8 p.m., the North American Society of Grass Racers and Sod Slingers (NASGRASS) will present the STA-BIL NASGRASS Southern Shoot Out at the Hendry-LaBelle Mowersports Park, 1155 Pratt Boulevard in LaBelle. Spectator admission is $5 for adults with children under 12 free and will benefit Healthy Start Southwest Florida in their efforts to aid premature and low birth weight babies in Hendry County, Florida. The Superticket is $10 and includes a pit pass.

"We are proud to host this history-making weekend and welcome lawn mower racers from across the country", said Sid Whiteside, NASGRASS President and Florida Treasurer. "The STA-BIL Series has become so popular that Florida can now support three national races in one weekend. Plus, with the rising price of gas, this makes the trip a good value for our snow bird racers from up North."

A feature of the weekend will be the firstever running of the Junior Prepared Class, a new class on the National level for rac- ages 10-15. Adding the Junior Prepared Class provides the next generation of lawn mower racers with National recognition and the right to compete at the annual STA-BIL Nationals in Delaware, Ohio during Labor Day Weekend.

The USLMRA sanctions and presents organized lawn mower racing across America including the 18-race STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series and a network of 25 Local Chapters and Affiliated Clubs hosting more than 140 sanctioned races nationwide.

Races feature riding lawn mowers with cutting blades removed at speeds up to 60 mph. Lawn mowers race in four road course classes with all cutting blades removed: Stock (8 mph), IMOW (20 mph), Prepared (50 mph) and Factory Experimental (60 mph). USLMRA lawn mower racing is featured on the Outdoor Channel and Speed TV.