June 7, 2019: During practice / qualifying at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI (HHP/Jim Fluharty)

SALEM — NASCAR is coming to Salem, with the #8 NASCAR Xfinity race car driven by Jeb Burton appearing all four days of the Salem Super Cruise June 11-14, courtesy of the local Tractor Depot Inc.

Organizer Gene Johnson of the Cruisin’ Crew announced the car as one of the big attractions for this year’s cruise, along with a repeat appearance by the Big Idaho Potato, all 4 tons of the massive potato replica which travels the country promoting Idaho potatoes for the Idaho Potato Commission.

Johnson ran down an update of events during the Salem Super Cruise planning committee meeting Wednesday night, also noting Stratton Chevrolet will bring the Dirk Stratton Formula DRIFT Corvette which the dealership sponsors. Professional racer Dirk Stratton hails from Beloit.

For those who don’t know, drifting is an extreme sport that stems from a driving technique.

According to the website www.topspeed.com, “Drifting is the fastest growing form of motorsport in the world. A car is said to be drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle, and the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right), and the driver is controlling these factors.”

Add in the new bike night for motorcycles on Friday night at the Eagles on North Ellsworth Avenue, along with a band, Donnell of Salem will have music and bands Friday and Saturday and Diehl on North Ellsworth Avenue will host the WKBN car care show on Saturday morning. There’s a new meat raffle, the four-day 50/50 raffle and some return attractions, such as the hula hoop contest sponsored by Pizza Hut, antique tractor show, garden tractor pull, craft show, swap meet, valve cover racing for pink slips, customer appreciation days by Advance Auto Parts and Napa, a presentation by Firestone Complete Auto Care, and the Show and Shine on Sunday to wrap up the cruise.

“We’ve got something for everybody this year,” Johnson said.

Pro modified cars will be on display again on South Lundy Avenue and there will be some very unique vehicles, like the Scream’N Demon locally owned by Don Ross on display at Firestone on South Lundy.

Johnson announced they’re looking for a volunteer photographer to take photos over the course of the four-day event, so if anyone is handy with a camera, they should contact him. Details about the various events are available on the Salem Super Cruise Facebook page and at salemsupercruise.com.

The deadline for submissions for this year’s Salem Super Cruise brochure is March 31, but Johnson stressed that advertisers and businesses shouldn’t wait until the last minute. He said to contact either himself or Debbie Bricker at city hall for details and copies of contract applications.

Mick Orosz, who’s in charge of concessions, said contracts for the food vendors will be going out by April 1. City Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst said the contracts for entertainment have already been sent out.

Johnson said he doesn’t know what the businesses on the west end want to do this year.

Kenst announced that Salem Computer Center will be setting up free Wifi in the downtown again, with a separate secure Wifi for vendors again.

The next cruise committee meeting will be 7 p.m. March 25 in city hall council chambers.

mgreier@salemnews.net