The third weekend in July is one of the highlights and will feature a set of late model races like never before seen in this part of the state.

The Pump and Pantry Late Model Nationals have matured into a top notch super late model event. The Friday-Saturday races at Mid-Nebraska Speedway annually bring some of the best super late model pilots to central Nebraska.

The Nationals will be followed by a pair of races at the Boone County Raceway in Albion. The World Dirt Racing League "supers" invade the northeast Nebraska 3/8 mile oval on Sunday, July 20. The Boone County Fair is that week and Monday's highlight is the World of Outlaws late models competing for a top prize of $10,000.

Depending on race schedules, that weekend could feature some of the top late models in the country appearing at a track near you. Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductees like Billy Moyer, Scott Bloomquist, Rick Eckert and Steve Francis are all possibilities.

As usual early race events have had to battle the elements to put on a show. A Spring Thaw featuring the modifieds of the USMTS was a weather casualty earlier this month at Junction Motor Speedway.

It is now scheduled for next weekend.

The annual Spring Nationals in Beatrice this weekend are also battling a somewhat wintery forecast.

Not that this is new to race promoters in this state. March race shows are always iffy propositions. That is, until the day we get the first domed speedway in Nebraska. I know what you're thinking but I say funding-shmunding. Whatever happened to "if you build it they will come?"

When the weather does warm up this summer Eagle Raceway is planning the Eagle Nationals the second Saturday in June. The event is the only stop in Nebraska this summer for the World of Outlaws sprint cars.

The Memorial Day weekend is always a hotbed of special races around the area. The Cornhusker State Shootout at Mid-Nebraska Speedway will open the first big super late model weekend of the season.

The Alphabet Soup race at I-80 Speedway wraps up the first holiday weekend of the summer.

The first weekend in August features the King of the Hill Late Model Shootout at Junction Motor Speedway.

Super late models representing MLRA, NCRA and TORA will compete.

Besides all of the specials that have been scheduled for the upcoming season there is other good news on the racing front.

The Butler County Motorplex is going to be reopened by Phil and Charlotte Bivens. Friday night racing returns, after a one year absence, to one of Nebraska's newest race facilities located near Rising City.

While one of Nebraska's most recently constructed race tracks will be open again, one of Nebraska's old stock car stalwarts may take the season off. The Speed Bowl in Red Cloud, which has hosted Friday night racing for years, remains a question mark for the upcoming season. Landowners and prospective promoters have been unable to come together on opening the facility this summer. The IMCA sanctioning for that area has been given to the Thayer County Speedway in Deshler.

I hope there is a future for The Speed Bowl. There are many memories from the concrete bleachers on the hill. Friday night has been race night in Red Cloud for many years. Race fans in Webster County hope that it will be once again soon.

After the winter we survived race fans will be more than ready to smell the burning fuel and feel that first speck of dirt in their eyes.

Race season is almost here.