Nevada Speedway kicks off season Saturday

Submitted photo

Historic Nevada Speedway is slated to kick off its 55th season on Saturday at the local dirt oval.

According to information distributed to the Daily Mail, “seven exciting classes will be racing, including: the Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks, Street Stocks, Midwest Mods, B-Mods, A-Mods and Late Models.”

The press release continued, “The track challenges you to bring a friend who has never visited the track before and to come out and enjoy a family fun, affordable night at the races!”

After concluding a superb 2017 season with five trips to victory lane, and a runner-up finish in the season-long Pure Stock point standings — Nevada High School junior Jaren Powrie, and his signature No. 74 car, look to carry over that momentum into Saturday’s season-opener.

Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with racing scheduled to start at 7:30. For admission info, contact (417) 667-5859.

Track champs

Last season’s Nevada Speedway track champions, were:

• Late Model champion: John Willard, Mound City, Kan.

• A-Mod champion: Jessy Willard, Pleasanton, Kan.

• B-Mod champion: Matt Rose, Liberal, Mo.

• Mini-Stock champion: Steve Bunton, St. Joseph, Mo.

• Pure Stock champion: Thomas Dunham, Carl Junction, Mo.

• Street Stock champion: Karl Lehmann, Nevada,Mo.

• Midwest Mod champion: Rob Muilenburg, Sparta, Mo..

Note: Muilenburg was also the overall points champion, with a track-leading 13 first-place finishes.

Down memory lane

The 2017 season was filled with many memorable moments. Leading the way, however, was Alan Vaughn’s appearance in victory lane on the final night of the season.

Competing in the Late Model division, Vaughn hadn’t tasted victory in seven years, until his breakthrough triumph on Oct. 21.

Another memorable moment came two weeks prior, when the father-son duo, and Liberal natives Broc and Matt Rose both zoomed into victory lane on the same night.

Broc flew the checkers in Pure Stock, and Matt in the B-Mod Division.