The green flag is about to drop on the local racing season.
The Meadowbrook Mall and Interstate 79 Speedway are kicking things off with the return of the annual car show to introduce race fans to the cars of the 2000 racing season. The mall show will be held through today.
Cars from all racing divisions -- late models, semi-lates, modifieds, pure stocks and four cylinders -- are expected to be on display. Several drivers also will be available.
Racing at Interstate 79 Speedway is just a few weeks away. A practice session is scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 7. Rain date for the session is April 9. The season opener is April 14 and I-79 will be in action every Friday night throughout the spring and summer.
The track figures to host a strong field of late model drivers each weekend, including West Union's Butch McGill, Morgantown's Nolan Dalton, Clarksburg's Robbie Scott and Gary Dalton of Morgantown.
I-79 Speedway again will highlight its season with the West Virginia State Championship Series for the dirt late models. The dates for the six-race series are: May 5, May 28, June 23, July 2, Aug. 11 and the Sept. 2 $10,000-to-win Mountain State Thunder 2.
Among other featured events at the speedway will be three Enduro races and four dwarf races. The dates for the Enduro events are: May 7, July 16 and Sept. 24. The dwarf car events will be held May 12, June 16, July 14 and Aug. 18.
Also opening its 2000 racing season in the coming weeks is Tyler County Speedway. A practice session is scheduled for today, and the season will open April 1.
