While travelling to and from Daytona this year we met several different race fans. The couple sitting next to us was from Virginia. The people in the row in front of us were from South Carolina. Staying in the same timeshare as us were people from Illinois, California, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. I also have friends here locally who have never attended a local racetrack. So without further ado this blog is for them.

The best tracks in this area race on Saturday nights. The track I work at it is one of the cleanest if not the cleanest and most organized in the area. That track is I-35 Speedway located at exit 64 off the Interstate it is as the exit says 64 miles from Downtown Kansas City. The track is 3/8s dirt. The track features six classes of car each night, the United States Racing Association (USRA) A Modifieds, B Modifieds, and Stock Cars, along with an E-Mod, Pure Stock, and Charger Class. In 2015 this track averaged the most cars on a weekly basis than any of the other tracks in the area. With the Trackside Bar and Grill and upstairs suites the outside weather conditions can be mitigated, cold outside then heat on, hot outside the air conditioning is on. Non Wing Sprints, Vintage Race Cars, Mod lites, Midwest Outlaw Lightning Sprints, ULMA and SLMR Late Models will be making guest appearances at the track throughout the year. Races start at 7:00 P.M. and usually are completed by 10:30 P.M. This track provides the most racing for the race fan’s money.

Central Missouri Speedway is also another track located on Highway 13 just outside the city of Warrensburg, Missouri. From Kansas City Downtown this track is located a short hour and fifteen minute to an hour and half drive. The track features the USRA A Modifies, B Mods, Street Stock, and Pure Stock, with several visits scheduled for the ULMA Late Models. The track specializes in holiday weekend big events starting with Memorial Day, then Independence Day, followed by Labor Day specials.

Valley Speedway is the closest track to Kansas City Downtown located in Grain Valley, Missouri just east of the City. The track has five weekly classes with the Valley Sprints, USRA B Mods, E Mods, Outlaw Streets, and the Dirt Demons. They have several classes which will make guest appearances. Their largest race is the King of Kansas City race scheduled for June 24, 2016.

If you are visiting in the Kansas City Kansas area you should head west to Topeka. One of the best IMCA tracks in the area is Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas. This is an hour and fifteen to hour and half drive from Kansas City Downtown. They race on Saturday nights and feature the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby stocks, and IMCA Stock Cars. They hold a drivers meeting at 6:30 and then go into hotlaps and racing.

If you hang around on Sunday night Heartland Park Topeka is reopening as an IMCA track starting in May through the first weekend in September. Their racing will begin at 6 P.M. so as to give everyone a chance to race and then get home at a decent hour to start their work week.

So there you have it a look at race tracks in and around the Kansas City area should you be visiting this area.