Rev it up: Regional tracks gear up for another racing season

If you are a racing fan, you can enjoy plenty of action in our region this summer and fall without traveling far. For example, the area is home to drag racing venues - including a top National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) event. Plus, paved tracks offer NASCAR-sanctioned racing, dirt tracks provide plenty of fun and motocross courses abound. Some tracks listed here offer novelty races, including "Enduros" (no or few red flags), "Eves of Destruction," school bus races and so on. Tracks usually offer season passes, ticket packages and pit admissions, and most charge more, sometimes much more, for special races. Any prices below are for regular events only. Tracks are usually open at least one weekend evening plus some holidays, and some tracks offer camping facilities.

Drag Racing

Brainerd International Raceway - Open selected weekends (May 9-Oct. 5), BIR will have a new 2.5-mile road course and four big racing events. Two feature muscle cars (June 27-9, Aug. 29-31) and two showcase the NHRA, with regional racing May 23-5 and NHRA's Lucas Oil Powerade Nationals Aug. 7-10 (tickets sold online this year), when the sport's biggest names appear. Other drag racing fills five weekends and anyone can drag an inspected street car for $20 (spectators $5) on seven Wednesdays. 1-866-444-4455, www.brainerdraceway.com.

Rock Falls Raceway - The Elk Mound (near Eau Claire), Wis. facility celebrates its 40th anniversary this summer. Open most Saturdays/Sundays through Oct. 18. $10, $8 seniors, $5 ages 10-15; 715-879-5089, 715-858-0170, visit www.rockfallsraceway.com.

Paved Tracks

Elko Speedway - Saturday night racing through Oct. 5 at this high-banked oval south of Burnsville includes NASCAR's Whelen All-American racing series. $10-$15, $5 ages 5-12; 952-461-7223, www.elkospeedway.com.

Raceway Park - Shakopee's oval features Sunday races through Sept. 27, including NASCAR and ASA racing. The track's "trademark" is figure-eight racing. $12, $5 ages 5-12; 952-445-2257, www.goracewaypark.com.

I-94 Raceway - Sauk Centre's ASA-sanctioned track holds races on Saturdays (or some Fridays) May 24-Sept. 13. Longer races include an ASA Midwest Tour 100-lap race July 5. $11, $6 ages 11-17 and 62+, $2 ages 6-10; 320-352-5263, www.i94raceway.com.

Motorbikes

Spring Creek Motocross Park - Bikes race on selected Saturdays and Sundays May 3-Oct. 5. The biggest week (Aug. 10-17) includes an AMA National Motocross Championship Series race for the 24th straight year. $10 ages 4-adult; 507-753-2779, www.springcreekmx.com.

Dirt Tracks

Arlington Raceway - IMCA sprint cars highlight Saturday racing at the Sibley County Fairgrounds in Arlington through Sept. 27. $10, $3 ages 6-12; 507-931-4803, www.arlingtonraceway.com.

Deer Creek Speedway - Spring Valley's banked oval offers Saturday racing through Sept. 20, with the World of Outlaws July 9 and a big USMTA national race weekend Sept. 18-20. $12 ages 12+, under 12 free (regular races only); 877-327-7223, www.deercreekspeedway.com.

Princeton Speedway - It's mostly Friday racing through Aug. 29 at this high-banked quarter-mile track. There are also World of Outlaws races Oct. 3-4. $10, $6 ages 7-14 and 62+; 763-389-3135, www.princetonspeedway.com.