The sounds of roaring motors and screeching tires combined with the smell of burning rubber returns to Saratoga Speedway Saturday night as the Black Creek oval opens its 37th season with the first of 25 events.
It marks the 47th season of auto racing in Black Creek as the oval opened in 1968 under the name of Oyster River Speedway until 1978, when it closed for two years until it reopened in 1981 under the Saratoga banner.
The lineup features Crash to Pass cars, Hornets, Road Runners and Mad Max cars. The night will end with a fireworks show.
The seaosn will feature monster truck weekends, May 20-21 and Aug. 5-6, and three visits by the Wilroc Sprint cars.
The first race for the IMCA Modifieds is May 13, along with the Bomber and Dwarf cars. They will pay homage to Darrell Wardrope, a popular driver who lost a tough battle with cancer in the off-season. In his memory, drivers will compete for the first Darrell Wardrope Memorial trophy.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Qualifying is 6 p.m., and the green flag drops at 7p.m.