With the practice sessions now history, the Adirondack International Speedway in New Bremen is ready for its season opener Saturday. As the only American Speed Association facility in the state, the speedway will open its season with a 100-lap late model event. Heat races are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

"We will be holding the Renegade Nationals Qualifier (late models) on Saturday," said track owner and promoter Paul Lyndaker this week. "We expect a good field of cars coming from as far away as Ohio and Pennsylvania, along with our regular late model drivers."

All divisions on Saturday are racing for guaranteed positions for the October Renegade Nationals at the speedway. The October race will showcase a 200-lap late model feature with $4,000 going to the winner.

Besides racing in the late model division Saturday night, features are also scheduled for the truck stocks, four cylinders and lite trucks divisions. All divisions are racing for guaranteed starting positions in the respective classes for the October 11 and 12 races. The positions will be dispersed to the top-four finishers in each division.

"We had over 30 cars at our practice session last week," Lyndaker said. "It appears everyone is eager to start the season."

Billy Gibson, general manager of the speedway, said recently that many people in Lewis and Jefferson counties don't realize how close the speedway is from their homes.

"The speedway is only 30 miles from Watertown, while a lot of people in the Lowville area don't realize what they have in their own backyard," Gibson said. "Instead of maybe going to a NASCAR race out of state, they can see a NASCAR event at our speedway."

The seventh annual Camping World NASCAR East Series is scheduled for July 25-26 at the speedway. The race weekend draws fans from throughout the Northeast that follow many of the top young drivers moving up through NASCAR racing.

Gibson noted that on May 24 the speedway will host Military Appreciation Night. He added that all active duty soldiers and their families will receive free admission to the races that night.

"The Lowville Veterans of Foreign Wars will host a free chicken barbecue during the day for members of the Wounded Warriors program," Gibson said. "Fort Drum soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan and who are no longer able to serve will be our guests that night."

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The racing season begins this weekend at two additional speedways. Across the border, the Brockville (Ontario) Speedway opens its season Saturday night, while the Cornwall Motor (Ontario) Speedway is set to open on Sunday night.

At Brockville, the track has been widened by 60 feet in the turns and progressive banking has been introduced for what officials hope will lead to more exciting racing for the drivers and fans. Racing is scheduled for the 358-DIRT modifieds, sportsman, street stocks and rookies divisions. At Cornwall, there are be twin 25-laps for modifieds, while racing also is scheduled for the pure stocks, semipro and rookie stocks divisions.

On Friday night, Thunder Alley Speedpark in Evans Mills will hold another SUNY Canton street stocks series race. The series moves to Can-Am Motorsports Park in LaFargeville on Saturday night. A regular night of racing is scheduled for Saturday at Mohawk International Raceway in Hogansburg. There is no racing scheduled Saturday night at the Oswego Speedway.