Craig Daily Press

Hayden — The speed is back.

Hayden Speedway opens today after two weeks of cancellations because of weather, and Dana Goodwin said the event is long overdue.

“All of us, especially the drivers, are really excited to go,” said Good­win, Western Colo­rado Racing Associ­ation Trea­s­urer. “The first night is always the best.”

Tonight has been deemed “Benefit Night,” ac­­cording to Good­win, and there will be five races in five different classes: sport stock, street stock, super Stock, modified class and limited late model.

Goodwin said she’s not sure what the payouts to winners will be.

“It depends on how many cars we have in each race,” she said. “A lot of cars mean a lot of money. It’s hard to tell coming in to the first week of the season how many drivers will show up.”

Leadership has changed hands this season, causing concern among previous drivers, but Goodwin said the leadership change most likely would go unnoticed.

Goodwin and her husband, Phil, along with Scott Heizer, will share the duties this season.

“We are going to have a great season,” she said. “Nobody is going to be able to tell by the action on the track that new people are in charge. We plan on keeping the event the same, and possibly even better than it has ever been.”

Goodwin added that she’s been watching the weather channel all week, and the weather is shaping up perfectly for the season opener.

“I’ve been really watching the weather and it’s supposed to be beautiful,” she said. “We expect to have, well, we hope to have, at least 400 spectators come out and watch.”

Goodwin said this season would be tailored more toward the junior fans — those 13 years of age and younger.

For $5, junior can get a season pass good for every race.

“This is a family-type atmosphere, definitely,” she said. “We encourage parents to get their kids involved. We let them go into the pits after the races and hang around with the drivers. All of the drivers are really good about that. They let the kids sit in their cars and sign autographs for them. It’s a really cool thing for them.”

The races will have concession stands run by the American Legion and despite no alcohol being sold at the event, Goodwin said adult beverages are allowed.

“You can bring liquor or beer,” she said. “Just no glass bottles. We don’t want any glass out at the track with all the kids playing around.”

The races kick off at 6:30 p.m., and Goodwin said it’s an event race fans don’t want to miss.

“It’s so much better than sitting around watching television,” she said. “Come on out and have a good time.”

John Vandelinder can be reached at 875-1793, or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com