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A little water couldn't slow down the races at the Hayden Speedway.

In the first race of the season Saturday night, the United Rebel Sprint Series sponsored by T & H Parts, racers had to battle the track and the other cars.

One thing the racers didn't have to battle was nerves, said Floyd Gutierrez, Hayden Speedway club president.

"Once you get out there, you forget about all that," he said. "It's like any other sport - you have butterflies until you actually get out on there. Once you get out on the track, you concentrate on driving."

Gutierrez, himself a driver, said it varies for everyone, but most racers manage to get over their jitters.

"For some people, they get the butterflies before every race," he said. "Once you're out there, you just concentrate on the race and you go.

"Once you get out, you go out to win. Or try to win. Or stay on the track."

Staying on the track proved to be difficult in the early goings, Gutierrez said.

"There was a little trouble because there was too much water on the track at the start," he said. "This time of year, the water soaks down and comes back up when it gets cool. We had to pack it in, so it delayed the races for just a little bit.

"After it was all packed in, we got the races started."

As the cars were able to get out on the dirt, few fans would be disappointed with the results, Gutierrez said.

"We had some good races," he said. "There were quite a few cars, a few wrecks. A couple of the sprint cars had some wrecks."

Not all the excitement was focused on wrecks, though.

"Izzy Hitz and Lisa Chedsey put on a good show in the sport stock," Gutierrez said. "That was exciting."

Gutierrez said he couldn't imagine a better opening race to the season.

"I think a lot of people left because it got cold later in the evening, but there were a lot of people," he said. "Usually, the first race we have a pretty good crowd, and the Sprint Cars typically draw a big crowd and put on a show."