Dave Grayson

The Havasu 95 Speedway will open its gates Saturday afternoon for the latest round of its 2015-2016 winter racing season. The famed quarter mile paved oval is located within the Sara Park complex in beautiful Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Saturday's race has been dubbed "Full Of Hot Air Night" in honor of the community's annual Hot Air Balloon Festival. The speedway's management and staff is encouraging patrons to enjoy the festival early in the day and then come to the speedway to take in some red hot racing. Race day at the Havasu 95 Speedway is being sponsored by the Horizon Community Bank. The Saturday racing is a daytime event. The spectator gates will open at 12pm with the track going hot and green at 2pm.

Providing a full day of Havasu 95 style red hot racing will be the Late Models, running twin 50 lap main events, the Get It In Gear Street Stocks, the Bandoleros, running twin 20 lap mains, along with the Sam Nichols Electric Factory Stock, who will be racing on the dirt infield, and the Maintenance Solutions Team Factory Stocks.

The speedway's Late Model division will be making their second appearance of the season so their points standings are based on that first race back on November 28th. Nick Joanides won the feature that night and is now on top of the championship standing with 100 points. Lining up behind him are drivers Jeff Peterson, Trevor Huddleston, Brandon Lovelock and Bobby Keirns. The top five are separated by only eight points and twin 50 lap mains could shake up these standings.

The Get It Gear Street Stocks will be making their sixth appearance of the season on Saturday with the lingering question: what is it going to take to beat Gavin Bucy? This driver has won the last five main events in a row and is so hot it's a wonder his right racing shoe hasn't caught on fire. Making this racing situation even more interesting is the fact that speedway veteran Bobby Keirns has logged five consecutive second place finishes and is only ten points behind Bucy in the division's championship standings. There is also the element of time involved here. The Street Stocks will race just five more main events between January 2nd and April 2nd meaning Keirns needs to make a move on Bucy starting this Saturday.

The Sam Nichols Electric Factory Stocks will be making their fifth appearance of the season this Saturday. This division also raises a special question: what is it going to take to beat driver Brent Delay? This Factory Stock hot shoe has four consecutive wins and 200 points. Jose Guevara is ranked second in the standings with four top five finishes as 190 points. Jeff Prieur holds down third, with 180 points, based on a consistent four top fives. Making their racing interesting is the fact that they will be racing slideways on the dirt infield this Saturday afternoon and that could become a factor in the points standings.

The Maintenance Solutions Team Factory Stocks is a concept that requires three rotating drivers with at least one of them having to be a lady. This division will be making its fourth appearance of the season this Saturday afternoon. Team Take and Bake is currently on top of the championship standings with 146 points based on two feature wins and a third place finish. However, they are are only eight points ahead of EWWWWEEEE Racing and the Asphalt Junkies who are tied for second.

The youngsters in their small, but very fast, Bandoleros will be making their second appearance of the season and will be, once again, running twin main events on Saturday. Allison Gay won both main events back on January 2nd and leads the standings with 100 points. The trio of Brock Rogers, Ethan Deguevara and Madison Gay are tied for second just eight points behind the leader.

General admission tickets are $12 for age 17 to adult and $10 for seniors, military personnel and the handicapped. Kids tickets, age six to 16, are $6. Lake Havau Unified School District students can receive a one dollar discount by presenting their school IDs at the ticket gate. Kids five and under will be admitted free. The speedway also offers a budget friendly family pack that admits two adults and two kids for $25. Fans can also enjoy the amenities of the VIP section for $25 which includes pizza and the best seats in the house. Advance tickets, always a good idea for this speedway, can be purchased from Peggy Gerchman at Peggy's Sunrise Café located at 1584 Countryshire Avenue.

For out of town race teams and fans, the Quality Inn and Suites is the official motel of the Havasu 95 Speedway. Located at 271 South Lake Havasu Avenue, they offer beautiful and spacious rooms at affordable rates. Call 1-928-655-1111 for reservations which can also be made on line.