East coast openers set for this weekend

Three east coast tracks are set to open their gates this weekend, marking the start of the 2006 outdoor season in the Mid-Atlantic region. Lincoln Speedway located near Hanover, Penna., kicks their season off on Saturday, February 25 with the Icebreaker 30 for the powerful 410 sprint cars. The Icebreaker 30, which draws huge crowds every year, pays $3,500 to the winner. The popular Thundercars are also on the card at Lincoln in the Spring Thaw 20. Gates open at noon with the first green flag of the season scheduled to fly at 2:00 p.m.

On Sunday the sprint cars travel to Williams Grove Speedway, the famed half-mile speedway in Mechanicsburg, Penna. for a sprint car only program. The first heat takes the green flag at 2:00 p.m.

Located just south of the Mason Dixon line in Hagerstown, Md., Hagerstown Speedway is scheduled to start their 2006 season with late models and big block modifieds. Both 35 lap features pay $2,000 to win. The big block modified feature is the first Syracuse qualifier of the year. Brett Hearn is expected to lead the list of drivers returning from Speedweeks in Florida to use the Hagerstown opener as a tune up for the 100 lap DIRT modified race at Hagerstown on March 25. Gates open at 11:00 a.m. with the green scheduled for 1:00 p.m.