By Hunter Thomas

Dillon Motor Speedway will kick off the local racing season on Saturday, April 26 as the speedway celebrates 50 years.

Due to rain washing out last weekend’s events, the local season opener was rescheduled for this upcoming Saturday night. The speedway has already hosted its annual New Year’s event, as well as the South Carolina Clash 150, but this will be the first time this season the local drivers have hit the track for a points event.

To kick off the speedway’s 50th anniversary season, Dillon Motor Speedway will host the Carolina Vintage cars; Late Models, $1,200 to win; Super Trucks, $1,000 to win; Chargers, $400 to win; and the Street Stocks will be racing for $300. A new promotion that starts this weekend and will carry throughout the season is if there are 19 or more Late Models that show up to compete, then the $1,200 purse will be bumped up to $1,500.

Gates open on Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m. Practice will begin at 4 p.m., followed by qualifying at 6 p.m., and the green flag will wave at 8 p.m. Kids 11 years old and younger enter the gates for free. Dillon Motor Speedway will also be giving away tickets to this weekend’s events on Facebook through daily trivia competitions.

For more information, please visit the website online at DillonMotorSpeedway.com. Follow Dillon Motor Speedway on Facebook and on Twitter, @DillonSpeedway. You may also call the race hotline at 843.496.4790.