AZTEC, N.M. (Feb. 1)—New Mexico’s Aztec Speedway is the latest dirt track in America to upgrade their program with the sanctioning of five divisions under the USRA banner for 2016.

Drenched in history and bordered by natural beauty, the 1/3-mile high-banked clay oval has been thrilling local race fans since the 1960s and will build on that reputation with the USRA Weekly Racing Series featured as part of the track’s Saturday programs.

“First and foremost I would like to thank each and every one who has supported Aztec Speedway over the years,” said Aztec Speedway promoter Mike Tenski. “Without you all, the success of the race track would not have been possible—from racers to fans and every one in between.

“There is going to be some changes coming in the 2016 race season. We have decided to change our sanctioning body for Modifieds, Stock Cars, B-Mods and Limited Modifieds to USRA. We feel with what USRA has to offer will benefit our local racers and race track much more than the previous sanctioning body.

The season will kick off on Saturday, April 2, at 2 p.m. with USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks circling the historic speedway. For the season’s third week of racing, the track switches to its usual 7 p.m. start time on April 16.

Highlighting the preliminary 2016 schedule will be the Ryan Bard Memorial on Friday and Saturday, May 20-21.

Located just south of the Colorado border in the northwest corner of New Mexico, Aztec is a scenic river-runs-through-it community where the buzz is about fabulous events, top-shelf recreation, enviable climate, rich history and eclectic, small-town pleasures.

Home to countless dazzling landmarks, Aztec fulfills the recreationalist, entices the cultured, beckons the explorer and makes peaceful the nomadic. It's a town of close-knit neighbors, pioneer-strong family values and a love of the land.

2016 AZTEC SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE:

April 2 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
April 9 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
April 16 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
May 7 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
May 20-21 … Ryan Bard Memorial: USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
June 4 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
June 18 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
June 25 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
July 16 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
July 30 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
Aug. 13 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
Aug. 20 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
Sept. 3 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
Sept. 17 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.
Oct. 1 … Joe Herrera Memorial: ASCS National & Southwest Winged Sprint Cars, USRA B-Mods and USRA Limited Mods.
Oct. 8 … USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Limited Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts.

For more information about the Aztec Speedway, call (505) 258-3978 or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aztec.speedway. The track is located 1.2 miles south of US 550 on SR 544, then 0.2 mile east on Legion Rd.

To learn more about the USRA, visit www.usraracing.com or call 515-832-6000. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usraracing, follow us at www.twitter.com/usraracing on Twitter and check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usratv.