Mitch Keeter of Webb City is the defending Springfield Raceway track champion.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The 2011 season opener at the Springfield Raceway is set to roll on Saturday night, April 16, with race time set for 6 p.m.

After a very busy and successful 2010 season, owners Jerry Hoffman and Doug Bland have put together another action-packed schedule with something for everyone.

The Speedway has went back to the USRA sanction for the Modifieds, which means a chance for the area drivers to compete for a nice points fund at the end of the season for both track and national dollars.

Classes competing in the Transport Graphics Chase include the USRA RHS Modifieds plus Reliable Chevorlet Sport Mods,Wheeler Metal Street Stocks, Casey's General Stores Midwest Modz, Legends and Pure Stocks.

The USRA RHS Modifieds are the main event division at the Speedway and will find the competition level getting even higher than before as 2010 track champion Mitch Keeter of Webb City will lead a talented field of drivers going for the points title which goes thorugh Sept. 3.

Last season Keeter put a halt to Jackie Dalton's winning championship stretch by 20 points after falling just a few short the previous season.

With the USRA sanction, it has attracted interest in many of the four-state area top Modified drivers including Springfield Raceway regular Erik Maggard of Springfield, hard charger Bobby Pearish of Oronogo, Turkey Classic winner Jody Tillman of Branson, young gun Brian Green of Pierce City, Webb City's Scott Drake, Terry Beckham II and many others.

For the month of April, the Springfield Raceway will be starting at 6 p.m. and move to a 7 p.m. starting time in May. Pit gates will open at 3 p.m. in April while the grandstand gate opens at 4, drivers meeting at 5, hot laps at 5:15 and draw will cut-off at 5:30.

RACEceivers are used at Springfield Raceway in all classes except for the Pure Stocks.

Grandstand admission is only $10 for adults while kids ages 6-12 are $5 and under 6 are free.

For more information visit the website at www.springfieldraceway.com or contact Jerry Hoffman at 417-673-7426.

Opening night on April 16 will be Armed Services Night as all past and present military with i.d. will recieve free grandstand admission.