The Cedar Lake Speedway was founded in 1957, and today the state-of-the-art 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval is one of the nation's leading short track facilities.

Sixty-six years after opening the gates for the first time, a new record-holder emerged on Aug. 26 when Cade Nelson of Hermantown, Minn., captured his first USRA Late Model feature win at the track and secured the 2023 track championship.

At the age of 13, Nelson is the youngest track champion in Cedar Lake Speedway history.

Having good genes doesn't hurt. He is the son of five-time track champion Darrell Nelson, who is tied with Dave Can for the second-most Modified wins at the track with 46. Craig Thatcher leads the category with 60 career wins.

In nailing down the track championship, Cade Nelson held off Justin Sass of Elgin, Minn., by 28 points, with two-time USRA Late Model national champ Lucas Peterson of Grand Meadow, Minn., winding up third in the final standings.

But wait, there's more...

As of Sept. 12, Cade Nelson also finds himself atop the USRA Late Model national points battle and is the runaway leader for national Swift Springs USRA Rookie of the Year honors.

Behind Nelson, the rest of the top five nationally are Chad Prissel of Rock Falls, Wis., Michael Hucovski of Corcoran, Minn., and Matt McEathron of Wausau, Wis.

Meanwhile, two-time defending USRA Late Model National Champion Dylan Kromschroeder of Cambridge, Minn.,  is sixth in national points with several races to go before he reaches the 20-race threshold.

The Cedar Lake Speedway has one more event remaining on the 2023 calendar when officials host the Legendary 100 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14-16. All three nights feature USRA Late Models competing for national points in the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series.

Summit USRA Nationals nears: The 10th Annual Summit USRA Nationals powered by Chevrolet Performance returns to the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" on October 2-7. This year's event will feature USRA Modifieds, Medieval USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and USRA Tuners.

Racers are encouraged to register online now at myracepass.com/usranationals or you can download the entry form here and then mail or fax your completed form. You can also call the USRA office at (515) 832-6000 to sign up. Fans can purchase tickets online here.

USRA moving fast forward: For more than two decades, the USRA has attracted more and more racetracks and dirt track racers each year through fair, logical and cost-effective rules accompanied by an organization that puts the racers, racetracks and their fans first. During the 2023 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 60 of America's finest dirt ovals will host more than 1,000 nights of racing.

USRA competitors can register online here or call (515) 832-6000 to register by phone. You can also download the application here and then submit your completed form by email at office@usraracing.com or fax at (515) 832-7958.

To learn more, check out usraracing.com. Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Click here to join our email list and get USRA news and exclusive promotions delivered to your inbox.

USRA OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Beyea Headers, Chevrolet Performance, Christie Door Company, Fast Shafts, FK Rod Ends, KS Engineering, KSE Racing Products, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Nitroquest Media, PEM Racing Gears & Drivetrain, RacinDirt, Summit Racing Equipment, Sunoco Race Fuels.

USRA PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Allen Autosports Race Cars, ARMI Contractors, Boubin Tire & Automotive, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DAY Motorsports, Duvall Electric, Gunshepherd.com, Innovative AutoGlass & Window Tint, PBM Performance Products, Star 1 Roofing & Construction, Stealth Thru Tubing, Texas Locomotive Solutions, TNT Auto Parts, YouDirt.com.

USRA CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bryke Racing, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Edelbrock, Hooker Harness, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, JE Pistons, K1 RaceGear by Ryan Bowers, Keyser Manufacturing, Landrum Performance Springs, MD3, Medieval Chassis, MSD, Performance Bodies & Parts, QA1, Quarter Master, QuickCar Racing Products, RacerWebsite.com, Real Racing Wheels, Swift Springs, Sybesma Graphics, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.

USRA RACETRACKS: 67 Speedway of Texarkana, 81 Speedway, Alien Motor Speedway, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Arrowhead Speedway, Bolivar Speedway, Boothill Speedway, Callaway Raceway, Caney Valley Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, Crawford County Speedway, Cresco Speedway, Dallas County Speedway, Deer Creek Speedway, Diamond Park Speedway, Eagle Valley Speedway, Electric City Speedway, Elk City Motorsports Park, Fairmont Raceway, Fayette County Speedway, Gondik Law Speedway, Hamilton County Speedway, Humboldt Speedway, Hunt County Raceway, I-35 Speedway, I-90 Speedway, Lakeside Speedway, Lawton Speedway, Legacy Speedway, Longdale Speedway, Lucas Oil Speedway, Mason City Motor Speedway, Mississippi Thunder Speedway, Monett Raceway, Northwest Missouri State Fairgrounds, Outlaw Motor Speedway, Rapid Speedway, Red Cedar Speedway, Red Dirt Raceway, Rocket Raceway Park, Route 66 Motor Speedway, RPM Speedway, Sabine Speedway, Salina Highbanks Speedway, Sandia Speedway, Sports Park Raceway, Springfield Raceway, Super Bee Speedway, Thunder Valley Speedway, Tomahawk Speedway, Tri-State Speedway, Tulsa Speedway, US 36 Raceway, Vado Speedway Park, West Texas Raceway, Winneshiek Raceway.