With the 2025 racing season growing closer by the day, the biggest off-track gathering of the offseason for Ozarks-area racing fans will fuel the fire a bit this Saturday.

It's time for the 37th annual Ozarks Area Racers Foundation Reunion and Hall of Fame ceremony, a chance to bring fans together and celebrate the past while looking ahead to the future. The event will be held at the Ozarks Empire Fairgrounds' West E-Plex in Springfield.

Lucas Oil Speedway will have a booth at the event, with free schedules and information about the upcoming season.

“The Hall of Fame and Reunion always is a fund time for racing fans from all over the region to gather and talk racing. It's kind of a kickoff to the new season ahead," said Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton, who will man the speedway booth along with other track employees. "We want to invite everyone to stop by and see us at our booths and say hello, pick up some information or just talk racing."

Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. with dozens of race cars (both modern day and vintage) plus memorabilia on display. An autograph session for the new Hall of Fame inductees is set for 3:30 p.m. The induction ceremony starts at 5 p.m. with area track champions from 2024 recognized during that part of the program.

The Hall of Fame inductees are selected in two categories: Legend (for driving accomplishments) and Pioneers (off-track contributions such as car owners, mechanics, sponsors or media members).

This year's Hall of Fame class in the Legend division includes a pair of Fort Scott, Kan., natives who drove on area dirt tracks: Randy Zimmerman and the late Ron Bolin, along with Ken Dickinson of Lebanon and the late Jim Hayes of Crocker.

The Pioneer division features Bobby Long of Willard, who was a prominent car owner, along with racing tire innovator the late Lyle Marsh of Siloam Springs, Ark., racing historian Lynn Sanders of Springfield and engine builder Greg McKinney from Buffalo.

A special guest at this year's event will be Kansas City native Pat Sullivan, a former racing announcer and author.

Tickets are $15 in advance at participating area O'Reilly Auto Parts locations and $20 at the door. Kids 12-and-under are free.

The induction class brings to 241 members of the OARF Hall of Fame with their names carved into a 7,600-pound, three-piece granite monument that is on display outside the front entrance of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield. It's free for viewing, 365 days a year.

The Ozarks Area Racers Foundation is a not-for-profit group whose mission is to recognize the history of racing in the Ozarks and promote it for the future. For more information, find the Ozarks Area Racers Foundation's Facebook page.

Lucas Oil Speedway season nears: Weekly racing in the Pitts Homes and Realty Weekly Racing Series at Lucas Oil Speedway will feature five divisions - Hermitage Lumber Late Models, Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds, O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars, Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B Mods and the new Hickamo Country Store Super Stocks.

The 2025 schedule fires up March 22 with March Full Body Madness after Open Test & Tune on March 15 from 6-9 p.m.

For information on tickets or camping for any Lucas Oil Speedway event in 2025, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 295-6043 or email her at nmcmillan@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

Entering its 25 season of dirt track racing in 2025, the United States Racing Association 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 2024 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 60 of America's finest dirt ovals hosted more than 1,000 nights of racing.

To learn more about the USRA, check out USRAracing.com and follow our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube. To get USRA news and exclusive promotions delivered to your inbox, click here.