WINSTON, Mo. -- The weather is beginning to change. Twice in the last two weeks we have experienced weather at or near 70 degrees. Soon it will be warm enough to fire the engines and hear the roar of the racecars competing at I-35 Speedway.

We are only two weeks away from the Daytona 500, once that race occurs time starts to fly to the opening of the local race season. The Daytona 500 is Feb. 22, and exactly one month later, on March 22, the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) with the Iron Man Series featuring USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods invade the I-35 Speedway for exhilarating racing.

Yes, the 22nd is a Sunday, but what better way to open the season than have a top touring series inaugurate the 2015 racing season just like NASCAR inaugurates their season.

March 28 is opening night for the six regular classes at I-35 Speedway. The USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Mods will compete weekly. Along with those three classes will be the rapidly-growing E-Mods, always-exciting Grand Nationals and super-competitive Hobby Stocks.

So as the weather changes, and each week we gain another beautiful day, let’s plan for great weather on those two days in March. If you are missing your I-35 Speedway fix then join the I-35 Speedway family this Sunday, Feb, 8, at the Mavericks “Racing Fan Appreciation Night” for their home game at Independence Events Center with racing celebrities.

Can't make this event? Then mark your calendars for Saturday, March 14, when I-35 Speedway representatives will be in North Kansas City to jump start our race season with lots of parade-goers at the annual Snake Saturday Parade & Festival.

Don't have a schedule? Stop by the pace truck and pick up your copy. Practice will be the following day, March 15, as we allow our racers to test, tune and familiarize themselves with the track, their cars and other racers.

As the seasons are changing, we move towards warmer weather and the start of the always electrifying super-fast I-35 Speedway racing season.