It's almost time for racing at the 101st Northwest Missouri State Fair, Sept. 3-4, at the Bethany Fairgrounds Speedway.

2016 was a record-setting year at the Northwest Missouri State Fair with 107 cars signing in the pits for Sunday night races, but both nights were just as exciting. Changes are made to better the racing every year and, again, changes come in 2017.

Feature payouts are still in the works.

On Sunday night the pits will overflow with the USRA Modifieds and Out-Pace USRA B-Mods, plus Emods and Pure Stocks. Out-Pace USRA B-Mods return on Monday along with the Holley USRA Stock Cars plus the Show-Me Vintage racers and Emods.

The Out-Pace USRA B-Mod class has two big changes for 2017. For the first time, the B-Mods will be USRA-sanctioned so drivers can add to their Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points. Also, the class has been added to the Monday night races. With huge car counts the last couple years, it only made sense to schedule them both nights and make it sanctioned so drivers could get points.

Sunday night's added money will be worth $20 for heat wins, $10 per lap led and $50 for the hard charger. Monday night's bonus money will be beefed up some. It's $25 to win a heat, $20 to lead a lap and a $100 hard charger bonus. One driver could head home with as much as $500 in bonus money.

The USRA Modifieds have spent years running on Monday nights. In 2017, they get their chance to put themselves in the packed house on Sunday night. Again, also receiving Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points should make it even more exciting and attract some new names to the Northwest Missouri State Fair.

The added money for the USRA Modifieds will be $30 to heat winners, $20 per lap for 20 laps and a $100 hard charger. That comes up to over $400 extra for a single night of racing.

The Holley USRA Stock cars have provided lap-after-lap of excitement for years at the fair. Car counts have been good during that time, but there's always room for more so the bonus money has been stepped up in 2017 in an effort to see more cars this year. Heat race winners will receive $50, the hard charger will get $150 and each lap led will be worth $30. The Holley USRA Stock Car class has plenty of money for the taking this year with over $500 worth of bonus money.

Last year was the first year of the fan bonus. Eight fans went home with $50 in their hands, and that will continue this year.

Other bonus money and/or awards may be added. Also, feature payouts will be released soon.

Thousands of dollars are being put up for grabs by sponsors at the Northwest Missouri State Fair. Why miss all the excitement with racing on Sunday and Monday night during Labor Day Weekend at the 2017 Northwest Missouri State Fair?

Sunday and Monday races start at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 per person with kids ages 10 and under admitted free of charge.

For questions regarding the car races, please contact Jon Boller Jr. at (816) 752-3645.