LEBANON, Mo. — It started 25 years ago as racefan and local businessman Bill Willard saw a need for local area racing as it was on a downward slide.

Bill had some land right off Historic Route 66 and  Interstate 44,jumped on his dozer and began moving trees, brush and everythingelse to create the then state-of-the-art Lebanon I-44 Speedway.

Bill always took notes when visiting other racetracks and jotted down what he felt fans and drivers needed.

After a three-week delay due to weather,the gates were opened to a beautiful 3/8-mile red clay oval track with comfortable benched seats, easy parking, a seating capacity of 5,000 ,and set the trend for short tracks over all America to follow.

Opening night saw three classes of racecars — Open Late Models, Sportsmans (Limited Late Models) and Street Stocks — with over 80 cars total checked into the pits to compete before a capacity crowd.

Opening night winners would find Rex McCroskey take his Chevelle home with the win in the Street Stock class. Veteran racer Dave Williams of Springfield was the class of the Sportsmans, grabbing the opening night win, and in the Late Model division, Bobby Menzie battled Moe Miller hard for the win, pulling off the upset over a stellar field.

Fans were treated to leaning back in the spaced-out benched backed bleachers and history was in the making as Saturday night was found this the place to be as Randy Mooneyham promoted the track in its first season.

This season the high banks of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway will celebrate 25 years of local racing with an action-packed schedule. Officials have announced two schedule changes as May 31 will be a regular points show. The first draft of the scheduled listed the track being off that night.

The Speedway has also announced that the popular Show-Me Racin Series Late Models will be battling in action in a return apperance on Saturday night, May 10, along with regular action for the support classes.

The season opener is scheduled for Saturday night, March 29, as the popular USMTS Modified Series rolls into the high banks of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway as the America's Hottest Ticket on Dirt takes to the clay along with Factory Stocks and B-Mods. A practice night is set for Saturday night, March 22, as the season-long points battle for the Central Bank I-44 Racing Series will start on April 5 with the regular show consisting of UMP Late Models, USRA Modifieds, Factory Stocks, B-Mods, Bombers and Rookies.

Special apperances will feature the WOW 360 Sprints, DLRA Late Models along with the MARS Late Models, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and USMTS Modifieds, along with Super Stocks and 305 Winged Sprints on a limited schedule.

For more information on the Lebanon I-44 Speedway, visit the website at www.lebanoni44speedway.net, or contact Randy Mooneyham at 417-224-7074.