FORT DODGE, Iowa -- Mother Nature’s wicked ways last month will make for an exciting doubleheader this weekend as the Mineral City Speedway in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Highway 3 Raceway in Allison, Iowa, will roll out the red carpet for fans and drivers for their season openers this Friday and Saturday, May 4-5.

Both tracks will be opening their doors to race fans for an exciting new season, and track officials will also be opening up their wallets to welcome new and returning competitors alike.

On-track action will feature the unparalleled action of the USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA A-Mods, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks with the following big payouts posted for each season-opening event:

USRA A-MODS: 1. $1000, 2. $700, 3. $500, 4. $400, 5. $300, 6. $250, 7. $200, 8. $175, 9. $150, 10. $130, 11. $120, 12. $110, 13-24. $100, Tow $60.

USRA STOCK CARS: 1. $1000, 2. $500, 3. $400, 4. $300, 5. $200, 6. $175, 7. $150, 8. $130, 9. $115, 10. $100, 11. $90, 12. $80, 13-24. $75, Tow $50.

USRA B-MODS: 1. $750, 2. $400, 3. $300, 4. $250, 5. $200, 6. $150, 7. $130, 8. $110, 9. $100, 10. $90, 11. $80, 12. $75, 13. $70, 14. $65, 15. $60, 16. $55, 17-24. $50, Tow $40.

USRA HOBBY STOCKS: 1. $600, 2. $400, 3. $300, 4. $200, 5. $170, 6. $140, 7. $110, 8. $100, 9. $90, 10. $80, 11. $75, 12. $70, 13. $65, 14. $60, 15. $55, 16-24. $50, Tow $35.

Friday night in Fort Dodge will also have local Econo Stocks and Hornets as part of the program, with the following payouts posted for the May 4 season opener:

ECONO STOCKS: 1. $150, 2. $100, 3. $80, 4. $70, 5. $65, 6. $60, 7. $55, 8. $50, 9. $45, 10. $45, 11. $40, 12. $40, 13. $40, 14. $35, 15. $35, 16-24. $30, Tow $25.

HORNETS: 1. $100, 2. $75, 3. $60, 4. $50, 5. $45, 6. $40, 7. $40, 8. $35, 9. $35, 10. $30, 11. $30, 12. $30, 13. $30, 14-24. $25, Tow $15.

There is no entry fee in any division at either track for these shows.

On Friday at the Mineral City Speedway, pits open at 4:00, grandstand gates open at 5:00 and hot laps start at 7:00 with racing to follow. Adult grandstand tickets are $10, kids ages 13-16 are $6 and children under 13 get in for free. Pit passes are $25.

On Saturday at the Highway 3 Raceway, pits open at 4:00, grandstand gates open at 5:00 and hot laps begin at 6:00 with racing to follow. Adult grandstand tickets are $10, kids ages 6-12 are $3 and children under 6 get in for free. Pit passes are $25.

This will also be the first points race for all classes at both of the legendary half-mile clay ovals. USRA A-Mods will compete for a track points fund worth up to $1,500 to the season champion at each track. USRA Stock Cars will compete for $600 to win the points battle while USRA B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks will each square off for a $500 to the 2012 track champion at each of these historic facilities.

The USRA A-Mods will utilize the “alternative” rules package for Modifieds, while all other USRA rules will apply to all four classes.

The Mineral City Speedway is a 1/2-mile semi-banked dirt oval located 0.9 mile north of US 20 on US 169, then 0.5 mile east on 230th. For more information check out www.mineralcityspeedway.com online.

The Highway 3 Raceway is located 0.3 miles north of SR 3 on S. Main St. (at the Butler County Fairgrounds). For more information check out www.highway3raceway.com online.

To learn more about the USRA, visit www.usraracing.com or call 515-832-6000.