Us 30 Speedway

About US 30 Speedway

US 30 Speedway is a 1/3 mile IMCA sanctioned clay oval three miles west of Columbus, Nebraska, on Highway 30. Racers call it the Dirty 30, and the track calls itself the Home of Thursday Night Thunder, which tells you the two things that matter most about it. It races midweek, and it has a personality.

Built by the Lincoln Family in 1986

The track was built in 1986 by the family of Darrell Duane Lincoln, known to everyone as Abe. It stayed family built, family owned and family operated for roughly thirty five years, and the family described the place as more than a racetrack. That phrasing was not marketing. Successive generations kept running it after Abe was gone, carrying on what he started.

That legacy is written into the schedule. The track’s marquee event is the Abe Lincoln Memorial, a multi day September show named for the founder, which in recent seasons has also run as the Lincoln Legacy Tribute Race. It brings together the full IMCA class list along with touring sprint car and late model series for the biggest weekend of the year.

The track went through a stretch of uncertainty about its future more recently, and new ownership stepped in to keep it running rather than let a Nebraska racing institution close. Several Nebraska tracks have not been so fortunate over the past few years.

Thursday Night Thunder

Racing is on Thursday nights, which is unusual and is the track’s best asset. With almost every other dirt track in the region running Friday or Saturday, drivers can race at Columbus on Thursday and still make a weekend show somewhere else. That keeps car counts healthy and gives fans a midweek option nobody else offers.

Pit gates and grandstand gates both open at 5:00, hot laps run around 7:15, and racing starts at 8:00.

Classes

The weekly card is built on IMCA divisions: Late Models, Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks, with IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars appearing on selected nights.

The division that gets the most attention is the Crown Vic class, which runs on nearly every card. Retired police cruisers, minimal modification, low budget and entertaining to watch. It is the class that turns a casual spectator into a regular.

Theme Nights and Specials

US 30 runs a themed calendar rather than a string of identical points races. Kids Night with a nickel toss, kids bike races, ladies night, guys night, cancer awareness night and trailer races have all appeared on the schedule, alongside regular points shows.

Touring series visit through the season as well, including the Sprint Series of Nebraska, GOTRA, MCSA and late model tours such as the Malvern Bank Super Late Models and SLMR.

Getting There and What to Know

The track is at 23500 US Highway 30, three miles west of Columbus in Platte County, roughly ninety minutes northwest of Omaha and an hour north of Lincoln.

One practical note: the official website has not kept pace with recent seasons, and its schedule page has shown a placeholder. For current dates, cancellations and news, the track’s Facebook page and its MyRacePass listing are the live sources. The phone number is 402-910-6893.

Nebraska weather in spring will take out a Thursday program, so check before you drive in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What night does US 30 Speedway race?

Thursday nights. Gates open at 5:00, hot laps at 7:15 and racing at 8:00. It is one of the few midweek dirt tracks in the region.

How long is the track?

It is a 1/3 mile clay oval.

What classes race there?

IMCA Late Models, Modifieds, Stock Cars, Northern Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks, with IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars on selected nights and a Crown Vic class on most cards.

Why is it called the Dirty 30?

It is the nickname racers have used for years, drawn from the highway the track sits on and the clay surface it races on.

When was it built?

1986, by the family of Darrell Duane Lincoln, known as Abe. The family ran it for around thirty five years before ownership changed.

What is the Abe Lincoln Memorial?

The track’s signature multi day event, held in September and named for its founder. It has also run as the Lincoln Legacy Tribute Race and draws touring sprint car and late model series alongside the IMCA classes.

Where do I find the current schedule?

The track’s Facebook page and its MyRacePass listing carry current dates and cancellations. The official website schedule page has not been kept current.

Where is US 30 Speedway located?

23500 US Highway 30, Columbus, Nebraska 68601, three miles west of town. The phone number is 402-910-6893.

More information on US 30 Speedway; Click here https://www.us30speedway.com/

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