About Eagle Raceway
Eagle Raceway is a 1/3 mile high banked clay oval two miles east of Eagle, Nebraska on US Highway 34, about fifteen miles east of Lincoln in Cass County. It bills itself as the world's fastest third mile and as America's Home Track, and it backs that up with a Saturday night IMCA program from April through September plus the largest IMCA sprint car event in the world. A separate go kart track on the same property races Friday nights.
Carved Out of the Hills in 1963
Two Eagle residents, Dale Halvorsen and Harvey Kropp, built the track in 1963 on Halvorsen's farm ground, with Kropp promoting the races. The terrain did them a favor. The surrounding hills allowed a high banked bowl shaped oval to be cut into the landscape, and those same hills made a natural place to set grandstands above the racing surface. That is why the sight lines here are better than at a flat fairgrounds track.
Kropp and Halvorsen ran mostly open wheel racing through the 1960s and 1970s. The track went dormant after the 1976 season and stayed quiet until 1978, when Paul Saenz leased it and brought weekly late model racing back. It has been running ever since, and it now carries a list of honors including a fan favorite track award and a national promoter of the year award.
Saturday Night Racing
The weekly program runs Saturday nights from April through September, with five IMCA classes: Sprint Cars, Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks.
Front gates open at 5:15, hot laps run at 5:30 and racing starts at 6:30. That is an earlier start than most dirt tracks in the region, which is worth knowing if you are used to a 7:00 or 8:00 green flag elsewhere.
Winged sprint cars on a high banked third mile is what built this track's reputation. The bowl shape keeps the field close and the banking keeps the speeds up, which is where the world's fastest third mile claim comes from.
RaceSaver Nationals and the Big Shows
The signature event is the IMCA RaceSaver Nationals, a four day event that is the largest IMCA sprint car race in the world. It has previously been named race of the year by IMCA's own broadcast platform.
The rest of the special event calendar is just as strong. The Eagle Nationals brings the High Limit Sprint Series in for a midweek money show. The High Bank Heist puts Lucas Oil Late Models on the high banks. The IceBreaker Challenge is a two day money show for the IMCA classes that opens the season. ASCS sprint cars close it out.
Mini E Raceway
The property also holds Mini E Raceway, a small semi banked clay go kart oval that races Friday nights. Classes cover cage karts and flat karts.
The Friday schedule runs gates at 5:30, hot laps at 6:45 and racing at 7:30. For families, this is the real draw of the facility. A kid can race karts on Friday night on the same grounds where the sprint cars run Saturday, which is about as direct a path into the sport as exists in Nebraska.
Getting There
The track is at 617 South 238th Street, two miles east of Eagle on US 34, just south of I-80 exit 420. Lincoln is fifteen minutes west and Omaha is under an hour northeast.
Admission varies by event, with weekly shows priced well below the big specials. The track phone is 402-238-2595. Schedules do change, so check the website or Facebook page before heading out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the track?
Eagle Raceway is a 1/3 mile high banked clay oval. The Mini E Raceway go kart track on the same property is a small semi banked clay oval.
What night does Eagle Raceway race?
Saturday nights from April through September. Go karts race Friday nights at Mini E Raceway.
What time does racing start?
Gates at 5:15, hot laps at 5:30 and racing at 6:30 on Saturdays. Friday kart racing starts at 7:30 with gates at 5:30.
What classes race weekly?
IMCA Sprint Cars, Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks.
What is RaceSaver Nationals?
A four day sprint car event at Eagle Raceway that is the largest IMCA sprint car race in the world.
Can kids race there?
Yes. Mini E Raceway runs cage karts and flat karts on Friday nights on the same property.
When was the track built?
1963, by Dale Halvorsen and Harvey Kropp, carved into the hills on Halvorsen's farm ground.
Where is Eagle Raceway located?
617 South 238th Street, Eagle, Nebraska 68347, two miles east of town on US 34 and just south of I-80 exit 420. The phone number is 402-238-2595.
More information on Eagle Raceway; Click here https://www.eagleraceway.com/
For more venues click here: https://www.plainspowersports.com/category/auto/
For kart venues click here: https://www.plainspowersports.com/category/karts/