PEORIA, Ariz. – With time starting to run short for teams to finish and hit the road, the first event of the 2020 season for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network will be the Canyon Speedway Park Meltdown presented by Sands Chevrolet on Feb. 28-29.
Not the earliest the season has ever opened, that record belonging to Jax Raceway (Jacksonville, Fla.) which began the 1997 season on Jan. 31; the 2020 opening doubleheader will mark the first time that the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network has seen action on a leap day, and is only the second time there has been a race on Feb. 28.
The second time the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network has opened their season at Canyon Speedway Park, the last time was in 2012. That year also saw the season end at the one-third mile oval with a total of five races split among four winners. Tony Bruce Jr., Brady Bacon, and Wayne Johnson each scored single wins while the late Jason Johnson picked up two.
The February double-header will also be the opening weekend for the ASCS Southwest Region, which has not gone head to head with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network since 2017 with the series last visited Cocopah Speedway on Somerton, Ariz.
Leading up to the 2020 season opener, teams will have a chance to make some laps on Thursday, Feb. 27 with practice getting underway at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 will begin at 7:30 p.m. with Saturday, Feb. 29 going green at 7 p.m. Both nights open at 5 p.m. (MT). Admission each night is $25 for adults. Seniors and Military are admitted for $20 with kids 11 and under get into the grandstands free of charge.