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The Estevan Motor Speedway is moving race day to the middle of the week.
That's the big schedule change EMS vice-president Les McLenehan hopes the area race fans will embrace for the upcoming season.
McLenehan said the executive found attendance was down at times because of all the other activities that prevail on summer weekends.
"Everybody has the weekend pretty much booked," said McLenehan. "We thought we'd try Wednesday night, and hopefully we're not competing with ball tournaments and weddings, and everything else that goes on."
They know that for the first few nights of the season, since schools are still in class, they may have trouble getting some crowds. Late nights with early classes may keep some families away until the summer hits. That's something they had to consider but thought it best to make the change.
"It's going to be a bit difficult the first few nights, but once everybody catches on, it's going to be a good thing for everybody."
The track will be resurfaced before the start of the season as well. McLenehan said it wasn't too bad last year, but there were nights where a rut had developed in some places. They moved the start of the season back a bit to account for the delays laying down new track might create. The first regular event is slated for May 18 at 7:30 p.m.
With a fresh track, Mclenehan said he expects they will be able to save time at the intermission and speed the night up. He's hoping they will only have to throw a little water down at halftime to keep the track ready to go.
The corners were the biggest problem area and they will take all the material off the track, down to the clay.
"We've got some new material we're going to haul in and basically resurface the top six or eight inches of the track. We'll put in a different type of clay that will stay smoother and harder, and hopefully hold water. Just basically make for better racing."
As far as new attractions go, McLenehan said the Speedway will welcome the All-Star Sprint Series on July 26.
"They're a pretty big name. I don't know if they've ever been in Canada before."
All said, McLenehan is looking forward to getting the season underway.
"I think the whole year is going to be great. A lot of people who couldn't make it (on the weekends) can now come. There are people in Estevan that have lived in other parts of the country. At that particular place (races) were Thursday, but they don't come here because they go away on weekends. They can't wait because now they're going to be able to go to the races."
The track is also getting an addition to the bleachers, as some booths will be installed this year.
"We want to get everything freshened up. We're not sitting on our hands. We hope to go forward and make the place better than it was last year."
