The 2019 season gets underway Saturday night at the Whynot Motor Park with the sixth-annual Battle of the States.

There will be six classes of races competing and more than 175 cars are expected according to owner Rodney Wing. Whynot races are sanctioned by Durrence Layne racing.

Instead of trophies, drivers in each class will be competing for championship belts.

“That’s something we have been doing for the Battle of the States,” Wing said. “The winners receive a championship belt. Sort of like the wrestling. It’s kind of different and everybody seems to like it.”

The practice ‘Hot laps’ start at 4:30 p.m. with the racing to follow, probably around 6 p.m. The feature classes are as follows:

•Durrence Layne Crate Late Models ($1,500-to-win);

•Miss. Street Stock Series / Durrence Layne Street Stocks ($1,200-to-win);

•Open Wheel Modifieds ($1,000-To-Win);

•Durrence Layne 602 Sportsman ($800-to-win);

•Mississippi Factory Stock Series ($600-to-win); and,

•Hot Shots ($200-to-win);

“This is one of our biggest races of the year,” said track spokesman Phillip Hathcock. “The track is in great shape and Whynot is one of the best dirt track racing facilities in the country. That’s why we are having top racers from all over the Southeast coming in.”

Whynot Speedway has 15 events scheduled through now and the end of August, basically running every other week. The rest of the schedule is as follows:

•April 6 — United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) plus regular racing series events; 

•April 20 — Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series (MSCCS) Super Late Models plus regular racing series events; 

•May 4 — School Bus Racing plus regular racing series events;

•May 18 — Kids Night Featuring Bike and Powerwheel Races plus regular racing series events; 

•May 25 — Durrence Layne National Touring Dirt Late Model Series plus regular racing series events;

•June 8 — Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series (MSCCS) Super Late Models PLUS Mid-Season Championships plus regular racing series events;

•June 22 — Military Night featuring the largest fireworks show in Town ($5 admission for active & reserved military) Mississippi Street Stock Series plus regular racing series events;

•July 6 — United Sprint Car Series (USCS) Outlaw Thunder Winged Sprint Cars plus regular racing series events;  

•July 20 — fifth Annual Mississippi State Championships, details TBA, plus regular racing series events;  

•August 3 — Prelude to the Southern Street Stock Nationals PLUS Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series (MSCCS) Super Late Models plus regular racing series events;  

•August 14 — 7th Annual Southern Street Stock Nationals presented by Strength Roofing & Siding. Open practice; 

•August 15-17 — 7th Annual Southern Street Stock Nationals presented by Strength Roofing & Siding;

•October 24-25 — Annual Coors Light Fall Classic Open Practice;

•October 25-26 — 24th Annual Coors Light Fall Classic