Being in the heart of dirt track racing, asphalt tracks don’t see a lot of attention. This weekend Lorain County Speedway in Amherst will play host to the fastest short track asphalt cars on the planet — the IMSA Supermodifieds.

It’s the first of only two appearances in Ohio for the series.

These open cars with big block engines and working overhead wings thunder around the race track. The wings go flat down the straightaways and raise up to plant the cars to the track on the turns. Rarely seen in this part of the country, this is a must-see show. Most drivers come from upstate New York and New England with a few from Ohio.

Tonight there will be twin 40 lappers with some positions inverted for the second IMSA Super Mod 40 lapper along with TQ Midgets twin 20s and Open Wheel Modifieds. Lorain is a 3/8 mile semi-banked track located on State Route 58 in Amherst. Racing is at 6 p.m.

The following weekend (June 20-22) Lernerville Speedway — “The Action Track” — will welcome the Lucas Oil Late Models for the 18th annual Firecracker 100. Thursday will be twin $5,000 to win features, Friday twin $5,000 to win again. Saturday night 100 laps, $50,000 to win. The Lucas Oil Late Model touring series has some of the top dirt drivers in the country and most powerful Late Models. Along with the Lucas series the RUSH Late Models will be racing Saturday for $20,000 to win the “Bill Emig Memorial,” honoring a legendary regional race car builder and owner. Lernerville is on State Route 356 just south of Butler.

We live in one of the best areas of the country for racing. I can count 10 tracks within about a two-hour drive of our area. Other parts have that drive to one track. Not to mention we have one of the finest racing facilities and best dirt track surfaces in the country right here in Hartford — Sharon Speedway.