To me the first sign of spring and the approach of the area racing season is the Twin State Auto Racing Club race car mall show. The 40th annual show will take place March 13-16 at the Shenango Valley Mall in Hermitage, Pa.

This year’s show is much more than a race car show. Friday, March 13, will be retired drivers reunion along with current drivers night. You can hear stories of the past careers, as well as plans for the future from current drivers and plenty of bench racing.

On Saturday night, drivers will be signing autographs from 4:30 p.m. 6:30. Promoters night starts at 7, when regional promoters will discuss plans and schedules for the 2020 season. Special guests will speak.

An auction is scheduled as well as a 50-50 raffle. Lots of racing fun and information after a long offseason and enough info to get revved up for the coming season.

Twin State Club members will have a table set up to answer questions and gives fans a chance to sign up and become a club member. Twin State is celebrating the 48th year of its existence. Member benefits include monthly meetings, picnics, free nights at several race tracks and much more.

While some tracks struggle to continue, our area will see two race tracks re-open. Deerfield Raceway a quarter-mile clay oval, has new owners and will open June 6 as Goods Raceway. The quick six-division program will feature Junior Sprints, 270 Micros, Mod Lites, Classics, Chargers, and Compacts. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing at 6:30. The track is located on Route 224 in Deerfield.

Over in Pennsylvania, near the city of Franklin, Tri-City Raceway Park’s new owner Merle Black has taken over and reopened the half-mile oval. Black is no stranger to auto racing having been a veteran team owner and engine builder.

Four divisions will be featured on Sunday nights starting at 6 p.m. The 410 winged Sprint cars, 358 modifieds and front wheel drive mini-stocks will compete on the big half-mile, while Junior Sprints will compete on the smaller inside race track.

Black said the 410 Sprints will compete for one of the largest purses in the region. Twenty events are scheduled with the grand opening slated April 19. The track originally opened in 1954. The past few seasons have been special events only.

Ryan Blaney has got to be the hottest driver in NASCAR right now, leading the points race. He was in contention to win Daytona on the last lap until the crash. The next week he was going for the win when an accident brought out the yellow flag. His crew chief sent him in for tires while others did not pit.

Then in California he was second with a couple of laps to go when he got a flat tire. I know, I know if the dog hadn’t stopped to pee he would have caught the rabbit, but if this is any indication Blaney is in for a banner year.