The new season of auto racing in Mason City is roughly two months away.

There’s a new name—Mason City Motor Speedway—and a new promoter—Al Hejna.

The plan is for the track formerly known as I-35 Speedway to have a resurgence after the season was canceled prematurely last summer.

The schedule is finalized, and it features a number of marquee events. That was an area Hejna wanted to address immediately when he was announced as promoter.

The slate for the North Iowa Fair, sponsored by Farmer's State Bank of Mason City/Clear Lake, has also been finalized.

"With their help we can bring in six events in five days," Hejna said.

Here are some things to keep an eye on, starting with the racing entertainment at the North Iowa Fair:

• The Meyer Motorsports Figure 8 Series will be returning for the third year, and the Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar Tuners (formerly known as Sport Compacts) special paying $1,000 to win, will take place July 20.
• On July 21-22, the Monster Truck Racing League will stop at the speedway. There will also be motorcycle stunt shows these nights to go along with Tough Trucks and Quad Racing.
• On July 23, there will be a tractor pull before a three-class Demolition Derby featuring full-sized Compacts and Trucks.
• The week will end Sunday, July 24, with the Ted Zieman Memorial sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon and United Beverage.

Aside from the fair schedule, here are some other key dates at Mason City Motor Speedway:

May 15 – Season opener, featuring USRA Modifieds, Holley USRA Stock Cars, Out-Pace USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Tuners.

May 26 – United States Modified Touring Series plus Iron Man Challenge featuring Holley USRA Stock Cars and Out-Pace USRA B-Mods.

June 19 – FVP National Sprint League (410 Sprints) plus Holley USRA Stock Cars, Out-Pace USRA B-Mods, USRA Hobby Stocks and Rookies Rockin' Sports Bar Tuners.

June 29-30 – Great American Stock Car Challenge.

July 8 – Craftsman World of Outlaws Late Models.

Aug. 14 – United States Modified Touring Series (Hunt for the Casey’s Cup).

Aug. 28 – Season Championship.

Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Five Star Classic.

The Mason City Motor Speedway is a semi-banked half-mile clay oval located 5.1 miles east of I-35 at exit 194 on SR 122 (at the North Iowa Fairgrounds). For more information about the Mason City Motor Speedway, call (641) 424-6515 or check out www.masoncitymotorspeedway.com online. You can also like the track’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/masoncitymotorspeedway follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/racinmasoncity (@RacinMasonCity).