The Desert Thunder Raceway will present the first and only set of races in 2016 with the annual Castle Country Clash Friday and Saturday.

“We’re going to reopen for one race only with the Castle Country Clash, the biggest race of the year,” track owner Harvey Howard said on KOAL’s Drive Time Sports. “We’ve had some things that didn’t allow us to put the races together this year, but we are going to start and finish with a bang.”

Howard expects this year’s clash to be the biggest in its history as the event will include the traditional International Motor Contest Association Modifieds, along with the United States Racing Association Modifieds. Those two classes mixed with the Southern Sport Mods, Mini Stocks and other classes should bring in close to 80 cars for the weekend.

The Castle Country Clash will not offer any points towards IMCA or USRA championship standings, but will offer prize money and trophies to the winners. Several local drivers who have become fan favorites of the track will also be participating in the action.

“Everybody has kind of branched off and gone to four or five different states,” said veteran driver Mickey Stubbings. “This is probably the premier track in the area and everybody likes coming here, so we expect to have a big show.”

One wrinkle added to the Castle Country Clash this year involves the main event, which will feature the top five cars from the IMCA Modifieds and the top five from the USRA. The difference in equipment and horsepower favors the USRA cars, but the home track advantage favors the IMCAs.

The racing action will get underway Friday beginning at 7:00 pm and the gates will open at 6:00. Saturday the gates will open at 4:00 pm and the races are expected to begin at 6:00. Family passes will be available at the gates for $25.00, adults are $8.00 and children 6-12 will be $5.00.