RaceSaver Nationals Event Guide
The IMCA RaceSaver Nationals Race
In 410 Sprint car racing there are famous multi day events such as the Knoxville Nationals, and the King’s Royal. The growing popularity of 305 Sprint car racing called for its own signature event, and in 2013, the IMCA RaceSaver Nationals was born. Held annually at Eagle Raceway, the event draws on average over 90 cars from across the country competing in 3 nights, culminating in a finale that starts the A feature from an Indy 500 style three-car-wide formation.
RaceSaver Nationals Race Schedule
The RaceSaver Nationals is held annually over Labor Day weekend. The 2024 event will run from Thursday August 29 – Sunday September 1. Grandstands open at 5:00PM on Thursday, and at 4:30PM on all other nights. All events start at 6:00PM CDT, with the exception of Sunday night which starts at 6:30PM.
- Thursday August 29 – RaceSaver Nationals pre-tech inspections, on-track practice, and Race of Champions Qualifying heat races.
- Friday August 30 – RaceSaver 305 Sprint Nationals Night One. Qualifying races for all cars. The top nine finishers in Friday's A feature qualify for Sunday’s Championship A Feature. IMCA Hobby stocks will run as a support class.
- Saturday August 31 – RaceSaver 305 Sprint Nationals Night Two. Qualifying races for all RaceSaver Sprint cars not locked in on Friday. Nine cars from Saturday’s A feature will qualify for Sunday's Championship A feature. 305 Sprint Race of Champions Finale. IMCA Sport Modifieds will run as a support class.
- Sunday September 1 – RaceSaver Nationals Finale. Feature night qualifying for the final spots of the 27-car RaceSaver Sprints “Big Dance” A feature. IMCA Stock Cars will run as a support class.
RaceSaver Nationals Event Camping and Hotels
Eagle Raceway offers plenty of camping space for race fans wishing to spend the weekend of RaceSaver Nationals at the facility. Camping on site costs $40/weekend for main spectator lot designated spaces or $50/weekend for North Pit Lot. Camping is first-come, first-served and there are no reserved spots. Shower rooms are available from 9A-3P Thursday-Sunday. Call 531-510-8855 for questions related to camping.
There are no hotels in the town of Eagle, but fortunately the city of Lincoln, Nebraska is just a 15 minute trip away. Be aware that a Nebraska Cornhusker Football game takes place on Saturday August 31, so some hotels may be booked. Ask for the Eagle Raceway rate. Some of the hotels offering special rates (as of July 2024) are:
Food in and Around the Eagle Raceway Area
There are convenience stores in the Eagle area, but most dining will be a drive into nearby Lincoln, NE. The 84th and O Street corridors are loaded with fast food and quick-service restaurants, within a 15-20 min drive from Eagle Raceway.
Some dining options nearest to the track include:
- Bailey’s Local (540 S. 4th Street, Eagle, NE)
- Fireworks (5750 S. 86th, Lincoln, NE)
- Don and Millies (8150 O Street, Lincoln, NE)
- Runza (8330 Northwoods Dr, Lincoln, NE)
If you’re visiting Lincoln’s historic Haymarket district and looking for lunch options:
- Lazlo’s 210 N. 7th, Lincoln, NE
- Brewsky’s 201 N. 8th, Lincoln, NE
- El Potrero 247 N. 8th, Lincoln, NE
- The Oven 201 N. 8th, Lincoln, NE
Things to do Around Eagle Raceway
There are plenty of afternoon attractions around the Eagle Raceway area
The History of the RaceSaver Nationals
The RaceSaver concept was created by long time Sprint Car racer and technical innovator French Grimes in 1997 with the goal of reducing costs in sprint car racing. 410 cubic inch engines, signatures of series like the World of Outlaws and 360 cubic inch engines, the once “economy” class of sprint car racing were seeing their engine costs begin to skyrocket. While premier events paid large purses, weekly purses were struggling to keep up with the increasing costs of racing
Grimes had another idea. Using his decades of experience in Sprint Car racing, particularly in the areas of engines, a strict set of guidelines and rules built around the ubiquitous 305 cubic inch small block Chevy engine was formed.
The 305 Sprints found a footing in Virginia, Grimes’ home state, but quickly spread to Pennsylvania and Texas. Other 305-based series began to sprout – and a new “economy” sprint car class started to grow. In 2011 IMCA adopted the RaceSaver rules to its sprint car division. Gradually, most other 305 sprint car series began to adopt the RaceSaver rules completely. In 2012, Grimes sold RaceSaver to Eagle Raceway owner Roger Hadan for $1 with the continued focus on keeping an affordable sprint car series. The RaceSaver sprint cars replaced the weekly 360 sprint car class for the 2013 season at Eagle Raceway and have become a fixture at the 1/3 mile bullring ever since. While national events featuring the RaceSaver 305 sprint cars had been run in Virginia and Texas, the RaceSaver Nationals as we know it today began in 2013 at Eagle Raceway, with Kyle McCutcheon of Alamagordo, NM taking the inaugural victory.
Run on Labor Day weekend over four days, and seeing an average of 90+ cars during its history, one of the hallmarks of the “Big Dance” A Feature Finale is the Indy 500 Style 3-wide start. Another difference between this and other multi-day shows, is nearly all the field runs each night. Only the nine qualifiers from the Friday night A feature are locked into the Sunday night championship. Everyone else runs again on Saturday, and all participants will run again on Sunday. The RaceSaver Nationals also features a Race of Champions, where qualifiers take place on the opening Thursday night program, with the race being run on Saturday night.
RaceSaver Nationals Winners
RaceSaver Nationals Essentials
Eagle Raceway is located at 617 S 238th St, Eagle, NE 68347. Informally, it's at the intersection of US Hwy 34 and Nebraska State highway 63, just 2 miles east of the village of Eagle, and 15 miles east of Lincoln, NE. For complete details on start times, accommodations, facility map, and list of entries and race news, visit EagleRaceway.com and click on the RaceSaver Nationals tab.