Local racers are preparing to start their engines for Saturday’s season opener at the Sycamore Speedway.

The drivers will push their cars to the limit in all racing classes: super-late models, late models, spectators and powder puffs.

Late-model car driver Jay Garstecki has been racing stock cars at the Sycamore Speedway for three years.

“I race the number 70 late-model stock car; it’s a 1980 Camaro,” Garstecki said.

Garstecki works on his car throughout the year but said drivers put extra time into their cars just before the season opener.

“It takes about three or four months to prepare cars for opening night,” Garstecki said. “We’re having stock car racing for all classes Saturday night.”

Sycamore Speedway contains one half-mile track and one quarter-mile track on clay surfaces.

The speedway has been operating in some form since 1960. The track is about five miles east of Sycamore on Route 64.

After opening night, the Sycamore Speedway will be open every Saturday night until Memorial Day weekend. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the tracks will be open both Friday and Saturday nights.

The Speedway then runs every Saturday night until it closes for the season in early October.

For more information on Sycamore Speedway and the 2004 season opener, go to www.geocities.com/sycamorespeedway.