Even though there’s still a bit of a chill expected this weekend, race fans are getting ready to start the racing season at Knoxville Raceway.

The weekend starts with the traditional kick-off party on Friday night, open to any fans with a ticket to Saturday night’s racing. There will be practice laps for the drivers, games and free food for the fans, and a chance for the racing community to prepare for the season.

Saturday night will see the first official races of the season, and they plan on going ahead in spite of unseasonably cold temperatures in the forecast.

Kendra Jacobs from the Knoxville Raceway tells KNIA/KRLS News they’ve rearranged the schedule so racing doesn’t go too far into the colder nighttime hours.

“We are going to start earlier because of the cold temperatures that are forecasted; so we’re going to start at 5:45 instead of 6:45 this Saturday. And that way, maybe we get done a little earlier, and not so cold towards the end of the night; and everybody can come out and enjoy…official first night of race season,” Jacobs says.

The Knoxville Raceway is also welcoming a new sponsor for the 360 Nationals; My Place Hotels will be sponsoring that weekend, and Jacobs says they aren’t just seeking name recognition. Their locations in Altoona and Ankeny are offering discount room rates for racing fans, and some of the rooms have already been claimed.