Talking some 305's.

Knoxville Raceway's season concludes this weekend with the Mid States 305 Championship starting on Thursday night. I'm told there is some fender class running there as well, but you know me, it's all about the open wheel classes.

Nebraska will be well represented with 305 regular Matt Stelzer, Trish Dover, I-80 305 champion Nick Clifford, and 360 driver Seth Brahmer.

Add to that some 360 vets like Gary Lee Maier, Clint Garner, and Rager Phillips, just to name a few, and you have an intriguing field for this inaugural event.

I must admit, I don't know a whole lot about the new 305 race scene. I do know that here in Nebraska it's struggling to take hold, which is too bad. I think the 305 concept is a sound one and provides drivers a nice bridge from mini sprints into full size sprint cars.

It remains to be seen if I-80 will continue to run their 305 program, but with only a handful of competitors I would be surprised if they did.

I've always thought that 305's would make a nice compliment class to a 360 show. I wonder if the ASCS has any plans to get into 305's...

One thing about it, they need to curtail the costs, especially on the motors. Allowing teams to run open motors was in my opinion a mistake. The whole point for this type of racing is keeping the costs down. Now, you have engine builders dipping their hand into the 305 market. You can't blame them, but like we've seen in ever other class, some teams will be in a position to spend more to go faster.

If there are restrictions on the motors, I believe it will keep the playing field more level and may encourage more teams to run a 305 program. Without the benefit of a more powerful motor, it may help a driver develop their skills, and learn how to better set up the car.

However, these are just thoughts from a complete 305 novice.

Regardless of what happens next season, there's one more open wheel event at Knoxville this weekend.

Perhaps this weekend Dover will make history and become the first woman ever to win a feature event at the Knoxville Raceway. The way she runs I could see that happening. Maybe Stelzer can put together a good run and beat everyone. I think he has the skills to accomplish that. Perhaps Clifford will continue his winning ways, or maybe Brahmer will steal one from all the 305 regulars.

Whatever scenario plays out, it would make me happy to see a Nebraskan in victory lane.