The shorter three-eighth mile track at the West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells. The speedway, purchased in May by Mike and Becky Hurley of Goldvein, Va., will reopen on Saturday with the Short Track Debut. (Photo Provided)

MINERAL WELLS — The West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells is set to reopen and hold its Short Track Debut race on Saturday.

Mike and Becky Hurley of Goldvein, Va., purchased the speedway in May and have since completed a major redesign of the dirt track, nicknamed the Amphitheater of Action.

“We completely destroyed the five-eighths mile configuration and made it a three-eighths mile configuration,” said Mike Hurley, a player in the racing business for many years.

The shorter track will increase competitiveness, according to Hurley.

Three-eighth tracks favor the abilities of the driver and the handling of the race car rather than bulk horsepower in cars that are built for speed on the straightaways, he said.

Guardrail installation this summer at the West Virginia Motor Speedway which is reopening on Saturday. (Photo Provided)

The change will encourage more races at the speedway and keep the fans engaged in the action, Hurley said.

“For sure. Most definitely,” Hurley said.

Hurley plans to have 12 races at the speedway in 2026.

“We’re going to step it up a little bit,” he said.

The speedway is located at 788 Speedway Road.

Becky and Mike Hurley of Goldvein, Va., the owners of the West Virginia Motor Speedway. (Photo Provided)

Opening ceremonies will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, local and state dignitaries have been invited, Hurley said.

The campground will be open all day. The pit and gates will open at 2 p.m. Drivers registration will be 3 p.m. followed by a drivers meeting for all classes at 4:35 p.m.

Hot laps will begin at 5 p.m. for pro late models, super late models, dirtcar modifieds and United Sport Motors Promoter Association sport mods.

Heat races start at 6:10 p.m. with feature races beginning at 8:15 p.m.

Among the feature races, the pro late models will go 20 laps with $1,000 to win.

Super Late Models will run 35 laps with $5,000 to win.

Dirt car modifieds will race 20 laps to win $1,200.

USMPA Sport Mods will race 15 laps to win $700.

General admission is $20 with pit admission $40. Kids 10 and under are free with general admission only. Tickets will only be available at the gate for the event with advanced tickets for future events coming in 2026.

Camping will be open to the public starting Wednesday for $50 for the week or $25 a day.

Hurley encourages fans to come early and explore the facility. For updates or more information, follow the West Virginia Motor Speedway on social media and online at www.wvspeedway.com.

The speedway opened in 1984. It was last used around two years ago.

The Hurleys, who own a pest and wildlife control company, this year also purchased the Elkins Raceway north of Elkins at Kerens.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.