Pedal to the metal

The roar of the dragsters, monster trucks and motocross is coming.

Back for its sixth year, Octane Fest hits Fallon and Churchill County for another year of motorsports action.

This year’s festival kicks off today with the NHRA Lucas Oil Series at Top Gun (8 a.m.) and Northern Nevada Outlaw Karts at Rattlesnake Raceway (6 p.m.).

Saturday’s festivities include more racing at Top Gun (8 a.m.) and Rattlesnake (11 a.m.), in addition to the Maine Street Rumble Car Show (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and culminating with the freestyle motocross and Monster Truck Jamboree at the Churchill County Fairgrounds at 5:30 p.m.

Sunday concludes with the finals of the Lucas Oil Series at 8 a.m.

Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority Executive Director Rick Gray said he expects a solid turnout this year despite losing the King of the West Series about two weeks ago.

“I think we are going to have a good Octane Fest year,” he said. “We have several great events going on.”

Those events highlight the calendar, although the schedule was shuffled after the last minute cancellation by KOW. Orginially slated for Thursday, the jamboree returns to its familiar Saturday night slot.

The event features a free pit party, motocross duel between Nevada and California riders, the popular Monster Truck show and a surprise finale, which Gray said will light up the arena.

At Rattlesnake, the future of dirt track racing and motorsports will hit the track today and Saturday. The growing Outlaw Karts series features youth drivers on the oval. The karts will also put on a demonstration during the jamboree.

After the karts put compete at Rattlesnake on Saturday, the big boys in the IMCA Modified class with hit the track.

“The karts start at 11 a.m. and the IMCA Modifieds will go on after that,” Gray said.

The car show, meanwhile, is focus of growth and expansion, Gray added. He said he would like to turn the seven-hour display into a central location for local and out-of-town visitors.

He said due to the various locations of the events, a launching point for fans would be advantageous.

This year’s event will include the car show, Ms. Octane Fest pageant, raffles, a poker walk and numerous vendors and a DJ.

“The downtown merchants have a nice array of activities planned,” Gray said. “There will be plenty to do and see. I really hope to grow that part of Octane Fest in the future.”

Over at Top Gun, meanwhile, a full slate of action today through Sunday is headlined by the Lucas Oil Series. In addition, a pair of jet dragsters will blast off on Saturday about 3 p.m. and at about noon on Sunday.

“The duel between the Beast and the Jett Lagg, the two dragsters, will be great to watch out there,” Gray said. “There is going to be some great NHRA drag racing.”