It doesn’t take long to get excited about your next dirt race, does it? There’s plenty of beefing about the length of the racing season — among writers on this website and among those touring the aisles at the postseason trade shows — but somehow, I seem to always muster excitement about the unique mid-winter events.

Talladega Short Track’s Ice Bowl always draws a huge crowd of cars, Arizona’s Wild West Shootout brings together an unusual mix of drivers to USA Raceway, and MORE