The Nostalgia Dragway in South Butler is getting ready to host its first drag race this year this Sunday. 

"Are we going to be able to race at all this year? Nobody knew and we were a little worried," said Randy Salerno, Nostalgia Dragway track announcer.

The track got the green light to start its summer race schedule as the economy in the Finger Lakes region continues to reopen.

Salerno says this year they've installed brand new guard rails and there are still a few more things to tidy up in anticipation of the race.

"Cut the grass, line the track and the pavement so you are not going over the top of it," said Salerno. "At the shutdown area there are some pretty rough spot thats we would like to see if we can fix a little bit before we get started and if we can't get to them, we'll race but we will let everybody know that it's a little rough down there."

Although COVID-19 restrictions prevent fans from attending, Salerno adds the racers are ready to get back on the track.

"I've taken more than 20 calls in the last three days asking if you are really racing this weekend and are you planning on it," Salerno said. "I said, ‘We're going racing, unless it rains.’ We're going to race the rest of the summer as long as Governor Cuomo's thing holds up."

Amy Cole will be one of the racers.

"I learned drag racing here," Cole said. "My first car was an altered car. I learned to drag race it was so fun but I wanted to be a daily driver. It's hard to explain the adrenaline rush that you get that you can get from drag racing." 

This Sunday, the 60+ year tradition of drag racing with old school cars at the Nostalgia Dragway will continue as planned.

"We'll help out other drivers that help with their car so that they can keep drag racing," Cole said. "It's nice to see with all of their kids who watch this drag racing. I mean there is so much history and we just want to keep it going."

To enter into a race, the car model must from 1990 or earlier. More information can be found here.