FAIRBURY, NE — The Jefferson County Fair’s return means one of the biggest United States Auto Club (USAC) events of the summer is back in southeast Nebraska.

"With their horsepower to pound-weight rating on any kind of race car, they're one of the fastest, most exciting dirt track cars you'll ever see around any part of the country," Co-promoter Jim Criner said.

The USAC Midwest Midget Championship is in Fairbury Friday and Saturday. The event is part of the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship series.

Criner says they have one of biggest prize pools on the series’ schedules. The champion crowned Saturday gets $10,000. That attracts some of the top drivers in the sport.

That in turn, makes it a big destination for fans of the series.

"Our campsites are full," Criner said. "We've got over camping. The crowd every year just gets bigger and bigger. We just hope it keeps growing."

Officially named the Riverside Chevrolet Midwest Midget Championship presented by Westin Packaged Meats and Schmidt's Sanitation, Criner along with fellow promoter Cody Brewer and their crew have spent several days making sure the track is ready to go for prelims Friday night.

"The track right now is looking really really good," Criner said. "If we keep putting the water on it, with the wind and stuff, but these guys stay on top of it with the water trucks, we'll have plenty of moisture in the track and it will make for some good racing."

He’s confident it will only continue to grow as time goes on.

"Cody bases it all on a show, not just a race," Criner said. "So we have fireworks, it's a family event. We hope everybody comes out and watches it and once you do you get hooked on it so you'll be back."