Key notes: The Malvern Bank East Series kicks off its 2026 season with a Hawkeye State weekend doubleheader starting with Friday’s 25-lap, $3,000-to-win opener at Davenport Speedway. … It’s the 11th-ever Malvern East race at Davenport and the first since Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, won $3,000 in May of 2024 after last year’s scheduled stop rained out. … Justin Kay of Wheatland, Iowa, has four series wins there, earning more than $14,000. … Jason Hahne of Webster City, Iowa, earned a $5,000 Malvern East win there in the fall of 2021. … Andy Eckrich of Oxford, Iowa, has two tour wins there, worth more than $8,000. … Bill Leighton Jr. of La Vista, Neb., won $5,000 there in the fall of 2020. … Modifieds, sport mods and hobby stocks are on the undercard. … Pits open at 3 p.m. and grandstands open at 5 with hot laps at 6:30.

Who to watch: Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, eyes his second straight Malvern East victory at Davenport.

Points chase: It’s the season opener.

Expected entrants: Chad Simpson, Jesse Sobbing, Bill Leighton Jr., Andrew Kosiski, Jason Hahne, Andy Eckrich, Justin Kay, Jeff Aikey, Dave Eckrich, Charlie McKenna, Curt Schroeder, Darrel DeFrance, Jeremiah Hurst, Nick Marolf, Fred Remley, Jeff Tharp, Matt Ryan, Curtis Glover, Luke Goedert, Luke Pestka and others.

Next series race: April 11, West Liberty Raceway (West Liberty, IA) $3,000