Key notes: The Malvern Bank East Series kicks off a tripleheader weekend in Thursday’s $3,000-to-win opener at Hamilton County Speedway. … The event is being held in conjunction with the Hamilton County Fair, with racing scheduled three straight nights at the Webster City, Iowa, half mile. … Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, won last fall’s $4,000 Bill Rice Memorial, co-sanctioned between Malvern East and West tours. … Dallon Murty of Chelsea, Iowa, is fresh off a $6,053 Malven West victory on the Silver Dollar Nationals undercard at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D. … Bill Leighton Jr. of La Vista, Neb., topped 2023’s $3,000 co-sanctioned stop at Hamilton County. … Tad Pospisil of Norfolk, Neb., is a two-time series winner there, including 2021’s $5,000 Rice Memorial. … Jordan Yaggy of Rochester, Minn., won June’s $2,000 Tri-State Series visit. … Modifieds, stock cars, B-mods and hobby stocks are on the undercard. … Pits open at 4 p.m. and grandstands open at 5, with hot laps at 7. … Watch live on Dirt Crown TV.

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

Points chase: Before Hamilton County: 1. Dylan Thornton (1,944); 2. Chad Simpson (1,942); 3. Dallon Murty (1,910); 4. Jesse Sobbing (1,872); 5. Jason Hahne (1,800).

Expected entrants: Chad Simpson, Bill Leighton Jr., Tad Pospisil, Kyle Berck, Dallon Murty, Dylan Thornton, Jesse Sobbing, Andrew Kosiski, Jason Hahne, Andy Eckrich, C.J. Horn, Tim Ward, Dave Eckrich, Jacob Hobscheidt, Charlie McKenna, Curt Schroeder, Darrel DeFrance, Jeff Tharp, Jay Johnson and others.

Next series race: July 25, Marshalltown Speedway (Marshalltown, IA) $4,400