By Ben Deatherage
EAGLE, Neb. (Feb. 12, 2026) — Eagle Raceway, long known as “America’s Home Track,” has officially been passed down to the next generation of the Hadan family, as Racine Thompson has been named the new promoter of the famed Nebraska 1/3-mile oval.
Roger Hadan, who has owned Eagle Raceway since 2007 after leasing and promoting the facility in 2006, formally handed over day-to-day leadership to his daughter with the goal of continuing the track’s long-standing success and family legacy.
Racetrack promotion runs deep in the Hadan family. Roger’s grandfather, Albert Hadan, built the historic Sunset Speedway in Omaha, embedding the sport into the family’s foundation. With a desire to ensure racing remains strong in Eagle for years to come, the transition to Racine represents both continuity and evolution.
Thompson has spent her entire adult life at the raceway. Since her parents took over operations, she has worked in virtually every role imaginable at the facility.
“When my parents purchased the track in 2007, I’ve worked there since then,” Thompson said. “I started off doing random jobs wherever someone was missing. Over the years I took on concessions, then an overall manager role, and office duties coming up with ideas and promotions. I’ve pretty much done everything except track prep — luckily we still have my dad for that.”
Racine Thompson has been named the new promoter of Eagle Raceway, continuing her family’s multi-generational leadership in the Nebraska racing scene. (Courtesy Photo)
Roger Hadan will remain heavily involved at Eagle Raceway, continuing responsibilities that include track preparation and race directing.
As he puts it, he isn’t going anywhere — simply because he loves what he does.
“I guess it’s not too big of a change,” Thompson added. “My dad and I have been running the show ever since my mom stepped away, so it’s not too much of a difference.”
Eagle Raceway continues to feature strong weekly programs sanctioned under Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing, including RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars, Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. Car counts and fan attendance remain among the strongest in the country.
While Thompson says fans shouldn’t expect sweeping changes, she emphasized a continued focus on enhancing the race-night experience.
“We say each race is a regular event, but we try to make every race special in its own way and add something unique to that night,” she said.
One fan-favorite promotion that will continue is the Victory Celebration Bonus, where feature winners can earn an extra $100 for the best post-race celebration — a program that has become a hit with the grandstands.
Another popular incentive remains in place: if a feature race runs caution-free, every starter receives a free pit pass for the following week.
Youth racing at Mini E Raceway will see expansion in 2026 with the addition of a new electric go-kart division.
“The only real change this year is our go-kart program,” Thompson explained. “We’re adding an electric kart division so kids as young as three can race. Right now the youngest is five, so this gives them a chance to get hooked and learn the basics early. We’re calling it the ‘Juice Box’ class.”
Special events will also highlight the schedule. Eagle Raceway will host the rerun of the 2025 RaceSaver Nationals grand finale for the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars on Thursday, September 3rd after last September’s event was lost due to weather.
Memorial Day Weekend will expand as well, adding a Sunday edition of the Memorial Madness program featuring Sunoco IMCA Late Models.
“What’s special about that race is fans can purchase a lap online and dedicate it to someone they’ve lost,” Thompson said. “It can be a personal dedication to anyone, not just one individual memorial event.”
For Thompson, the opportunity to lead Eagle Raceway represents both personal pride and family tradition.
“My great-grandfather Albert built Sunset Speedway in Omaha,” she said. “My grandfather, Roger Sr., my dad, my brother Roger III — ‘Chevy’ — my husband Nate, and even my kids — everyone races. It’s in our blood.”
With deep roots, steady leadership support, and a commitment to innovation without losing tradition, Eagle Raceway appears poised to remain “America’s Home Track” well into the future.
A total of 32 IMCA events are slated for the 2026 season at Eagle Raceway, with the schedule kicking off with the Icebreaker Challenge on April 17–18 and concluding with the prestigious RaceSaver Nationals on September 6.
For more information, visit EagleRaceway.com or follow Eagle Raceway on Facebook for the latest news, updates, and event details.
