Relying on the current constraints to be retracted from the COVID-19 virus, the first official race of 2020 at Mahoning Valley Speedway is now slated for Saturday, May 9.

The last time racing was on that date, which was in May 2015, Eric Beers scored a big 100-lap victory.

Known to his legion of fans as “The Master of Faster,” Beers is hoping history will repeat itself when he makes his return to action at the paved ¼-mile oval on that same night. It will mark his first race back at Mahoning in over two years, and he’ll be behind the familiar Dave and Laura DeLange No. 45.

Joining him will be teammates Austin Beers, his 17-year-old son who will run the No. 19, and 22-year-old Jack Ely, who is also returning after a two-year hiatus with the No. 54.

“I’m definitely excited about coming back to Mahoning Valley; it’s been almost three years,” Eric Beers said. Mahoning is home to me, and it’s where I really came into my own in racing. I went from a wide-eyed rookie to a better racer. I really paid my dues there.”

For the past three seasons, Eric and Jack competed on the Race of Champions (RoC) Tour, while Austin ran Mahoning, Evergreen Raceway and select RoC shows.

Eric announced that he will be stepping away from the Tour and instead focus on the special five-race Mahoning Valley Speedway Hall of Fame Series.

“If you want to see Eric Beers race this year, it will only be at Mahoning Valley Speedway,” he said. “That’s going to be an awesome series. I liked it years ago when Doug (Hoffman) came up with the Poker Series and then Floyd (Santee) did the Gamblers Series, and now with Keith (Hoffman) coming in with this Hall of Fame Series, I feel you’re going to see great car counts and lots of fans coming out for it.”

Eric has raced at Mahoning Valley since 1990, and although it hasn’t been yearly, he has amassed a record-setting 55 wins among Modified drivers. He also owns three class championships (1992, 2013, 2016). On Aug. 26, 2017, he collected his 100th overall career win.

He’s also eager to come back to MVS, as for the first time he’ll race against Austin in what he refers to as a more level playing field, which will be a contrast from the RoC Tour.

“This is really the first time we’re going to race head-to-head in equal equipment. When we raced on the RoC (Tour), my car was a lot better then what he had so it was never really a fair fight,” explained Eric. “It’s going to be interesting to see because we’ll both be in similar prepared cars, and either of us can win with those cars, and I think it will make for a really fun evening.”

So then the question arises, what happens if they are both heading for the checkers on the last lap?

“The only thing that will change is that all bets are off once the race gets underway; he’s just another racer out there,” said Eric. “If anyone knows how my son is, he’s not very cocky, but inside the shop he likes to have bragging rights, and that’s not just in racing. So if I can take that away from him, especially if it comes to the last lap, the last foot before the start/finish line, I’m taking it.”

Austin, who has won Mahoning class titles in the Hobby Stocks and Sportsman Modifieds, shares a similar outlook.

“To race as clean as we can, or I should say I’m going to race him as clean as I can. I don’t know what he’s going to do,” said Austin.

“It’s going to be fun for sure. I know one thing; it’s going to be nerve-wracking for my mom.”

Much like his father, Austin has found success right from the get-go. Last year, he began to make inroads with a Modified, and even scored a win at Evergreen Raceway against a very talented group of veterans. To his benefit, he has his dad offering solid advice, especially when it comes to Mahoning Valley.

“His advice is huge. I knew the racing line from watching all those years, but then him telling me how to pass people the right way and where to get a good run and the how to set the car up right ... ” said Austin. “Although I feel that I’m still learning and progressing with the Modified, I’m leaning less than I have because I’m more comfortable in the car.”

Ely has always complimented the DeLange Team nicely ever since becoming a teammate to Eric in 2016. He, like Austin, heeded the guidance of Eric and has since refined his skills into a talented Modified driver.

“I’m excited about it for sure, and looking forward to coming back to Mahoning for the Hall of Fame Series and a couple more in between,” said Ely, who is in his senior year at Brookdale Community College in Middletown, New Jersey, where he’s majoring in mechanical engineering.

“When we left Mahoning in 2017, we were running top-3, top-5 almost every week, so I hope to come out on Opening Night and go for a win. We have some good notes built up from when we raced there, so I am looking to come in and run good right off the bat and hope that we can win a couple shows.”

The Beers/Ely trio will add great stability to an already solid Modified class ready to do battle in 2020. They will be looking to improve on their combined 74 feature wins there, although given the talent pool, the job won’t be easy.

“Eric, Austin and I are all going to go out there and try to win. Of course we’ll all help each other. Eric is a great driver and really doesn’t need any help. But I rely on and respect his input,” said Ely. “We’re going to race clean, we’re going to win and we’re going to race each other harder than anyone else on the racetrack just because we want to beat each other.”