OSBORN, Mo. — The third annual Missouri High-Banked Nationals is slated for tonight at U.S. 36 Raceway, but Hurricane Ike might have other plans for the sprint car race.

The World of Outlaws event originally scheduled for early May could face inclement conditions with weather forecasts calling for large amounts of rain — the same conditions that forced the original postponement.

Track owner/promoter Mike Franks said Thursday night the track was in solid condition and had been sealed to promote drainage. A decision should be made by early this afternoon as to the race’s status

“I thought the fall race would be just as good, if not better (than the spring),” Franks said. “But it doesn’t look good at all. We’re just watching and waiting.”

Racing is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., culminating with WoO’s 40-lap feature. Tickets purchased in the spring are still good for entrance, and Franks said tickets should still be available.

The race likely couldn’t be rescheduled with less than two months left in the WoO season and 16 other races on the docket. Money will be refunded in the case of a rainout.

Donny Schatz currently leads the WoO standings with 14 wins, followed by Jason Meyers and Craig Dollansky.

Dollansky won the Missouri High-Banked Nationals, which made its debut at the 3/8-mile dirt track in 2006, drawing more than 6,000 fans. That number increased to more than 7,000 last year when Franks’ plot of land in Osborn ran out of parking for the flood of patrons.

A huge regional event, the WoO runs only five races in Missouri per year, and U.S. 36 Raceway’s 3/8-mile dirt track is one of only three on the circuit with a track record lap under 10 seconds. WoO driver Paul McMahan set the mark at 9.846 seconds and 135.36 mph during time trials in 2006.

The 21-degree banked turns on the circle track create a unique experience, even for the WoO drivers.

“For the size of the track, a lot of things happen real fast there,” said Sam Hafertepe Jr., driver of the No. 15 who won at U.S. 36 Raceway last year in the Bud Shootout, in an interview earlier this year.