🗓️ The MJR Weekend Outlook: March 20–22, 2026

BY BRIAN CARSON

LEWISTOWN/PORT ROYAL — This is one for the history books. From the roar of the "Speed Palace" finally waking up to a hero's welcome for our national champions, the Juniata Valley is the place to be this weekend.

🏆 The Main Event: A Hero's Welcome for Our National Champions

Mifflin County has a new set of legends. On Saturday night, we come together to celebrate the National Champion DMR team of Reese Cubbison, Connor Lynch, Wyatt Kaufman, and Carter Smith. These four young men have put our track program on the national map, and it’s time to show them what that means to the valley.

• The Parade: Saturday, March 21.
• Kickoff: The procession begins at 6:00 PM.
• Route: Starting at Red's Diner and moving through the heart of the community.
• MJR Pro-Tip: Arrive early to find a spot along the route. Bring your signs, your Husky pride, and plenty of noise. Let’s make sure these champions hear us from Red's all the way to the high school.

🏎️ Racing: Port Royal Speedway Finally Opens

After three weeks of weather-related heartbreaks, the Port Royal Speedway is officially ready to roar this Saturday, March 21.

• The Show: It’s a monster "Double-Header" to kick off the 2026 season. We have the 410 Sprints and the Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fuel Me Modifieds together on the same night.
• When: Gates open at 1:00 PM; Racing starts at 4:00 PM.
• Logistics: With the parade starting at 6:00 PM, fans at the track can catch the early heats and still follow the parade updates via the Mifflin-Juniata Report Facebook page.

🚧 Traffic Alert: The "Double-Header" Bottleneck

Saturday evening is going to be tight. Between the Veterans Memorial Bridge (Rt. 103) lane restrictions and the National Champions Parade route, traffic in and around Lewistown will be heavy.

• The Situation: The bridge remains restricted to one lane in each direction.
• The Warning: If you are heading to the parade from the south, give yourself an extra 20 minutes to navigate the bridge merge and find parking before the 6:00 PM start at Red's Diner.

🌳 Community: Celebrating 4-H Week

As National 4-H Week (March 15–21) wraps up, we give a final shout-out to the 145+ members in Juniata County. Their leadership and dedication to our agricultural roots are what make this valley special. Keep an eye out for 4-H displays at local businesses throughout the weekend.

🌦️ Weekend Weather Forecast

• Friday: Crisp and clear. Highs near 48°F.
• Saturday (Parade & Race Day): Sunny intervals, breezy. High 50°F / Low 34°F. It will be chilly for the 6:00 PM parade start—bundle up!
• Sunday: Partly sunny and pleasant. Highs reaching 54°F.