By Victoria Beaver

Up-and-comers and legends from around the world are set to usher in what might be a new discipline of racing when the Yamaha R1 Prototype makes its debut in the DT Invitational at Perris (CA) Auto Speedway on Saturday night.

The announced lineup for the race — which takes place during the final night of the USAC Budweiser Oval Nationals — includes 20-year-old ARCA rookie Natalie Decker, “The Million Dollar Man” Donnie Moran, X-Games flat track gold medalist Sammy Halbert, and California drift car driver Kenshiro Gushi.

The Yamaha Dirt Track Racer is a rear-wheel drive only car with a stock R1 engine. In this regard, it is akin to other Dirt Track cars, but there are aspects that will unquestionably be foreign to the Sprint, Late Model, Modified, Drift, motorcycle, off-road, and Stock Car racers that will complete the field.

Better still, it is reportedly costs less than $30,000, which could make it an attractive entry-level class for many dirt track racers around the country — less expensive even than Modifieds. And if Yamaha puts its weight behind the discipline with prize money and sponsorship like it has in the world of motocross, the R1 Prototype could become very big indeed.

This will be the first time the prototype car will be raced in competition, giving a level playing field to the racers involved.

The prototype chassis has an unequal length A-arm suspension front and rear. The engine is a 998cc liquid-cooled inline 4-cylinder DOHC and sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard on a dirt track.

This past Sunday, Decker announced she is taking part in the event via a video recorded at Toyota's Texas-based headquarters. During the video, everybody's favorite Twitter personality, Kenny Wallace, gave the young racer some advice on running dirt.

“Let off the gas when the corner comes up,” Wallace said. “Get it sideways and then start feeding the throttle to it. You don't want to spin the tires.” 

I'm so excited for this race with @yamahadirttrack thanks @Kenny_Wallace for the advice! You're the man!! pic.twitter.com/xIdSOBdO7p

— Natalie Decker (@NatalieRacing) November 5, 2017

Moran, winner of the 2001 of the Eldora Million and member of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, will race for the first time in four years.

In a video posted from the Yamaha track, Moran put it simply, “This is my first time coming out of retirement in four years. The Million-Dollar Man is back at it.”