The communities of Callaway and Arnold share a number of things; sports teams and several school functions, medical professionals, and a school activities director. And each summer the towns share an event that brings a lot of people to the area - the Sandhills Open Road Challenge (SORC).

The Sandhills Open Road Challenge was founded by Joe Shown of Arnold in 2001, and the following year Callaway became an integral part of the event with the introduction of the one-mile shootout. Held on the Callaway to Cozad cut-across highway, the one-mile shootout attracts more than 1,000 spectators every year. The event was also the first time ever a one-mile shootout had been held on a closed public highway, a format that has now been repeated by other national racing organizations.

The one-mile shootout is Callaway’s opportunity to showcase the community. Held on Thursday, Aug. 11, the day will begin bright and early with breakfast for the drivers and crew at the shootout site at 6:30 a.m., provided by The Hen House. The road will be closed to traffic beginning at 7:30 a.m., and the shootout gets underway at 8:00. Following the shootout the drivers will make their way to Callaway for lunch at noon at the Community Center, sponsored by the Callaway Chamber of Commerce. The cars will be on display for viewing from noon to 2 p.m. in downtown Callaway.

After lunch the drivers will head to Arnold for the annual parade of cars at 2:30 p.m., always a favorite for spectators from far and near. The cars will remain parked in downtown Arnold for viewing from 3-4:30 p.m., and the annual burnout contest will begin at 4 p.m.

The race cars will begin rolling into the area by Tuesday, Aug. 8, as the tech inspection for the Loup 2 Loup race will be held that evening west of Arnold. The 21mile race will be held on Thursday, Aug. 11 beginning at 8:30 a.m. on the Halsey to Purdum road. Registration for the Loup 2 Loup and a mandatory drivers meeting will be held on Wednesday, and the race itself will be held on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 8:30 a.m. A spectators and drivers breakfast will be held Thursday morning from 9-11 a.m. at the United Church of Christ in Purdum.

The premiere SORC 55-mile road race, the event that started the whole thing, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 12. The road between Arnold and Dunning will close at 7 a.m. and the race gets underway at 8:30 a.m. That evening will feature a barbecue from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Arnold City Park, followed by the awards presentations. The 2023 SORC will wrap up with live music at Grazers Bar & Grill in Arnold beginning at 9 p.m.