AUTO RACING: The Extreme Monster Nationals is returning to the DeltaPlex Arena in Walker this weekend. Action begins 8 p.m. Friday, followed by shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The featured Monster Trucks include Big Foot, Raminator, Rammunition and Ghost Ryder. Shelly Kujat also will bring her Shell's Camino truck to compete. Tickets start at $9 and are available at Ticketmaster outlets, deltaplex.com and the DeltaPlex ticket office.
HOCKEY: A 24-hour party is not enough for the Grand Rapids Griffins anymore, so they are extending the fun. The seventh annual Great Skate will be preceded by an inaugural Winterfest at Rosa Parks Circle noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. In addition to ice skating, the Winterfest will include winter sports demonstrations, family activity tents with games, dog sled rides and ice sculpture demonstrations. The Great Skate will follow immediately at Rose Parks Circle from 10 p.m. Saturday until 10 p.m. Sunday. Griffins players and coaches will take turns skating with fans following their game against the Philadelphia Phantoms. Admission to Great Skate is free, and skates will be available. Donations are encouraged but not required. Proceeds benefit the Griffins Youth Foundation. Baseball: Fewer than 200 tickets remain for the annual Whitecaps Winter Baseball Banquet on Jan. 21 at J.W. Marriott downtown. The guest speakers will be Detroit Tigers president and CEO Dave Dombrowski, Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson and West Michigan Whitecaps manager Joe DePastino. Cost is $75 for an individual ticket, or $850 for a corporate table of 10, which includes 40 raffle tickets and preferred seating. Ticket deadline is Monday. Call 784-4131 or write to the ballclub: Whitecaps Winter Baseball Banquet, P.O. Box 428, Comstock Park, Michigan, 49321.
Baseball: Major League Baseball's last 30-game winner will sign autographs Saturday at Centerpointe Mall. Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain is the guest of Legends Sports and Games and will sign 1 to 2:30 p.m. McLain's appearance will be part of a card show that will run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The show will include 30 tables for collectors to browse. Autographs are $10 each; personal memorabilia may be signed, or McLain mechandise may be bought at Legends. Call 940-1676.
