Racing News

IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY & DRAGSTRIP TO CLOSE AFTER 2024 SEASON.
FINAL FAREWELL SET FOR DECEMBER 21
By Julian Austin


Farewell Extravaganza to Serve as Grand Finale for Iconic Motorsports Venue

IRWINDALE, CA (October 29, 2024) – Irwindale Speedway & Event Center Inc. (ISEC) has announced that Irwindale Speedway and Dragstrip will close following the 2024 season, ending a quarter-century as a beloved motorsports hub in Southern California. Since opening in 1999, Irwindale has been home to NASCAR races, demolition derbies, street-legal drag racing, and the iconic Formula Drift events at “The House of Drift,” along with numerous car culture festivals. Its final event, Irwindale Speedway’s Farewell Extravaganza, is set for December 21, marking the close of a significant chapter in racing history.

“Irwindale has been more than just a track—it’s been a home and gathering place for racing enthusiasts worldwide,” said Tim Huddleston, President of ISEC. “On behalf of my wife Lisa and our partners Bob and Maureen Bruncati, we extend heartfelt thanks to our fans, racers, sponsors, and the City of Irwindale for their unwavering support over the past 25 years. We’re grateful for every moment and memory we’ve shared as a community.”

Events will continue through the remainder of 2024, with highlights including Thursday Night Thunders, Night of Destruction on November 2, Nitro Revival on November 8-9, and SevenStock 26 on November 16. The dragstrip will host its final events in December, starting with the last Thursday Night Thunder on December 5, giving fans one last chance to race down the dragstrip or enjoy the burnout box. Irwindale Dragstrip will then close out its history with the legendary Mooneyes Christmas Party on December 7, featuring drag racing, a classic car show, live entertainment, and more—a fitting farewell to the iconic drag racing venue.

Irwindale Speedway’s Farewell Extravaganza on December 21 promises an unforgettable finale, packed with heart-pounding action. Fans can expect a full day of NASCAR short-track races, wild Night of Destruction events like Figure-8s and Trailer Races, a high-octane Drift Invitational, and the prestigious ARCA Menards Series West. This historic event will be Irwindale’s biggest and most thrilling celebration yet, a fitting tribute to the legacy of a track that has defined West Coast racing for 25 years.

While the closure marks the end of an era, Irwindale’s motorsports legacy will continue as its assets and events transition to Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield for 2025, ensuring that Southern California’s racing spirit endures.

Tickets for the Farewell Extravaganza will be available for purchase beginning Friday, November 8, 2024.

For more information, event details, and ticket purchases, please visit IrwindaleSpeedway.com or follow Irwindale Speedway & Dragstrip on social media.

Charlotte Motor Speedway to host Hurricane Relief Drive
By Julian Austin
October 23rd, 2024

In an ongoing effort to support those still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene, Charlotte Motor Speedway will continue its donation drive on  Wednesday, Oct. 30. Volunteers from NASCAR and area race teams will join speedway volunteers to collect items of need from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Items will be sorted and transported to North Wilkesboro Speedway or shared with distribution centers across western North Carolina.

WHEN:

Donations will be collected from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on  Wednesday, Oct. 30.

DETAILS:

Thanks to generous donations, distribution centers are currently NOT in need of water, diapers and used clothing. Requested items are:

• NEW thermal clothes
• Insulated gloves and boots
• Generators
• Propane
• Laundry detergent/dish soap
• Multivitamins/over-the-counter medications
• Extension cords and box fans
• Portable heaters
• Storage totes
• Carbon monoxide detectors

To make a financial donation or volunteer to assist with efforts in the mountains, people can visit www.SamaritansPurse.org.

-Charlotte Motor Speedway PR

Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway and Dominion Raceway to partner up for the Virginia Racers Championship Series.

By: Julian Austin
August 9th, 2024

Dominion Raceway and Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway announced the debut of the 1st annual Virginia Racers Championship Series today. This series will consist of two Virginia Racer features at each track with a purse being paid out to the top 5 in points following the conclusion of the series. The 1st two races in this series will also count towards NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Division III National points.

The 1st race will take place on August 24th with a 100-lap feature on Shawn Balluzzo Memorial Race Night presented by Smiley’s Heating and Cooling. The previously scheduled 100-lap event for the Langley Modified division will now be 48 laps in memory of Shawn Balluzzo and count towards track points and payout its normal purse for a 50-lap feature.

The series will then move onto Dominion Raceway in Thornburg, Virginia for its 2nd race, a 150-lap feature, on September 7th. To avoid conflicts, Langley Speedway will be dropping its Virginia Racers feature from its schedule on that same night to encourage all competitors to race at Dominion.

From there, the series will stay at Dominion Raceway for the 3rd race on October 5th with a 118-lap feature, in honor of its exit number off of I-95.

The series will then conclude at Langley Speedway on October 26th with a 100-lap feature during its Halloween Speedfest presented by Hampton CVB. Both the payout for each race in the series and the purse for the top 5 in points following the series will be determined in the coming days.

**Photo and press release was from Dominion Raceway and Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway**

Who to watch out in the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway for the NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday.
By: Julian Austin

The NASCAR Cup Series is cooking once again this weekend with the 23rd race of the 2024 season. The Cook Out 400 from Richmond Raceway in Virginia is the first race following the two week Olympic Break. For nearly everyone in the industry, the break was well needed as it gave teams and drivers a chance to recharge following 22 straight weeks of racing across this great country. 

Four drivers to watch for on Sunday 

Current Cup Series Points Leader Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson walking to his car during practice at Darlington Raceway earlier this year.

The most recent winner heading into the Olympic break is as confident as ever heading into Richmond. The two-time winner at the 0.75-mile D-shaped oval leads the Cup series points standings despite missing the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte over Memorial Day Weekend. He is currently in a heated battle with fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott for the regular season title. The nod would historically go to Larson when coming to Richmond, as he’s notched two-wins, five top-fives, and nine top-10s, and an average finish of 10.8 across 19 starts. Keep an eye out for “Yung Money” to earn his fifth win of the season and continue his stride of excellence into the final stretch of the regular season. 

2024 Spring Richmond Toyota Owners 400 winner Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin practicing his Yahoo Toyota Camry at Darlington Raceway earlier this season.

It is only fitting that the most successful driver at Richmond Raceway in the 21st Century hails from just down the road in Chesterfield, Virginia. Denny Hamlin proved his prowess once again in the spring as he came out victorious in the Toyota Owners 400 and notched the fifth win of his career at his home track. In addition, he’ tallied 19 top fives, 23 top-10s, and has completed all but 12 laps in 35 starts at Richmond. After missing out at the win at Indianapolis two weeks ago, Hamlin will be as determined as ever to showcase his talent amongst the top drivers in the series. Look for Hamlin to be the first driver to sweep a season since 2019 at the Richmond Raceway.

 2023 Cook Out 400 Winner Chris Buescher

Chris Buescher listens intently to a member of crew during practice at Darlington Raceway this season.

The Pride of Prosper, Texas returns after the break with a bit of a sweat going as he sits just 17 points above the playoff cutline. However, last year’s Cook Out 400 was the site of Chris Buescher and RFK Racing’s coming-out party in 2023. Going into this weekend without a win, Buescher and the No. 17 team will look to replicate their success from 2023 and kick off another hot streak heading into the playoffs. Watch as he looks to lock himself in at Richmond for the second year in a row.

Three time Richmond winner Martin Truex Jr.

Martin Truex Jr speaks to the media following practice for this spring's Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway

The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Champion will possibly be making his last start at Richmond Raceway Sunday night, as he announced earlier this summer that 2024 would be his last season of full-time competition. An overtime restart foiled his shot at what would’ve been a dominating win in the spring. This gives Truex all the more reason to have this weekend circled on his calendar. Over his 18-year career, Truex has three wins, 10 top-fives, and 18 top-10s through 36 starts at the 0.75-mile D-shaped oval. Although he sits comfortably 108 points above the playoff cutline as the highest ranked driver in on points, the veteran would like to both cement his postseason berth and get his first win of the year. Catch the future hall-of-famer as he continues on his farewell tour and eyes a fourth victory at Richmond Raceway.

This weekend's on track schedule at Richmond gets underway on Saturday with the Craftsman Truck Series having a 15 minute practice session at 2:35 followed by qualifying at 3:00 PM. The Cup Series will have a 45 minute practice session at 4:30 followed by qualfiying at 5:35. The Clean Harbors 250 for the Craftsman Truck Series will get the green at 7:30 on FS1

The NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 will get the green at 6:00 PM Sunday on the USA Network. Deez Lug Nutz will provide coverage from the speedway and we will discuss it in detail on next Tuesday's podcast!

(Photo by Sean Gardner of Getty Images and Catchfence.com)

Story by Julian Austin
May 19th, 2024

Corey Heim dominated the second half of the Wright Brand 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway Sunday to grab his third win of the season. It was quite the contrary to this time yesterday where Heim's truck among many others was dealing with standing water on pit road after four inches of rain pounded the speedway forcing NASCAR to postpone the remaining 191 laps of the event from Saturday to Sunday morning.

Heim would take the lead from Jake Garcia on lap 186 and would lead the rest of the way. He would only be contested on the last two restarts by Garcia and Layne Riggs on lap 219.

(Photo by Julian Austin from Darlington)

Last weekend at Darlington Raceway, Heim appeared to be on his way to his second consecutive win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The Marietta Georgia native swept the opening two stages and was biding his time on a late restart where teammate Dean Thompson broke loose coming out of two triggering a multi-truck crash which ultimately eliminated Heim from contention. 

Grant Enfinger moves back into Playoff contention.

Grant Enfinger finished in second today at North Wilkesboro and in doing so, moves up to 8th in the points standings which puts him into the playoffs at the moment. It was a nice recovery for Enfinger and his CR7 Motorsports team after a windshield tear off caused overheating issues and relagated Enfinger to a 16th place finish. 

Layne Riggs grabs his first top five of 2024
(Photo by Julian Austin from Darlington)

Layne Riggs entered the 2024 season with a lot of promise. He was taking over a ride which contended for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship with Zane Smith over the last couple of seasons. It has been a tough year filled with crashes and other issues not of his doing. He was able to make his way from 23rd starting spot to finish in third place today. For Riggs, it was much needed for his confidence and overall perception. Riggs told Frontstretch.com “We really needed this,” Riggs said. “We finally finished where we deserved to finish today. We knew we had a third or fourth place truck. It’s just hard with the way the track was changing to pit so early and guess what everyone was going to do.”

Brenden "Butterbean" Queen steals the headlines with a fourth place finish
(Image by Tricon Garage)

zMAX CARS Tour Late Model star Brenden "Butterbean" may have stole the headlines from his Tricon Garage teammate Corey Heim. The Virginia native turned a lot of heads this weekend by finishing fourth in maiden voyage in the Craftsman Truck Series. Queen who was fastest in practice on Friday was not able to parlay that into a solid qualifying effort as the rulebook set the field after qualifying was washed out. After starting 26th, Queen managed to race his way into the top 10 before a speeding penalty relegated him to the back of the pack. Queen with fresh tires charged his way through the field and battled with the finest in the Truck Series including Grant Enfinger, Christian Eckes and old rival Layne Riggs before settling for fourth place. The amount of cheers Queen received by the crowd made a clear statement that "Bean Nation" is in full force no matter what the track is. Queen's debut at North Wilkesboro will be talked about for quite some time as he now focuses his attention to Tri County this weekend as the CARS Tour resumes it's schedule. Queen told NASCAR.com “It’s just special, man. It just shows how important Late Model stock-car racing is and how important the CARS Tour is,” Queen said. “Just the support around our series, they want to see these guys that they’ve watched at the short tracks get these opportunities to go toe-to-toe with the big names. So I can’t believe it. I won here last year, so I think that’s where I gained a lot of the Wilkesboro crowd, and so many people came out and watched me tonight. I’m just super-blessed.”

Sammy Smith powers from 31st to fifth.

In a rare appearance in the Truck Series competing for Spire Motorsports, Sammy Smith started in 31st position and finished in fifth place. Smith has had some ups and downs this year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series so this run should be a huge piece of momentum as he returns to the Xfinity car next Saturday in Charlotte. 

The zMAX CARS Tour connection.

Four of the top five drivers have zMAX CARS Tour roots. Heim is a winner on both the Late Model Tour and the old Super Late Model tour. Layne Riggs is a former runner up in the championship standings with six career tour wins. Brenden Queen has five wins on the tour under his belt and is a 2024 championship contender while Sammy Smith is a former winner on the Super Late Model Tour with several starts on the Late Model Tour as well. 

There are others in the field today that have CARS Tour experience under their belt. Conner Jones is a former tour winner and Jake Garcia both drive for Thorsport while Tanner and Taylor Gray who also cut their teeth on the tour bullrings both drive for Tricon Garage full time.  Add in part time competitors William Sawalich and Kaden Honeycutt and you would be hard to argue that competing on the CARS Tour may lead to further opportunities in the three NASCAR National Series. 

Next up for the Truckers.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will run their fourth straight race in as many weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway Friday night. Matt Crafton is a former winner at Charlotte and he will be looking to pad his position in the playoffs. He has a two point advantage over Daniel Dye who is 11th in the standings. There are only six races left in the regular season for the Truck Series including the event Friday night in Charlotte. 

Justin Haley & Rick Ware Racing to honor fallen Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officers at Darlington Raceway for Goodyear 400 weekend.

By Julian Austin
May 10th, 2024

       Sunday’s Goodyear 400 will mark Justin Haley’s seventh NASCAR Cup Series start at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. While several of his competitors will honor the grassroots of motorsports with their respective racecar paint schemes, Haley’s will honor four heroes who gave their lives making a difference in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.

        On Monday, April 29, 2024, law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police department (CMPD) were attempting to serve a felony warrant when a suspect opened fire from inside the house.  Four heroes were mortally wounded – CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer, NC Department of Adult Corrections Investigators Samuel Poloche and William “Alden” Elliott, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks, Jr. – while four additional officers were injured. 

​       The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #9 Foundation has established a fundraiser to honor the fallen officers. All donations made will be split equally between the four families of the fallen officers to help with necessary expenses. Haley and his family will match donations made through the end of Sunday’s race.

        Haley’s two best Darlington finishes came in the two most recent May races at the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval. In May 2022, he charged to a third-place finish from his 29th starting position. He followed that up in May 2023 with an eighth-place run.

        In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Haley has posted five starts with one top-five and five top-15 finishes from 2021 to 2023.

-RWR-

For more information about this or Rick Ware Racing, contact Heather Griffin with True Speed Communication on behalf of Rick Ware Racing          Heather.Griffin@TrueSpeedCommunication.com           

Former NASCAR Driver, Jeremy Mayfield to Race at Franklin County Speedway this Saturday

by Julian Austin
May 9th, 2024

 

 

 

Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield is set to make his third appearance at Franklin County Speedway during the Boone Tractor Mother’s Day Special on Saturday, May 11th at 7pm.

Mayfield is no stranger to the “World’s Fastest 3/8-mile Paved Oval” with twin victories in his first start at the track in 2022 with the Grand National Super Series. He returns with the same series this year, now running full-time and looking to repeat his previous fortunes at the Callaway, VA track.

“Jeremy (Mayfield) is a hard-nosed racer and has found himself a good home with the Grand National Super Series,” explained Franklin County Speedway promoter Langley Austin. “I expect him and the entire series to put on a great show like they did in their previous visits. It’s also a great opportunity for fans to meet a driver they once saw racing on TV regularly and the other competitors.”

Mayfield will compete in twin 50-lap races with the Grand National Super Series during the Boone Tractor Mother’s Day Special. Mayfield hopes to hold off a host of other Grand National Super Series regulars including the most recent driver to sweep twin races at Dominion Raceway a few weeks back, Jason Kitzmiller as well as JJ Pack, Joe Wilder (who won at Franklin County Speedway last summer), Series owner Bob Schacht, Kevin Kromer, Lauren Butler and more.

In addition to Mayfield and the Grand National Super Series drivers, the local drivers will be in action with the Mini Stocks, Moneta Tractor & Trailer Legends and the Stock4 division. 210 laps of racing action on tap to help celebrate Mother’s Day. Before the race, fans will have the chance to meet with Mayfield and the other racers during a Pit Party on the front straightaway starting at 6:15pm with racing at 7pm.

Tickets will be available at the gate. Adults are $15/person with kids under 10 getting in free. More information is available at https://fcspeedway.com/

 

Callaway, VA (April 1, 2024) – The Teddy’s Water Hauling WinterThaw event set the stage for the season opener around the “World’s Fastest 3/8 mile Paved Oval”, Franklin County Speedway during Easter weekend.
 
Seven winners broke through on opening night including veteran Jimmy Mullins of Oak Level, who captured his first One Stop Towing Late Model victory since 2020. Mullins, who had been mostly competing in the Super Street and Charger divisions the last few seasons, made the move back to Late Models and made the most of it this past Saturday.
 
Mullins bested the seven-car field through carnage and with just 11-laps completed to the checkered flag with time expired on the race event. Matthew Lawrence of Floyd took home second by avoiding the carnage. Tyler Ashley of Galax finished third. After crashing out late, Eddie Walls of Hillsville and Jesse Arrington of Smith Mountain Lake completed the top five finishers.
 
AJ Sanders of Mocksville, NC dominated the 50-lap Carolina Mini Stock Challenge Series race fending off a race-long challenge from Tim Canipe of Hickory, NC to capture the victory. Jason Lester of Parrish, FL rebounded from a mid-race mishap when he lost his transponder and had to go down pit road to get a new one installed. He made it back to finish third despite carbon-monoxide fumes getting inside the car. He needed water following the finish but was in good spirits about his finish.
 
Shane Canipe of Hickory, NC finished fourth with Blaine Curry of Welcome, NC finishing fifth. Chuck Wall of Arcadia, NC, who won the previous two Carolina Mini Stock Challenge Series races, struggled but finished sixth in the 11-car field.
 
Chris Lilly of Shenandoah picked up where he left off in 2023 in the Moneta Tractor & Trailer Legends division as he picked up the win in the season-opening 30-lap race. It was the first INEX-sanctioned event for the Legends cars at Franklin County Speedway which yielded a strong 13-car field.
 
Lilly won five races last year and looks to be ready to better that number in 2024. Lilly battled hard with pole winner Ethan Truell of Winston-Salem, NC for the lead and pulled away in the closing laps for the victory. Truell would come home second with newcomer Scott Heath of Moneta finishing third. 2023 Legends division champion, James Folds of Roanoke and Nathan Wheat of Boones Mill completed the top five finishers.
 
In the always competitive Stock4 division, Josh Hinchee of Boones Mill dominated the first race of twins for the division but failed post-race technical inspection for weight and camber. Second-place finisher Keyshaun Claytor of Salem and third-place finisher Gary Smith of Buchanan also failed inspection for weight. This handed the win to 2023 Stock4 division champion, Wes Givens, who initially finished fourth. Jaden Austin of Callaway inherited second and Larry Altice of Roanoke inherited third. James Chrisley of Radford finished fourth, the last of the drivers passing post-race technical inspection. In total five drivers failed inspection after the first race.
 
Austin then led flag to flag in the second Stock4 race of the evening for his first victory of the season. Claytor and Hinchee, who fixed their earlier tech issues rebounded to finish second and third after a spirited battle between the two. Smith and Altice completed the top five finishers with no further issues in inspection.
 
In the Virginia Vintage Racers feature, Jimmy Mullins took home his second win of the night with the Modified division victory. Jay Dee Callahan of Killingworth, CT survived a spin late in the race to pick up the win in the Sportsman division of the Virginia Vintage Racers passing leader David Liles on the final lap. Barry Dalton and Stephen Kammer completed the top three finishers in Modifieds and Bub Ponton completed the top three finishers in Sportsman.
 
Racing action returns to Franklin County Speedway on Saturday, April 13th with the Pepsi Kid’s Gold Rush event. This will be the first night race of the year with the race starting at 7pm. Make plans to come out and enjoy a great evening of racing action with the One Stop Towing Late Models, Mini Stocks, Moneta Tractor & Trailer Legends and Stock4 in action.
 
More information can be found at https://fcspeedway.com/ or by calling 276.613.4208.

Teddy's Water Hauling WinterThaw
March 30, 2024
Official Results
 
Moneta Tractor & Trailer Legends:
1 - #27 Chris Lilly
2 - #63 Ethan Truell
3 - #3 Scott Heath
4 - #15 James Folds
5 - #21 Nathan Wheat
6 - #11 Wes Givens
7 - #84 Austin Sams
8 - #75 Makenna Crocker
9 - #78 Gracie Crocker
10 - #16 Phil Smith
11 - #71 Justin Landis
12 - #26 Charles Parker
13 - #25 Tom Weaver
 
Carolina Mini Stock Challenge:
1 - #24 AJ Sanders
2 - #10 Tim Canipe
3 - #32 Jason Lester
4 - #1 Shane Canipe
5 - #16 Blaine Curry
6 - #18 Chuck Wall
7 - #99 Dennis Holdren
8 - #1/2 Chris Amos
DNS - #12 Jessie Yopp
DNS - #97 Scott Foley
DNS - #99A Chad Asberry
 
One Stop Towing Late Models:
1 - #12 Jimmy Mullins
2 - #54 Matthew Lawrence
3 - #83 Tyler Ashley
4 - #1 Eddie Walls
5 - #53 Jesse Arrington
6 - #17 Landin Nester
7 - #00 Genarro Palumbo
 
Stock4 Race #1:
1 - #2 Wes Givens
2 - #81 Jaden Austin
3 - #21 Larry Altice
4 - #26 James Chrisley
DQ - #22 Josh Hinchee (Weight/Camber)
DQ - #7x Keyshaun Claytor (Weight)
DQ - #97 Gary Smith (Weight)
DQ - #5 Josh Brown (Weight)
DQ - #315 Heather Fackler (Weight)
DNS - #77 Randy Winingham
 
Stock4 Race #2:
1 - #81 Jaden Austin
2 - #7x Keyshaun Claytor
3 - #22 Josh Hinchee
4 - #97 Gary Smith
5 - #21 Larry Altice
6 - #26 James Chrisley
7 - #315 Heather Fackler
8 - #5 Josh Brown
9 - #2 Wes Givens
DNS - #77 Randy Winingham
 
Virginia Vintage Racers:
1 - #57 Jimmy Mullins (Modifieds)
2 - #05 Barry Dalton (Modifieds)
3 - #11 JayDee Callahan (Sportsman)
4 - #14 David Liles (Sportsman)
5 - #31 Stephen Kammer (Modifieds)
6 - #97 PeeWee (Modifieds)
7 - #90 Preston Clark (Modifieds)
8 - #7 Bub Ponton (Sportsman)
9 - #6 Eric Morris (Sportsman)

 

A few tidbits (well, kinda) on Sunday’s SMART Tour’s King of the Modifieds at South Boston Speedway.

By: Jody Freeman

Posted: March 21, 2024

We will begin with South Boston Speedway’s relationship with modified racing and what you should expect. First off, South Boston is a track that’s really built for modifieds. A 4/10^th of a mile paved oval with a lot of grip. Tire conservation will not be as much as a factor here and I expect to see a lot of passing, and well, racing! We’ve seen many drivers start from outside of the top 10 and be running up front at the end of it. Two of the last three winners have started from outside of the 10 in the SMART Tour at South Boston. This place carries a lot of speed, and these drivers will be competing for one of the largest purses in modified history. Over $100,000 in prize money with $20,000 going to the winner.

A few of the SMART Tour regulars.

Carson Loftin – Last seasons rookie of the year has let it be known 2 races into the season that he’s no rookie anymore. Carson has won both races to start out the SMART Tour powered by Pace O Matic season, and he hasn’t just fallen into these wins either. The season opener at Florence Motor Speedway he had to get around but none other, “Money Matt” Hirschman before pulling away and getting his first career win in the Peanut Patch 99. The following week he followed that up with another win by holding off former NASCAR Daytona 500 winner, Ryan Newman in the Warrior 100 at Caraway Speedway. In both wins he had to use late race restarts to hold off the competition. The irony behind that is that was something he couldn’t quiet do in last falls race at South Boston. Carson seemed destine to make it a Loftin sweep at South Boston Speedway last year (his father, Brian, won the spring race at Sobo) before he was outdueled on a late race restart by Andy Jankowiak. Carson returns this weekend to South Boston in hopes of revenge, and continuous resurgence, not to mention 20,000 other reasons.

Brian Loftin – Brian is a veteran on the SMART Tour and has complied 9 career wins in his career on the tour, including his win here at South Boston last spring. Brian is hoping to find some of that mojo again as he has yet to finish in the top 10 in first 2 races of the season.

Burt Myers – 11 career wins and a 3 time champ on the SMART Tour. Burt is no slouch when it comes to modified racing in the south. Though as much success as Burt has enjoyed, he is yet to visit victory lane at South Boston Speedway. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good here though. Burt has 5 straight 10s at Sobo, finishing no worse than 7^th. Picking up a win here and $20,000 would definitely help ease some of the pain of being involved in 2 separate incidents at Caraway in his last race.

Joey Coulter – Joey finished inside the top 5 in both races at South Boston last season and had one of the fastest cars in the spring race before having to overcome getting spun out. The former NASCAR Craftsman Truck winner has started out this season 2 for 2 in finishing inside the top 10 and he is hoping to carry that momentum to becoming $20,000 richer.

Ryan Newman – 2023 SRX champion and 18 time NASCAR Cup winner Ryan Newman hopes to keep climbing the ladder this weekend. Ryan finished 3^rd in the season opener at Florence and come home 2^nd in the last event at Caraway. This will be Ryan’s first visit to Sobo in a modified as he split seat time last year with Jonathan Cash, who competed in both races at South Boston last season. Ryan did finish 4^th here in 2022 when the former SRX series made their stop at the track.

Tom Buzze – Though Tom has yet to race a full season on the SMART Tour, he does have 3 consecutive top 5 finishes at South Boston on the tour, including a runner up last spring.

Visitors from the North.

Matt Hirschman – Maybe Matt is a bit more than just a visitor on the tour as he does have 15 starts in the series. Money Matt started out by winning 9 of his first 11 races on the SMART Tour, including a win at South Boston in 2022. However, in Matt’s last 4 races in the series he hasn’t been able to sniff out victory lane and has an average finish of 9.5. Do not let that fool you though. For one, he didn’t earn his nickname “Money Matt” by not winning big races, and now he is here to conquer the biggest modified race in the south’s history. It is also worth mentioning though he hasn’t had the finishes in his last 4 SMART Tour starts, he hasn’t been bad by any means. In both races this year he has for sure had one of top 2 best cars. Matt was leading the season opener at Florence before getting passed by Carson Loftin, and then later getting spun out by Burt Myers. In the last race at Caraway Matt had to go to the back of field late in the race after a pit penalty. He was runner up at Motor Mile last year and had machinal issues last spring at South Boston as he was charging through the field. I know, I could have just left this at Matt Hirschman and moved on!

Doug Coby – A 6 time Whelen Modified champion is partnering up with a “pissed off” Tommy Baldwin to race the legend #7NY car. Though Doug doesn’t typically adventure far south, the large purse has him hungry and this is a scary combination in the modified world.

Woody Pitkat – Woody will be adventuring south himself in hopes to add another big win on his resume. Woody has dominated modified racing in the past at Stafford Motor Speedway, including one of the most prestigious races, winning the Spring Sizzler.

Jimmy Blewett – Jimmy has made the first 2 starts of the season on the Smart Tour as he decides whether he is going to race the full season or not. Jimmy currently sits 4^th in the SMART Tour points with 2 top 10s to start out the year. Though, both of those races have been in the #99 Jamie Tomaino car (2022 SMART Tour champion Caleb Heady will be running the #99 at South Boston). “Showtime” will be bringing his family owned #76 car down for this event.

Danny Bohn – Danny is competing full time on the SMART Tour this season and has started out pretty damn well, he currently sits 3^rd in points. Danny is actually my pick to win the race (announced earlier in the week on Deez Lug Nutz Podcast). Danny started out the season strong with 5^th and 7^th places finishes respectively. However, the biggest thing that stands out to me is that Danny has 5 top 5 finishes at South Boston previously and he has enough talent to get it done here by simply just flying under the radar.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Donald Clay Named Competition Director for Franklin County Speedway

Release provided by Langley Austin of Franklin County Speedway. 

Posted by Julian Austin on February 10th, 2024

Callaway, VA - Franklin County Speedway continues to expand the staff for race nights around the 3/8-mile high-banked bullring with the addition of a new Competition Director for the 2024 season.

Clover, Virginia resident, Donald Clay brings a lifetime of racing knowledge to become the Competition Director for the racing program at Franklin County Speedway in 2024. Clay, a former winning race car driver and winning Late Model crew chief will fill the role of Competition Director better known at the track as “tech man”.

Clay will oversee the four-division race card at every event in 2024, which includes Late Models, Mini Stock, Legends, and Stock4. Clay is a former Stock4 winner and championship contender and won a race as crew chief of a Late Model in 2022. He was also named Mechanic of the Year in 2022.

“Donald (Clay) brings a lot of experience and knowledge to the Competition Director position,” track promoter Langley Austin said. “He’s been around the block a time or two. Winning races on the track and turning wrenches for others. He’s the kind of guy who’s needed in this position because he brings the experience that commands respect among the racers.”

Clay’s role on race nights will be to ensure safety among all the competitors as well as keep the field even through inspection and managing the rulebook.

“Being the tech man is a tough role,” Austin explained. “With staff shortages over the last few years, I’ve spent my fair share of time in that role. It’s a necessary evil to keep the racers honest. It’s easy to get something over on a guy like me who hasn’t lived it and pushed the gray area like Donald has. He’s not one they can get something over on. It should serve to continue to tighten our fields up.”

Clay has been instrumental in helping the track condense the rulebooks for each division while also contracting divisions. Franklin County Speedway played host to 13 divisions during the 2023 season with several being like others and will only have four divisions this season. Clay has helped make the rulebooks more streamlined and will continue to do so over the upcoming season and into 2025.

“Donald reads a rulebook like a racer,” Austin said. "He can see a gray area or loophole where I can’t see it because I haven’t been in the trenches like he has. That’s helped a lot this offseason with getting the rulebook for each division where it needs to be.”

Clay will work hand in hand with Race Director Jay Altizer to continue to improve the program for the racers. Altizer assumed the role of Race Director last fall and quickly began implementing changes that have helped improve race day for racers, staff, and fans.

“Donald and Jay (Altizer) working together this season will help improve our program for the racers,” Austin continued. “Jay’s background here in the 1980s and with NASCAR over the years combined with Donald’s racing experience will continue to evolve our racing program for the better of the racers and the fans. Drivers will know they are on an even playing field this season and that we will start on time, and they’ll be treated equally on the track and off.”

The 56^th season of racing at Franklin County Speedway is set to kick off on Saturday, March 2^ndat 2pm with Teddy’s Water Hauling WinterThaw featuring all four of the local divisions as well as a visit by the Virginia Vintage Racers series. The full 2024 schedule is available on our website at https://fcspeedway.com/

STAR Super Stock Tour announces their 2024 schedule
by Julian Austin on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024

-Charlotte NC- 
The STAR Super Stock Tour announced their 2024 schedule from the Charlotte Racer's Expo in Charlotte North Carolina today. 

The first stop on the tour will be from Florence Motor Speedway in South Carolina in conjunction with the IceBreaker Late Model Stock event on February 10th.

The tour will take over a two month hiatus to allow teams to race at their home tracks as they open up throughout the mid-atlantic and other places when they run the second event of the season at Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn VA on April 27th.

On May 25th along with the zMAX CARS TOUR, the series heads to Tri-County Speedway in Hudson North Carolina which was the site of not only the first ever tour event in 2023 but also the championship spot in it's inaugural season. This is the first of two events at the track as the second will be held October 12th.

June 22nd will see the tour head to Anderson Speedway in South Carolina which is a return spot from the inaugural schedule. 

August 24th is a date that is still yet to be determined.

September 21st sees the tour go to Franklin County Speedway in Callaway Virginia. 

The race for the Alliance Driveaway Solutions Cup concludes on November 9th from the historic Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory North Carolina. The second series champion will be crowned on the same day as one of Hickory Motor Speedway's crown jewel events, the annual Fall Brawl LMSC event. 

**Schedule graphic provided by the STAR Super Stock Series.**

Deez Lug Nutz to partner with the STAR Super Street Series to sponsor the Hard Charger Award in 2024.

by Julian Austin on January 31st, 2024

Alliance Driveaway Solutions to sponsor the Inaugural Alliance Driveaway Solutions Cup to the 2024 STAR Super Stock Tour Champion 

by Julian Austin in conjunction with the STAR Super Stock Tour. January 30th 2024.

 Jefferson, GA- Alliance Driveway Solutions, Inc. the leading name in the driveaway service and heavy truck delivery industry, proudly announces a groundbreaking partnership with the STAR Super Stock Tour, marking a significant stride in the world of short track racing. The collaboration introduces an exciting new element to the racing series-the new highly coveted Alliance DriveAway Solutions Cup.
 
This season – long championship points system, the Alliance DriveAway Solutions Cup, will add a new layer of competition and prestige to the STAR Super Stock Tour. This partnership aims to elevate the racing experience for both participants and fans alike, bringing a heightened level of anticipation and energy to each event.
 
The Alliance DriveAway Solutions Cup represents a commitment to excellence, sportsmanship and the pursuit of victory on the racetrack. Alliance DriveAway Soluitions is honored to support the STAR Super Stock Tour in fostering a competitive environment where drivers can showcase their skills and determination over a season long battle.
 
“We are thrilled to partner with the STAR Super Stock Tour and introduce the Alliance DriveAway Solutions Cup, a symbol of our shared passion for excellence in motorsports,” said Tate Lyda, President of Alliance DriveAway Solutions, Inc. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting the racing community and providing an unforgettable experience for the fans.”
 
The Alliance DriveAway Solutions Cup will not only serve as a testament to the dedication of the drivers but will also become a symbol of the partnership between Alliance DriveAway Solutions Inc. and the STAR Super Stock Tour. The Championship will be fiercely contested, adding drama and excitement to every race as competitors vie for the opportunity to etch their names into the history books of the STAR Super Stock Tour.
 
Stay tuned for an action-packed season as Alliance DriveAway Solutions and the STAR Super Stock Tour join forces to bring the Alliance DriverAway Solutions Cup – where passion meets performance on the racetrack.
 
About: Alliance DriveAway Solutions, Inc. is the industry leader and service provider for the driveraway and heavy truck delivery industry. Alliance DriveAway Solutions Inc has over 18 years’ experience in the heavy truck transportation industry. They currently operate in all lower 48 States and Canada. No distance is too far. WE excel in ensuring that our customers are more than satisfied with their shipments. At Alliance DriveAway Solutions, they don’t treat you as a customer but rather as an operating partner. Their advanced state-of-the-art dispatch system ensures that they are with you every step of the way. Alliance DriveAway Solutions is American Owned and Operated. Experience the Difference.

For more information and ticket details, visit www.starsstour.com

The STAR Super Stock Tour is coming to Franklin County Speedway for its inaugural visit September 21st.

Story by Julian Austin in conjunction with the STAR Super Stock Tour
Photo courtesy of STAR Super Stock Tour

Jefferson, GA - The STAR Super Stock Tour is set to make history with its first-ever visit to the picturesque countryside of Franklin County Speedway in Callaway, Virginia. On September 21st, race fans will witness the thrill of The Great American Bash 50 Presented by DCT Towing, as the finest Super-Stock drivers from the southeast converge upon the renowned Moonshine Capital of the World.

Founder of the STAR Super Stock Tour, Boo Carlisle, expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming event, stating, "We are very much excited to showcase the talents of our top super stock drivers at the gem of a racetrack that is Franklin County Speedway. This is a momentous occasion for the STAR Tour, and we are thrilled to bring the phenomenal action of the STAR Tour to the beautiful countryside of Callaway and race at Langley Austins facility of Franklin County Speedway.”

The Great American Bash 50 Presented by DCT Towing promises a night of side-by-side action featuring some of the best drivers in the southeast competing for victory on the small 3/8 mile Franklin County Speedway track. Racing fans and locals alike can anticipate an unforgettable night as the STAR Super Stock Tour makes its mark on this iconic venue.

Don't miss out on witnessing history in the making as Franklin County Speedway welcomes the STAR Super Stock Tour for the first time ever. Mark your calendars for September 21st and join us for a great night of racing at The Great American Bash 50 Presented by DCT Towing.

For more information and ticket details, visit www.starsstour.com

Majeski Enters ASA STARS National Tour Clyde Hart Memorial 200 

By Julian Austin

(New Smyrna Beach, FL) 2023 ASA STARS National Tour champion, Ty Majeski, is among the early entries for the Clyde Hart Memorial 200 at New Smyrna Speedway, Tuesday, January 13.

Majeski, the Wisconsin Short Track Superstar, will pilot his familiar #91 Ford in the ASA STARS National Tour opener, in what may or may not be in defense of his 2023 championship. The 2016 World Series of Asphalt Champion last competed at New Smyrna Speedway Speedweeks in 2020.

“We’re going to start off the season for sure at New Smyrna for the ASA STARS race on Tuesday and then pick and choose from there” Majeski commented. “We won’t have a real set schedule in 2024 but we will hit up some ASA races, Midwest Tour, and then probably some other bigger shows.”

Majeski became the first ever ASA STARS National Tour series champion last fall at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, but it wasn’t easy. 

For the first seven races of the STARS National Tour season, it looked like Majeski would cruise to the inaugural series championship for pavement Super Late Models. A part time schedule that turned into a championship hunt through the first 7 races had Majeski and his team focused on the final three races. 

Three dominating wins in the first five races put the Neenah, WI short track star and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular in command of the title, but a pair of DNF’s at Toledo and Winchester dwindled what was a 93-point lead down to just an 8-point advantage heading into the All-American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway for the series’ finale. 

The effort at Nashville was enough to secure the title, with Majeski claiming the Inaugural STARS National Tour Championship by 32 points and cementing his name in the record book. 

The Clyde Hart Memorial 200 is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, February 12 & 13 at New Smyrna Speedway. The event will serve as the season opening race for ASA Stars National Tour season. The Clyde Hart Memorial will be tri-sanctioned by the ASA STARS National Tour, ASA Southern Super Series and the Sunbelt David Rogers Super Late Models as part of the World Series of Asphalt point championship.

Tuesday, February 13 sees Pit Gates opening at 10AM, ASA STARS Qualifying scheduled for 4:30PM, and a Last Chance Qualifying Race (if needed) at 6PM. 

For those unable to attend the Clyde Hart Memorial, online live coverage will be widespread with TrackTV.com, MidwestTour.TV, and FloRacing all providing subscription-based coverage. 

The 2024 Clyde Hart Memorial 200 event entry blank has been posted on the ASA STARS National Tour website at www.starsnationaltour.com  

For the full ASA STARS National Tour schedule, plus Super Late Model rules and other information, please visit the series website at starsnationaltour.com, or be sure to follow the series on social media (Facebook: STARS National Series | Twitter: @racewithstars | IG: @starsnational).
Photo and Press Release provided by Track Enterprises PR

SRX to cancel the 2024 Season

by Julian Austin
Superstar Racing Experience (also known as SRX) issued a statement on Thursday that the series fourth season has been postponed. 

"It is with deep disappointment that we announce the postponement of SRX's fourth season. We entered the next phase of our racing series with great anticipation and excitement for what was ahead. Our expectations, however, have been tempered by market factors that have proven too much to overcome" 

Image from SRX X page formerly known as Twitter.

It appears that the series hopes to return in the future based on the wording of this statement. The series had announced five of the planned six races for 2024 over the last several weeks and months. Those scheduled races were scheduled at Stafford Speedway, Slinger Speedway, Berlin Raceway, Cedar Lake Speedway and Thunder Road International Speedbowl which had it's 2023 event rescheduled due to torrential flooding and storms around Vermont. ESPN was slated to carry the six race schedule this summer on Thursday nights following last year's Thursday Night Thunder revival. 

This announcement comes days after series co-founder Ray Evernham purchased IROC along with former Cup Series owner Rob Kauffman. 

Last season, Deez Lug Nutz was able to cover the event at Pulaski County Motorsports Park and it was one of the most surreal moments of our career. Less than six months later, the series appears to be dormant along with the facility in a cruel twist of fate.

Photos by Julian Austin and Jody Freeman

Honeycutt and Usry Racing team up for 2024 short track campaign
January 11th 2024 by Julian Austin

Tom Usry Racing announced today that multi-faceted racing star Kaden Honeycutt will run selected zMax CARS Tour races, the Virginia Triple Crown and select special events in 2024. R&S Race Cars will field the machines and Joey Measamer returns as crew chief. They teamed up towards the end of 2023 with runner up finishes at the South Carolina 400 at Florence and the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National. 

(Image from Tom Usry Racing Facebook Page)


Team Trackhouse adds Zilisch to a multiyear deal
January 11th, 2024 by Julian Austin

Trackhouse Racing announced today that they have signed Mooresville, North Carolina native Connor Zilisch to a multiyear developmental deal. The 17-year old will run select CARS Tour, ARCA, Trans Am and IMSA races along with the NASCAR Truck and Xfinity Series in 2024 and 2025. Zilisch will also compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportCar Championship events including the upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 26th. 

"I have watched Connor grow from a youngster racing go-karts at the Trackhouse Motorplex to beating all of us in the Trans-Am race at VIR" said Justin Marks who is the founder and owner of Team Trackhouse. 

Zilisch who turns 18 in July of 2024 won a CARS Pro Late Model Tour event in 2023 driving for Rackley W.A.R. Racing. He also made his ARCA National Debut later on in the same year at Watkins Glen International in New York.
 
Photo by Julian Austin

Andrew Grady aims for a fresh start with Richmond Virginia's TORP Chassis.

By Julian Austin

TORP Chassis announced today that Andrew Grady will run for the organization in the zMax CARS Tour in 2024. The driver of the ABC Hosiery and Apparel Gildan machine told the team in a press release that he is looking forward to a fresh start and building the program one race at a time plus having all the fun in the world doing it.

Team owner Craig Oliver stated on Facebook "everyone at TORP is excited to field a car in the tour, which we haven't done since its inaugural season in 2015. Andrew believes in us as a team and that means a lot.

2023 was not an ideal season for Grady who was a part of the Series Touring 12. Grady placed 16th in the points scoring two top ten finishes but also failed to qualify for one of the events early in the season. With new optimism, Grady will be one to watch this season. The team also announced this week that Justin Hicks would drive in selected special events this season along with the Virginia Triple Crown races. He placed ninth last season in the Valley Star 300 at Martinsville.

Image Courtesy of the zMax CARS Tour