South Boston Speedway To Establish A Championship Loyalty Bonus Program in 2025 & 2026
By Julian Austin
February 4th, 2025
Officials from South Boston Speedway announced today a brand new Championship Loyalty Bonus Program for the 2025 racing season. This program will be in place for all four weekly divisions that compete at the facility.
Over $75,000 in season-end bonuses will be awarded to competitors at South Boston Speedway this season through this program. Hitachi Energy South Boston and EMPOWER Broadband will sponsor the South Boston Speedway Championship Loyalty Bonus. The new South Boston Speedway Championship Loyalty Bonus Program powered by Hitachi Energy and Empower Broadband is contracted for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
“Hitachi Energy is thrilled to partner with South Boston Speedway to invest in our local racing community and ensure that top-tier drivers continue to choose South Boston Speedway as their home track,” said Hitachi Energy Community Relations and Engagement Manager Ryland Clark. “This partnership not only strengthens grassroots motorsports but also enhances the experience for our employees, who will enjoy exclusive perks as part of our commitment to community engagement. We believe in powering progress – on and off the track – and this collaboration is another step in driving success for both our region and the sport.”
Hitachi Energy’s facility in South Boston, Va., is a key manufacturing hub specializing in the production of both distribution and power transformers. These transformers play a crucial role in adjusting and stabilizing voltage to ensure an efficient and reliable power supply across the region.
Serving the nation’s power grid, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and railway applications, the South Boston factory spans approximately 607,000 square feet and employs about 670 individuals.
“We are pleased to partner with South Boston Speedway for the 2025-2026 racing seasons. EMPOWER Broadband proudly supports our local communities and businesses and are excited to have the EMPOWER brand associated with the wholesome, family-oriented entertainment that short-track racing brings to the fans at the speedway,” said EMPOWER President and CEO Casey Logan. “South Boston Speedway is an iconic racing destination that has drawn loyal fans from all over Southside Virginia and beyond for more than 60 years. EMPOWER is committed to providing the best internet experience and empowering our local communities and businesses. It’s a winning partnership and we can’t wait to see what the next two years bring.”
How will this work?
Award payouts will be based on season-end driver track points. Track points will dictate what bonus payout is received.
A one race night waiver will be given per each eligible driver should it be needed. This waiver will be good for missing one night of racing, even if that is a twin-race night. No points will be awarded to a driver for the night they’ve chosen or are forced to use a waiver. They will however remain eligible for the loyalty bonus.
A second ‘emergency’ waiver will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be granted only if there is any unforeseen hardship that impacts a driver’s attendance such as, but not limited to, tragedy, injury, emergency illness, or a mechanical issue or crash during race day practice/qualifying. Two race night absences with no ‘emergency waiver’ will void eligibility for the loyalty bonus.
-Courtesy of South Boston Speedway
Under the Hitachi Energy sponsorship, a $20,000 award will go to the top eligible driver in the Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division with payouts of $15,000, $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 respectively going to the rest of the eligible top five drivers. All eligible drivers from sixth place back will receive $2,000 each.
A $3,000 award will go to the top eligible driver in the Limited Sportsman Division with the next four eligible drivers receiving $2,000, $1,000, $750 and $500 respectively. The sixth eligible driver and all remaining eligible drivers will each receive a $250 award.
The top eligible driver in the Pure Stock Division will receive a $1,000 award. Payouts to the second through fourth eligible drivers are $750, $500 and $250 respectively. The fifth eligible driver and all other eligible drivers will each receive a $100 award.
A $500 award will be given to the top finishing eligible driver in the Hornets Division with the second through fifth eligible drivers receiving $250, $100, and $75 respectively. The fifth eligible driver and all eligible drivers that follow will each receive $50.
"When we say we’re going to take care of our drivers and put on a show for our fans, we mean it,” said South Boston Speedway General Manager Brandon Brown. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am to Hitachi Energy and EMPOWER Broadband for putting their confidence in South Boston Speedway and supporting this monumental effort. This is a special place, and our drivers deserve a special championship program like this. We want the best-of-the-best to race here, and our fans are in for an incredible season of action because of the absolutely stacked fields this program will produce. Although this is a driver/team focused bonus, fans will immediately see benefits from even more top-notch competition at SOBO each-and-every week. We are not done yet, there will be another announcement coming soon that will also make the 2025 Championship battle at SOBO one for the ages.”
Kyle Dudley poses in Phillip Morris Victory Lane following a Sentara Health Late Model event in 2024. Photo by Julian Austin.
South Boston Speedway will kick off its 2025 season on Saturday afternoon, March 22 with the SMART Modified Tour’s King of the Modifieds event 125-lap race which will also feature twin 50 lap Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car races that will pay $2,000 to win. Advance tickets for the season-opening March 22 SMART Modified Tour King of the Modifieds event are priced at $20. Tickets at the gate on race day will be $25 for those events. Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets at the advance ticket price in advance and at the gate on the day of the event. VIP Suite tickets for the March 22 SMART Modified Tour King of the Modifieds event are $45 each whether purchased in advance or at the gate on race day.
-Press Release from the desk of Joe Chandler