11/28/2023
Postman 68
Growth and Stability in Late Model Stock Racing
On Monday, the CARS Tour announced its 2024 schedule, the return of races to FloRacing and the addition of ZMax as the series sponsor. There will be 17 late model stock races on the tour next year.
Late model stock racing is King on the asphalt short tracks of Virginia, North and South Carolina. It is a very regional division with a long and storied history in the area’s motorsports landscape.
Late model stock racing is like a three-legged stool: The ZMax CARS Tour, several big event races, and weekly racing at the tracks across the region. In late model stock racing, and in three-legged stools, stability and growth can happen when all three legs are solid and stable.
Two of the legs seem strong, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., the highest-profile voice in late model stock racing sees a lot of positives in the third.
Simply stated: the ZMax CARS Tour is strong and stable. Jack McNelly and Keeley Dubenski have built a powerhouse series in the last nine seasons. Entering the 2023 season, the series was purchased by the high-profile group of Earnhardt, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Justin Marks. The quartet, working with McNelly, Dubenski and new series director Kip Childress, enjoyed a very satisfying first season.
With that rookie season in the mirror, the ownership has a strong vision and plan to continue not only the growth of their series; but also continue to contribute to the overall health of short track racing, and specifically late model stock racing, in the region.
The second leg of the late model stock stool is a series of big events held across the racing calendar. South Boston Speedway in Virginia kicks it off around the July 4th Holiday with a major 200-lap race and the season is dotted with big events through the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, North Carolina wrapping up the month of November.
There is the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway, the Fall Brawl at Hickory, The Rodney Cook Classic at Ace Speedway, the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway, and others. There is also the “granddaddy of them all” – the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 each fall at Martinsville Speedway.
Using 2023 as a guide, a number of these races played out in front of massive crowds and very solid car counts. And the racing was outstanding. The Martinsville and Southern National finishes specifically will be recalled for years to come.
In all, the big events look solid and stable as well in late model stock racing.
Then there is the third leg of the stool; the weekly racing. Some tracks seem to be rolling along well with weekly racing, while others are struggling specifically with car count. It’s an area that Earnhardt sees reason for optimism.
“Just a couple of years ago there was no ability to tune in and watch weekly racing, it wasn’t even possible,” said Earnhardt. “And in a very short period of time, we are so spoiled with access; there are so many of them on FloRacing.”
“To me, that says there is demand and there is health,“ bottom-lined Earnhardt, who has owned late model stock cars for many years.
Weekly racing at Langley, South Boston, Hickory, and Florence are all part of the FloRacing partnership with NASCAR and its racing roots program.
Earnhardt went on to single out Florence Motor Speedway, one of the tracks where he “cut his teeth” as a young racer.
“When you look at Steve Zacharias at Florence and what he has been able to do,” said Earnhardt. “He’s upgraded the facility itself and raised the profile of his events, he’s making it work.
“It falls on the track owners and operators to take advantage of these opportunities. I think streaming and all those things can offer the opportunity to raise their profile and get more people to come see them.”
So, while Earnhardt sees positive signs, he also understands how critical the weekly racing is to his CARS Tour.
“Without the weekly racing we would not exist,” said Earnhardt. “We need track regulars to compete with us for us to have a nice field.”
Weekly late model stock racing is split between NASCAR sanctioned tracks and those not sanctioned. Those NASCAR drivers compete in the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series and late model stock racers have dominated the national standings recently.
The last four National Champions: Connor Hall, Layne Riggs, Payton Sellers, and Josh Berry all earned the honors wheeling late model stock cars. Historically the division has been a hotbed of National Champions; Phillip Morris is a five-time Champion (from 2006-2018) and Lee Pulliam has four National Championships (2012-2017).
Late model stock racing, like so much short track racing, has the struggles of cost containment, rules packages and enforcement and track operators fighting for the entertainment spending of fans. When it is good it is fantastic racing and fans in the Mid-Atlantic area love and support their late model stock racing.
From Dominion to Hickory, from Motor Mile to Florence and great tracks in between…whether it is weekly racing, a big event or a visit by the CARS Tour late model stock racing is King.
Here’s to that strong and stable three-legged stool.
-- Postman
(Photo: CARS Tour)
2024 ZMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Schedule:
March 9 -- Southern National Motorsports Park, Kenly, N.C
March 23 – New River All American Speedway, Jacksonville, N.C.
April 6 – Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway
April 20 – Orange County Speedway, Rougemont, N.C.
May 3 – Ace Speedway, Altamahaw, N.C.
May 15 – North Wilkesboro (N.X.) Speedway
May 25 – Tri-County Speedway, Granite Falls, N.C.
June 1 – Langley Speedway, Hampton, Va.
June 15 – Dominion Raceway, Thornburg, Va.
July 3 – Caraway Speedway, Sophia, N.C.
July 27 – Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway
August 9 – Ace Speedway, Altamahaw, N.C.
August 24 – Wake County Speedway, Raleigh, N.C.
August 30 – Florence (S.C.) Motor Speedway
September 14 – South Boston (Va.) Speedway
October 12 – Tri-County Motor Speedway, Granite Falls, N.C.
October 19 – North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway
Submitted By: Steve Post
