11/19/2024
Late Model coverage since my last post one week ago;
Event news:
-RTJ wins the Castrol Flo Racing Late Model Night in America finale at The Peach State Classic, held at Senoia Georgia, and Wins the CFRNiA Championship, taking the points lead from Bobby Pierce on the final race!
-Trent Ivey Wins the Blue Grey 100, a huge South East Late Model Special at Cherokee Speedway. Him and his father become the first Father Son duo to win the Prestigious event. Trent bested the notable entries of: Johnathan Davenport, Chris Madden, Nick Hoffman, Dalton Wilson, as well as many more impressive regional stars!
-Dylan McCowan wins the Turkey Bowl (XVIII) at Springfield Raceway. I was in attendance at this race this weekend. McCowan was a deserving winner, but the most notable event from the Late Model portion of the race, in my opinion, was how the at the time 3rd place runner Ryan Gustin got a flat Right Rear, and slowed almost to a stop. They continued to race another 2 laps before the track finally threw the yellow flag. Gustin's crew began to change the tire but upon hearing from the tower that Gustin would be scored 2 laps down, the Coney Racing #19 (arguably the fastest car on the track) opted to retire.
Series / Track News:
-Southern All Stars Series sold to Ray Cook, Veteran Late Model racer and Owner/Promotor of Spring Nationals and Southern Nationals; Cook to Revive the series with non-conflicting events with the Spring Nationals and Southern Nationals. Note: Cook was also the inventor of the "Droop Rule", with WoO adopting the rule 2 seasons after Cook's implementation of the rule to the Spring Nationals and Southern Nationals, and the rest of Late Model racing adopting the rule one season after WoO's adoption of the rule
-Lucas Oil Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA) announced they are dissolving immediately, with it's assets being redistributed to the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and Lucas Oil Speedway. No news at this time about the MLRA Sanctioned special at Springfield Raceway in February they announced just 5 days prior to their dissolution. The race was supposed to pay $5,037 to honor the founders of the MLRA Ken Essary and Randy Moonyham
-WoO LM Schedule released
-LaSalle Speedway boasts $25k to win Late Model special at the end of May in their revival season, with the track laying Defunct since July 2021
-Nippy 50 at Maquoketa Speedway to increase purse throughout the field, hoping to grow the race to be a comparable replacement to LaSalle Speedway's Thaw Brawl
Silly Season news:
-B-Shep to Rocket House Car, commits to LOLMDS 25'
-Boom Briggs dropping off national competition
-Tim McCreedie to replace Boom Briggs as the driver of Boom Briggs' personal team, with alliance to Rocket Chassis.
-Drake Troutman to drive the #22 G.R. Smith owned entry for Team 22 Motorsport, Troutman to bring the whole crew from his Family Car with him to Team 22 Motorsport. They intend on running either LOLMDS or WoO LM, but are undecided and will race the entirety of Florida/Georgia Speedweeks then make a decision from their
-NASCAR Truck Series team Niece Motorsports to field a part time Dirt Late Model Entry for Max Mclaughlin
-Tanner English to run national tour in 25'. Undecided LOLMDS or WoO LM
-Nick Hoffman signs with WoO LM 25'
-Daniel Adam, North Carolina native transplanted to Illinois in 24' becoming Illinois standout, Signs with WoO 25' to run for Rookie of the Year honor
Extra:
Shout-out to B.A Photography (Pictured), one of the guys that convinced me to make this page, on being the sole Dirt on Dirt contributing Photographer at Turkey Bowl XVIII!!!
Post wrote 11-18-24. Will update news when more news comes out and I have time to write about it
