Kyle Larson
In a story first reported by Jenna Fryer of APnews and FloRacing.com, reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is planning to promote a dirt racing event at the Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee just days before NASCAR takes to the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway. It will serve as a continuation of multi-talented driver’s promotional efforts as he and World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion Brad Sweet recently took the reins of the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver hopes his rivals on the normally pavement-based NASCAR Cup Series will use the opportunity to participate in this race as a tune up for their upcoming points-paying Food City Dirt Race on the dirt covered half-mile track known as the Last Great Colosseum.
The second annual installment of dirt racing for the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol is slated for April 17th. The series raced on clay there last year with Team Penske driver Joey Logano claiming the victory. The event at Volunteer Speedway, which is located just off of I-81 only about 50 miles south of BMS, is scheduled for Thursday, April 14th.
Plans are to have the race dubbed the ‘Kyle Larson Presents FloRacing Late Model Challenge Powered by Tezos’ streamed live by FloRacing.com. According to a tweet from FloRacing announcer Ben Shelton(@msrmafia), the feature will pay $20,000 to its winner.
This race will not be part of the FloRacing Night in America Series, but rather, a separate property of FloRacing.com. That tour will be in action in its season-opening race on April 12th at Tony Stewart’s historic Eldora Speedway.
Volunteer Speedway is a 4/10 mile clay oval with steep banking in its turns. The track has hosted numerous major events of various sanctions.
The AP story points out that Larson has expressed interest in promoting an event similar to the ‘Prelude to the Dream’ that used to be held annually at Eldora involving drivers from NASCAR and other disciplines. If the event can be pulled off, he would like to do it as soon as next year.
Larson has competed successfully in Late Models beginning near the end of the 2020 season. He has won features on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Late Model Series as well as the Castrol FloRacing Night in America Series in his relatively short time in that form of motorsports.
Volunteer Speedway has hosted major events that have packed its grandstands
Larson’s biggest Late Model win for his K&L Rumley team came last year when he took the checkered flag in the crown jewel Prairie Dirt Classic at the Fairbury(IL) Speedway. He has won numerous Sprint Car and Midget races on dirt including the Chili Bowl Nationals, the Knoxville Nationals and one of two King’s Royal events held last year.
InsideDirtRacing.com will have more details regarding this events as more information becomes available.
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