The Southern Nationals Bonus Series offered up plenty of competitive action at 411
Often times it is easy to get caught up in the comings and goings of the two national touring series in the Dirt Late Model world, especially at the beginning of each season when those circuits get off to an early start and are the focus of so much attention. And certainly, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the World of Outlaws Late Models Series are worthy of attention as they conduct races all over the country with many of the sport’s biggest stars. However, the contributions of the various regional circuits that sanction races in different parts of the country can not be discounted as racers and fans alike benefit from the efforts of these organizations.
Those of us living in east Tennessee are lucky to be located in a place that offers a wide variety of regional tours throughout each racing season on the tracks here in this area. Dozens of races during 2016 will be contested in this hot bed of clay-based racing excitement.
The Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series, Ultimate Super Late Model Series, Carolina Clash and all the Ray Cook-promoted tours(Spring Nationals, Southern Nationals & Southern Nationals Bonus Series) will hold events around this region. And those are just the open-motor Super Late Model sanctioning bodies. The NeSmith Dirt Racing Series, Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series and United Crate Racing Alliance for Crate Late Models and Chevy 525 powered cars are also well entrenched here.
The national series are called national series for the obvious reason that they race around the nation. A fan would have to spend quite a bit of money in travel costs and hotels to see the likes of Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Jonathan Davenport and Josh Richards race on a weekly basis. Those tours can’t visit any one particular area too often due to their need to draw in as many fans as possible and appease the desires of their sponsors to be seen on a large scale. And that’s where the regional operations step in to fill the void.
National touring stars such as Jimmy Owens(20) often compete with regional tours when their schedules allow
And it isn’t just the fans who couldn’t possibly pull off the feat of chasing a national tour for an entire year. Many racers do not compete on the track to make a living. Instead, many enjoy the thrill of competition while still holding down a full-time job away from the track. The excessive travel demands and the cost of racing virtually every week far from home would be impossible to meet for many. Regional tours offer events with reasonable purses for tracks and racers that are much more accessible to the average dirt racing team.
In an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com last fall, three-time and defending Southern All Stars champion Riley Hickman no doubt spoke for many racers when he pointed out the appeal of the regional tours to a driver such as himself.
Regional tours allow drivers such as Riley Hickman to collect much deserved rewards
“This points deal is cool and all and I appreciate Southern All Stars for having a series where we can go and do this deal,” Hickman said. “There’s not many series where I can go and race and never have to be more than four or five hours from home. This points deal pays pretty good, and come December or January when they pay out the check, it’s nice because you don’t have a lot going on then.”
The Southern Nationals Bonus Series kicked off its 2016 campaign last Saturday at the 411 Motor Speedway while the Southern All Stars raced in Cochran, GA. The Ultimate Super Late Model Series opens up this weekend in North Georgia while the Southern All Stars hit the track in Gaffney, SC on Saturday and Sunday. The Spring Nationals get underway with a huge show at Smoky Mountain Speedway on the following Friday and Saturday night.
As is clearly evident, there is no shortage of competitive racing that will take place throughout the coming season. Fans and competitors alike should have little trouble getting their fill.
