September Will Determine a Lot in the Dirt Late Model Racing World

A quick glance at the calendar reveals that the month of September is now upon us. And with that turning of the page comes the fact that a lot will be going on in the world of Dirt Late Model racing over the next 30 days. Championships will either be decided or brought more clearly into focus and crown jewel winners will be crowned.

While many may view this month as the time in which football season begins, it is certainly a time for dirt racing to shine as the season winds down with some of the biggest events of the year on tap.

Here is a brief look at what to expect during September on the national Dirt Late Model tours as well as on the regional series that compete throughout the southeastern corner of the United States.

World 100: The crown jewel of crown jewels always serves as the focal point of September for Dirt Late Model racing. While some may pay more to the victor, the globe trophy given to the winner of the World 100 is one that every racer wants to add to his collection. Moyer, Bloomquist, Owens and Davenport are among the current drivers who have won this race in recent years and will no doubt be back in hopes of once again pulling their car onto the victory pedestal at the famed Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

This year’s version of the World 100 racing weekend will feature two nights of twin $10,000-to-win races on Thursday and Friday(September 7 & 8) with the $50,000-to-win main event taking place on Saturday evening(September 9).

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series: This national touring series has a very busy month planned in September with one of the sport’s crown jewels under its sanctioning banner as well as numerous features that will go a long way toward determining who will be the 2017 series champion.

The Lucas Oil Series has evolved into a three horse race for the championship as former World of Outlaws Late Models champion Josh Richards holds the points lead going into September over defending LOLMDS champ Scott Bloomquist and former WoO Late Models champion Tim McCreadie. Of course, series regulars such as Jimmy Owens, Don O’Neal, Darrell Lanigan, Steve Francis, Earl Pearson, Jr. and fast risers Hudson O’Neal and Gregg Satterlee will be among those doing their best to spoil the championship party by scoring feature wins of their own.

The LOLMDS will begin September with a lucrative Labor Day weekend for its racers as they will stage a $12,000-to-win feature at Portsmouth, Ohio(Rained out) on Saturday night followed by the $25,000-to-win Hillbilly 100 in Middlebourne, WV on Sunday evening.

After taking the World 100 weekend off, the Lucas Oil Series will contest a crown jewel of its own in Knoxville, Iowa with a weekend that will culminate with the $40,000-to-win Knoxville Nationals on September 16.

Races in Brownstown, IN and Woodstock, GA will close out the month and leave just three events to bring the curtain down on the 2017 season in October to decide the eventual series title winner.

World of Outlaws Late Models: Like its national touring series counterpart, this circuit has a busy schedule planned for September. But unlike the Lucas Oil Series, the WoO Late Models standings are not as tightly contested as driver Brandon Sheppard has turned in a monster season that has seen him collect 14 tour wins and build a commanding championship standings lead.

A total of five feature races set for September on this series will begin during the Labor Day holiday weekend with events set for Lernerville Speedway and Selinsgrove Speedway(both in Pennsylvania) on Saturday and Sunday nights respectively. Races at Lakeside(KS) Speedway, Salina Highbanks(OK) Speedway, and 81(KS) Speedway will make up an action packed long weekend later in September.

Southern Nationals Bonus Series: This regional tour that pays out $10,053 to its season champion has three features set for September with each paying more than $4,000-to-win. Donald McIntosh currently holds the lead in the series standings with David Payne applying pressure from second place.

Look for SN Bonus races to be held at Tazewell Speedway(September 3), Smoky Mountain Speedway(September 23), and Tri-County Race Track(September 29) to bring this tour toward its eventual conclusion at Boyd’s Speedway in November.

Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series: This historic regional series has two races set for September after having one event cancelled. Feature events at Thunderhill Raceway(September 2) in Tennessee and Magnolia Motor Speedway(September 9) in Mississippi will makeup this month’s action for the SAS.

Eric Hickerson currently leads the SAS standings over Brad Skinner.

Carolina Clash: A busy month awaits this series with four events on the schedule with all paying $4,000 or more to the winners. Zack Mitchell currently leads the standings over Johnny Pursley and Michael Brown.

Races for Carolina Clash in September are slated for South Carolina’s Lancaster Speedway and Cherokee Speedway on September 2nd and 3rd respectively. The series will then move to Virginia’s Wythe Raceway on September 23 and Fayetteville(NC) Speedway on the last day of the month.