Hudson O’Neal has already banked $30,000 from the Show-me 100
Years ago a television game show called ‘Press Your Luck’ had contestants yelling out “Big Money, No Whammies!” as they pressed a button to stop a set of randomly spinning lights that would illuminate a prize the contestant had won. But, if the spin illuminated the villainous “Whammy” character on the board the contestant lost any prizes accumulated as well as his/her turn.
Silly as that may seem, Dirt Late Model racers may very well have a “Big Money, No Whammies” mentality going into this summer. With perhaps more money than has ever been offered in this sport(minus the one time in which a race paid $1 million), there is definitely the opportunity for one or even several teams to make big money throughout the remainder of 2021.
At the same time a Whammy could interfere with those plans. With word of possible shortages in various pieces and parts such as tires and various other components, a catastrophic failure or mishap could potentially go so far as to sideline a team should they not be able to find whatever they might need to get back up and running.
For those who follow either of the national touring series, having such a thing to happen would be devastating.
I will add here that it seems as though these things often times have ways of working themselves out so I am not trying to push some panic button of alarm here.
I have been told that when many manufacturing operations were shuttered because of the pandemic and could not produce new pieces, they resorted to selling what they had held in reserve after dirt racing resumed last June. Depending on the state and local regulations in place, some companies were able to return to work in at least a limited capacity in the second half of 2020 while others remained closed. Based on what I have been told, those stockpiles have begun to run low.
Some racing series have taken steps to prevent total losses. The Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour for pavement Late Models has enacted stricter tire rules for their practice sessions to help combat potential shortages. The Valvoline Iron-Man Late Model Series is allowing a wider variety of tires to be used in its events this weekend to aid those who may not be able to find those normally required by rule.
That said, however, most places around the country are beginning to reopen which should have production returning to near normal levels relatively soon. So again, we have all heard and seen the stories of potential shortages, but it is my belief(or at least hope) that this will ultimately work itself out.
Mindful of that potential whammy, the big money season is now upon us. Even with the $30,000 Show-me 100 already having been won by Hudson O’Neal, there are still plenty of high paying events set to be run from here to the end of the season.
No fewer than 19 races remain in 2021 that will pay $30,000 to the eventual winners or more with some of those payouts reaching into the six-figure range. Traditional events such as the USA Nationals, the North-South 100, the Topless 100, the Prairie Dirt Classic, and the Silver Dollar Nationals will continue, or in some cases return to their full stature, later this year.
And perhaps most noteworthy, Eldora Speedway plans to host not one but two Dirt Late Model Dream features as well as two separate World 100 events to make up for both of those races being shelved in 2020.
So as was pointed out earlier, some Dirt Late Model drivers and teams could come out of the second half of 2021 in very good shape financially. Hopefully all will be able to avoid the pitfalls of potential shortages.
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