Home Tracks Track Operators Convene
10th Year For Southern Mods, Weekly Point Structure Enhanced
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Enhancements to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series point structures and a special 10th season logo for the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour were previewed during Sunday’s annual NASCAR Home Tracks track operator conference in Daytona Beach.
After a decade of growth, the new NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour anniversary logo is themed “10 Seasons Running.” The tour is NASCAR’s newest domestic series. Seven tracks are on the tour’s 15- event championship schedule this year.
“Every season since its inception, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour becomes more competitive and exciting,” said Phil Kurze, vice president-motorsports for series sponsor Whelen Engineering. “We all look forward with great anticipation to the 10th season running of southern style NASCAR Modified racing.”
The southern tour opens its 10th season Tuesday. The Southern tour combines with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. On deck is the 150-lap non-points UNOH Battle At The Beach. Sharing the race day is a 150-lap NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event.
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks hosting the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour this year include longtime tour anchor Caraway Speedway in Sophia, N.C, Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, N.C., South Boston (Va.) Speedway, Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., and Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. Like Daytona, New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon also hosts a non-points combination race. Other NASCAR Sprint Cup Series hosting the southern tour in points races include Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. George Brunnhoelzl III is the defending and four-time Southern Modified champion.
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track operators also were updated on a number of items and initiatives for 2014 including:
• The new UNOH Youth Achievement Award presented by The University of Northwestern Ohio, a longtime NASCAR partner. Awards will be available at the track and national levels. The award is available to drivers between the ages of 14-17 with a valid NASCAR license in all NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. A driver’s best 14 NASCAR point event finishes will be counted. Track award winners receive a $500 cash award and a $500 UNOH scholarship. The national award winner receives a $10,000 UNOH scholarship and air fare and accommodations to attend the series’ awards event.
• The NASCAR point structure in Divisions I-V has been adjusted slightly. Drivers receive two points for every car they finish ahead of in an event, up to 18 cars. Based on starting line-ups, three bonus points will be awarded to a race winner with a single-digit starting position, and five points will be awarded to a race winner with a double-digit starting position.
• Starting this season, a national champion will be crowned in all five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. In recent seasons the former Finalist Program honored top competitors in Divisions II-V.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division II-V Championship program replaces the Finalist program. The new program for support divisions combines dirt and asphalt tracks. The top 100 drivers will be ranked and recognized. The top-three dirt and top-three asphalt drivers will be will be invited to the series awards banquet. An overall champion in Divisions II-V will be determined. The champion of each division will receive a trophy and a trip to the series awards banquet in Charlotte. Championship standings will be based on drivers’ best 14 finishes.
“These changes are based on feedback from our competitors, track operators and fans,” said Bob Duvall, senior director, business development for NASCAR. “We feel this will bring an added element to our track’s weekly shows, and we’re already looking forward to an exciting season.”
• Six tracks were welcomed to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series this year as the series’ national and international presence continues to expand. The additions provide participants more opportunities to compete for championships at track, state and the national levels. Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, Va., recently became the sixth track to join the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Additional tracks new to the program include Anderson (S.C.) Speedway, Autodrome St. Eustache in Quebec, Canada, Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, N.Y., Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, N.Y., and East Carolina Motor Speedway in Robersonville, N.C.
• NASCAR Capital Improvement Program grants were awarded to 10 tracks. Individual tracks submit proposed capital improvement projects, and NASCAR awards matching fund grants of up to $10,000 for specific projects. Grant recipients announced were Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa; Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway; Elko (Minn.) Speedway; Evergreen Speedway in Monroe Wash.; Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway; Holland (N.Y.) Motorsports Complex; I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb.; Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway; Spencer Speedway in Williamson, N.Y.; and Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.
• Updates were also presented by Whelen Engineering, the NASCAR Foundation, the NASCAR Green Initiative, Brand Marketing, Public Affairs, Diversity Affairs, and from 11 contingency sponsors including ARP Fasteners, Five Star Bodies, Jostens, Holley, Kooks, Hoosier Tire, Jegs, Comp Cams, Lincoln Electric, Scorpion Racing Products, and the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH).
• Elsewhere, operators of two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks received national recognition Monday. Andy Cusack of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Me., and Doug and Traci Hobbs of Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., received regional RPM Auto Racing Promoter of the Year Awards. Cusack and the Hobbs were acknowledged for excellence in business operations by vote of their peers via a national ballot in Racing Promotion Monthly. RPM is an industry-leading motorsports business publication. The awards were announced at the annual RPM Promoters Workshops in Daytona Beach. RPM voters also selected last year’s inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio for a special recognition. The event received the RPM Outstanding Annual Short Track Event Award. In July last year Eldora successfully hosted the first NASCAR national series race on a dirt track since September 1970. The event returns to the half-mile, high-banked clay oval owned by Tony Stewart on August 1.
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track operators are enjoying a busy four day Daytona Speedweeks schedule starting Saturday at Daytona with the ARCA 200 and Sprint Unlimited races and concluding Tuesday with the UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona. The annual business conference Sunday was followed by the NASCAR K&N Pro Series season opener at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. Monday’s events include a golf tournament, reception, dinner and beachside bonfire.
Established in 1982, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. More than 50 paved and dirt tracks throughout the United States and Canada participate.
Connecticut-based Whelen Engineering is the series’ title sponsor. Whelen Engineering is a leading manufacturer of automotive, aviation, industrial and emergency vehicle lighting. NASCAR tracks and pace cars across North America are among the many showcases for Whelen products.
Sources: Paul Schaefer/NASCAR PR