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2008 Season Southern Dirt Track Review
Late Model Mark
PINSON, Ala. (November 21) - The season is winding down in a hurry around here so it's time for a track review. My first year of chasing Dirt Late Models in the South has been a eye opener. I have recieved a education, crash course style. I hit one dragstrip and 9 dirt tracks. The ole Dodge racked up some big miles and some large gas bills venturing out to feed this addiction. This addiction has no cure, the only medicine is to go racing more in 2009. Well, here it is, the first Southern track review by the guy in the orange shirt.
MOULTON SPEEDWAY
This track is located 84 miles from DLM headquarters. On a cold April night, I went to see a Southern Regional Racing Series event. The race attracted a very nice quality field of 39 cars. The location is up in the northwest part of the state, it is very rural. The track is a 3/8mi. with high banks, wide turns and lot's of room to race. The track was well prepared this night. This was a race I learned that things start later here than out west. Wheel packing started at 7:30, hot laps at 8:00pm. Time trials at 8:45pm. and the first DLM heat at 10:00pm. The main went off around 11:30pm. and was done by midnite. This track is racy and roomy. Easy parking, simple concessions and decent bathrooms. It's in a "dry" county so no frostys allowed. Good lights and close seating. No muffler rule, no curfew.
Good: Wide racy track. Bad:Only one big race a year
GREEN VALLEY SPEEDWAY
One of the closer tracks, only 58 miles away. This track owned and promoted by Dennis Harker has undergone many changes in just a year and a half. From a huge track that looked like a big circle to a configuration that is more racey, a high-banked 3/8mi. This track has many cool features and events. A large parking area and new modern grandstands, also new lighting. This track has had it's ups and downs as far as competitive racing. One night it is competitive, the next it could be single file locked down. The concessions are quite good and the bathrooms modern. One nice feature GVS has is trackside parking. For a extra $10.00 dollars you can take in your car and watch "drive-in" style. I do it almost every race. You are just a few feet from the cars. You can take a dirt beatdown and look like a racoon at the end of the night but wow, what a view. This track has no curfew or muffler rule. Many great paying events in 2008 brought in many name drivers. This track starts hot laps at 7:00pm. followed by racing at 8:00pm. I like the track
Good:Many high paying shows,good weekly shows. Bad: Long programs into the am.
ROME SPEEDWAY
This awesome track located in the green hills of Georgia is 120 miles from home. This big track, a reported 1/2mi. is something. You park on hills and walk up to the track. When you walk in and see the track, it takes your breath away. The track is big, wide, and very fast. Good lighting, terrace seating, with some of the pits in the infield make for a great view. Really cool seats up on the hill in turns 3 and 4, a awesome view. Also this track has trackside parking from turn 1 all the way to the middle of 3 and 4. Good concessions and marginal bathrooms. This track has a certain "feel" to it. A feeling of intensity. This track run by the Swims family does a great job. The racing is good and certainly fast. They book in good shows and pack the seats. This is a special event track only so great care is taken to make sure you get your dollars worth. No curfew or muffler rule. Always a huge turnout of cars. This is a special joint.
Good: Big shows,fast speeds, unreal location. Bad: porta-johns only for the men.
FORT PAYNE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
This track is 74 miles to the north. This joint was brought back from the dead. It was downsized to a 3/8mi. When properly prepared it can be competitive, went it is not worked, it is a joke. I saw both. This track struggles with car counts as it builds back up. It ran Fridays then switched to Saturdays.The dirt parking lot is kind of rugged yet you park real close to the gate. Grandstands are open air concrete and spacious. You put your lawn chair down and you have lot's of leg room. Clean modern bathrooms and good concessions with fantastic chicken tenders and fries. Good lights, wide turns, no walls from turn 2 all the way around to 4. They have a loose curfew of midnite and from what I see and hear, a "unenforced" sound rule. The first race there this year the racing was super for such a small DLM field of 14. The track suffered many rainouts, however they weathered the rainouts to survive. Things are looking up for 2009.
Good: Quick programs. Bad: Small fields, inconsistent track prep.
COLUMBUS SPEEDWAY
This track, billed as "the baddest bullring in the south" is one hot joint to watch DLM action. 132 miles west into Mississippi, this Johnny Stokes faclity is a "must see" in my book. High banks, wide turns, and very good clay make this place special. Excellent lighting, superb track prep, decent bathrooms. Good concessions with "killer" chicken sandwiches. No mufflers, no curfews, and no problems. Easy and close grass parking. Coolers with frostys, welcomed. Huge high dollar shows dot the schedule. Hot laps start at 7:00pm with racing at 8:00pm. When it is 100 degrees and muggy, 8:00pm. is fine. Spectacular racing is the norm, action everywhere. Close seating to the track as well. This place is one of the top 10 places to see a race. A must see.
Good: Everything Bad: ?
NORTH ALABAMA SPEEDWAY
This speedway located in a fabulous area 112 miles from my "crib" is a serious track. This high-banked, no wall 3/8mi. red clay oval is smokin' fast. This place is hardcore. It is a Friday night track that struggled early in the year. It ran Fridays and suffered from rain, low car and crowd counts under promoter Jeff Greer for the first part of the year. Thankfully the track rebounded well starting with a packed Lucas Oil show that set the tone for the rest of the year, Huge parking with many large shaded trees. Large clean bathrooms and a air-conditioned indoor concession stand, cafeteria style. Great lighting, no muffler rule and no curfew. Small grandstands, but a nice area to put down lawn chairs. A huge modern scoreboard is a big plus. Fast, fast ,fast racing that is competitive. Watching a DLM up on the lip all gassed up at full throttle is something to see. This place is awesome. The speeds are very fast. You can't go wrong at North Alabama.
Good: Location, fast speeds, great view from the seats. Bad: ?
EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
This track is 155 miles away. Located in southeast Alabama, this is one of the longest running tracks in Bama. I went to the National 100, Alabama's highest paying DLM race is run mostly in daytime conditions. Small parking lot that is kind of a free-for-all deal. I parked on the highway. Interesting rural location with a trailer park right across the street.Good indoor concessions, clean bathrooms, and fine lights. Once again no curfew or muffler rule. Coolers welcome. Close, steep terrace seats. A fast 3/8mi. track that was surprisingly racy for day conditions. This track, run by the Thomas family does it right. Huge pits in the infield and off of turns 1 all the way around to 4 handled the 400 cars. This joint is high-banked as well. Need to go to a night race to see how that is.
Good: Location, speed of program, racy track. Bad: The parking.
TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK
Saving the best for last. In my view this is the best track I have been to in the South.This track is old yet is has a feel to it that is incredible. The seating is odd, cinderblock terrace seating and three small grandstands that are all close to the action. Tired bathrooms, ok concessions and good lights. Coolers welcome. No muffler or curfew concerns. The best announcer in the south, Perry Holman, is on the mike. This guy can make a turtle race exciting. Large and easy grass parking. This 1/3mi. ultra high-banked, no wall track is perfectly suited for a Dirt Late Model race car. I went 12 times in 2008. Only 58 miles down the road, I call this my home track. Regulars told me this, you will never see a bad show at TST. They were right, all 12 races left me leaving the track with a huge smile. The best field of Late Models weekly. Usually 75 or more, every week!! The track is prepared well every week. Hot laps at 6:30pm. with racing at 7:30pm. The racing is done by 10:45pm. The racing is the star here. I have never seen a track produce so much action week after week. Big shows, great weekly action, huge fields make Talladega the best of the best. Every week at TST is like a big show. There is a reason why they call this track, "the hornets nest."
Good: Track prep, competition, weekly car count, announcing. Bad: Old bathrooms.
There you have it. My track of the year by far is Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama. Next year I will hit Boyds in Georgia. Also Tazewell, Duck River, Volunteer and Winchester in Tennessee. Whynot and Magnolia Mo. Speedways in Mississippi. See ya next round. Have a great turkey and a festive Christmas. God bless you all. Support you local Dirt Late Model track, it's the best racing on dirt!!
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