RPW Exclusive: The Champ Trail: SMART Modified Tour Sets Schedule For 2024, Other News…
Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic released their 2024 season schedule Tuesday from its Martinsville, Virginia headquarters.
The schedule will consist of 15 races across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia for the 600-horsepower open wheeled race cars. A few surprises are hidden within the 2024 SMART Modified Tour schedule.
The first and biggest is how the Tour will end its season, with the championship finale being held at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway (NC) in conjunction with the CARS Tour on October 19.
A new twist for the 2024 SMART season is a summer double-header between two-tracks on the coast of North Carolina during Labor Day weekend. The annual Carteret Clash, held at Swansboro, NC’s Carteret County Speedway will now be preceded on Friday night by the Pace-O-Matic 99 at nearby New River All-American Speedway. The Friday-Saturday double will be a first for the modern-era of the SMART Modified Tour.
Another surprise on the schedule was the spring-race at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway being named “The King of the Modifieds.” SMART Modified Tour director Chris Williams has been keeping details of the race close to his vest, making most in the Southern Modified scene curious about the March 23rd event.
Here are several highlights on the schedule for SMART. The newly improved Tri-County Speedway in Granite Falls, NC, with its state-of-the-art lighting system, moves from a fall event to the spring with the Cardinal 99 on March 30. Also moving to the spring season is Orange County Speedway’s “Rumble in Rougemont” which will take place on Saturday April 6 in Rougemont, NC. The third annual Hickory Hundred carries on the long-time legacy of Modified racing at historic Hickory Motor Speedway (NC) on April 13. Traditional Southern Mod staple Franklin County Speedway (VA) runs the Kenny Minter Classic on May 24. The Inaugural Mod Squad Nationals will be held on Wednesday night September 18, before Bristol’s NASCAR weekend kicks off, at Virginia’s Lonesome Pine Speedway. On the schedule to be the penultimate race of the season is a 99-lapper at Little Rockingham Speedway behind the historic Rockingham Speedway (NC). Caraway Speedway will hold three races on the SMART Tour. The Warrior 100 is the second race of the SMART season on Sunday March 10. The Independence weekend tradition of the Revolutionary 99 continues on Saturday July 6. The additional date comes with the move of the Robert Jeffreys Memorial to the Sophia, NC half-mile speed plant on September 7.
Another event will move locations in 2024 with the “Flying VA Classic,” honoring Southern Modified great Ray Hendrick, sliding north from South Boston to the ultra-modern Dominion Raceway in Thornburg, Virginia on September 14.
All 15-races for the SMART Modified Tour will be broadcast live on FloRacing. “It’s big for us to be on FloRacing,” explains Brandon Ward. “For example: Take Bowman Gray Stadium (Brandon Ward is the 2023 Modified Division Track Champion at Stadium) and they race weekly in front of the same fans every week. Now, you put it on Flo and the whole country knows about it. You take our platform with SMART and expose it to more people and that is a big thing for the drivers, sponsors, and teams.
Auburndale Speedway in Winter Haven, Florida, centrally located between Tampa and Orlando, will join in on the winter action, ready to host its Winter Showdown on February 6-10. In total, seven different asphalt divisions will be taking to the Auburndale short track, all of which anchored with the 602 Tour Type Modifieds, and the Tour/SK Type Open Modifieds, that will headline the week-long Winter Showdown agenda on Thursday through Saturday. The 602 Modifieds, battling for $500-to-win in each of their respective programs, will compete on all three of the aforementioned evenings with the Tour/SK Type Open Modifieds competing for $2,000-to-win paydays on Friday and Saturday, only.
Competitors should note, Modifieds will utilize the F45 Hoosier; additional rules will be posted in the coming days. In addition to the Modified divisions, Legends/Bandoleros (highlighted with double programs on Wednesday and Thursday), Mighty TQ Midgets (chasing a $5,000 total purse), USAC Eastern Midgets, the National Compact Tour, and the infamous Crown Vics, will also join in on the Winter Showdown, activating officially with open practice and track rental sessions beginning Tuesday, February 6.
The all new book, The Modified Years At Stafford, by the Grace of God and 600 hp, is gaining interest and has become a must have in race fans and competitors library. Race by Race, Year by Year, it’s all there. Read all about it! Books are now available on Amazon.com and Coastal 181 (877-907-8181 toll free) and are available thru Stafford’s web site in their store. Order yours now. Makes a great gift!
With the cooperation of the Arute family another book has been published with pictures and biographies of the 50 Greatest Drivers at Stafford.
The Stafford Motor Speedway had become the epicenter of NASCAR Modified racing in the northeast by the late 1980’s. From its dirt beginnings to its lightning-fast asphalt, Stafford had become the toughest and most gratifying track to score a victory. The Arute family which has owned and guided the destiny of the facility commissioned their thousands of loyal fans to name their favorite drivers. In alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone:
Tom Baldwin, Gene Bergin, Brett Bodine, Geoff Bodine, Ken Bouchard, Ron Bouchard, Mario “Fats” Caruso, Rene Charland, Ted Christopher, Leo Cleary, Tim Connolly, Jerry Cook, Corky Cookman, Pete Corey, Fred DeSarro, Richie Evans, Mike Ewanitsko, Ed Flemke, Sr., Jeff Fuller, Rick Fuller, Ernie Gahan, Bill Greco, Bo Gunning, Ray Hendrick, George “Moose” Hewitt, Tony Hirschman, George Janoski, Charlie Jarzombek, George Kent, Buddy Krebs, Randy LaJoie, Jan Leaty, Jerry Marquis, Mike McLaughlin, Ray Miller, Steve Park, Bob Polverari, Bob Potter, Brian Ross, John “Reggie” Ruggiero, Greg Sacks, Ollie Silva, “Wild” Bill Slater, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Stefanik, Carl “Bugsy” Stevens, George Summers, Jamie “The Jet” Tomaino, Maynard Troyer and Satch Worley.
Books are priced at $17.95 each and be purchased at the track at the Novelty Booth or at the Stafford Motor Speedway on line store. Books are also available at Amazon.com and at Coastal181 (877-907-8181).
