BRISTOL, Tenn. — The world’s best short track racers will descend on Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017 when the World’s Fastest Half-Mile hosts the Inaugural U.S. Nationals of Short Track Racing from May 19-21.
The mega-event, announced during the Friday portion of the Snowball Derby at 5 Flags Speedway will feature six divisions of asphalt short track cars over the three-day weekend — highlighted by a super late model main event on Sunday, May 21, co-sanctioned by the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the CARS Tour and the Southern Super Series.
Pro late models, late model stock cars, street stocks, open-wheel modifieds and compacts will also be in action over the course of the blockbuster event weekend.
The Champion Racing Assciation powered by JEGS took the lead role in developing and organizing the event, and Vore’s Welding & Steel has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the inaugural weekend classic.
“Bristol Motor Speedway is proud to announce today that in 2017 it will host the biggest and what promises to be the most exciting event in short track stock car racing history,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “We’re looking forward to fans joining us following the NASCAR All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It will surely be an event you won’t want to miss.”
All six classes will practice on Friday, May 19 before additional practice and qualifying follows on Saturday, May 20. A pair of qualifying heat races for the super late model feature will also be held on Saturday before the main events for the compacts, modifieds and street stocks take center stage.
Sunday, May 21 will see warm-ups kick off at 11 a.m. for the super late models, pro late models and late model stock cars; followed by final qualifying for the super late models at 1 p.m. and 100-lap main events for the three premier late model classes, which take the green flag at 2 p.m.
Three guaranteed provisionals will be offered by event organizers for any NASCAR national series competitors choosing to enter the super late model feature, which is scheduled to roll off the day after the NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“I think with today’s announcement it goes to show when you are unified and are willing to work together great things can be accomplished,” said CARS Tour owner Jack McNelly. “This event took a lot of work and cooperation from all parties to make this event a reality. I don’t know a short track racer who doesn’t aspire to race at Bristol one day. It’s the most iconic short track in North America, if not the world, and come May racers from across the country are going to get that opportunity.”
“This event is a dream come true for everyone involved with short track racing,” added CRA Founder and President R.J. Scott. “Immediately, it becomes an historic and nationally significant event that everyone will want to be a part of. There are a few great trophies that everyone wants to have in racing, and you can add the trophy from the U.S. Nationals of Short Track Racing to that list.”
CRA will sanction the pro late model portion of the event through their JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour, in addition to sanctioning the street stock action.
The CARS Tour will sanction the late model stock car festivities, while the ICAR Top Speed Modified Series will oversee the modified portion.
The Vore’s Compact Touring Series will organize and sanction the compact portion of the weekend.
Additional details on tickets, camping and general information will be available from Bristol Motor Speedway at a later date.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as both the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series and the co-track announcer at Millbridge Speedway.
Email Jacob at: editor@racechaseronline.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
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