The world of Short Track racing was rocked on February 17th when the officials at Daytona International Speedway made an announcement that the World Center of Speed will host the UNOH Battle at the Beach in 2013. Two days of Short Track racing will take place on the run off area on the back straight, in front of the huge grandstands–tentatively, the oval is set to be a 4/10ths-mile track.
There will be three different feature races held on February 19th featuring stars from several of NASCAR’s regional series. One event will include the race winners and the series champions from the K&N East and West series while another will include the race winners and champions from the Whelen Modifed Tour and Whelen Southern Modified Tour. The final race will be a Late Model competition for members of the Whelen All-American Series. The top 10 finishers in national points will automatically be locked into the race.
For drivers who compete on dirt tracks or in Modifieds, they’ll have to secure a Late Model to participate in the race. The Champions of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Toyota Series from Mexico, and Euro Racecar NASCAR Touring Series will be allowed to choose which of the three races they would like to compete in, and the remaining starting spots in the feature events will be filled through qualifying and heat races that will take place over the 18th and 19th.
These two days of racing are going to fill the normal “Dark Days” of Speedweeks, the Monday and Tuesday between 500 qualifying and practice for the Gatorade Duels. Reports indicate the purses for the features will fall somewhere around the $15,000 to $20,000 range. Not only will this be a great opportunity for some drivers who normally race at local short tracks to showcase their abilities at one of the most well known race tracks in the world but it will also add some incentive throughout the season for the drivers in the different series to attempt to win races.
Some fans have voiced concern that this will potentially have a negative impact on the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. But in reality it very well could help that event, assuming the officials at New Smyrna work their schedule so that they hold races after the Daytona races for the different types of cars that run each event. Drivers will be coming down to run at Daytona and it would make sense for them to get more bang for their buck if they had an additional opportunity to race.
Joie Chitwood, President of Daytona International Speedway, and George Silberman, Vice President of NASCAR Regional and Touring Series, were among the officials who made the announcement.
“This is all about the stars of tomorrow vying for glory at Daytona International Speedway,” Silberman said. “During two days and nights of intense competition, fans will be able to see today’s aces of short track racing and some great young talent.”
Chitwood echoed Silberman’s sentiments.
”Grassroots short track racing is the foundation of this great sport and we are thrilled to give these young drivers the opportunity to fight for a win at the ‘World Center of Racing,’” he said. “Many of NASCAR’s greatest stars cut their teeth on short tracks around the country and we look forward to hosting the stars of tomorrow in 2013.”
The races will be televised live on SPEED so fans around the world can see the future stars of NASCAR competing at the most famous venue in the sport. In addition to the coverage that drivers will receive, Daytona has already secured agreements with many area motels to offer a discounted rate for the days around the events so that racers and their fans can afford to come to Daytona to watch the Battle at the Beach. As the economy begins to turn around this is just the kind of thing the sport needs to continue to help local Short Track racing rebound.
Short Track Race Schedule for the coming week
Fri : Feb 24th – Bubba Raceway Park ; Ocala : FL – All Star Sprint Cars
Fri : Feb 24th – East Bay Raceway ; Tampa : FL – Florida Mini-Sprint Association
Fri : Feb 24th – Marion County Speedway ; Ocala : FL – Sunshine Micro Sprints
Fri : Feb 24th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 46th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Super Late Models
Fri : Feb 24th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 27th Annual Richie Evans Memorial NASCAR Tour-Type Modifieds
Fri : Feb 24th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 46th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Pro Late Models
Fri : Feb 24th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 46th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing SK Modifieds
Fri : Feb 24th – North Florida Speedway ; Lake City : FL – DIRTCar Ump Modifieds
Fri : Feb 24th – Volusia Speedway Park ; Barberville : FL – DIRTCar Late Models
Fri : Feb 24th – Volusia Speedway Park ; Barberville : FL – Super DIRTCar Big Block Modifieds
Fri : Feb 24th – ArkLaTex Speedway ; Vivian : LA – Dirt Late Models
Sat : Feb 25th – Havasu 95 Speedway ; Lake Havasu City : AZ – ASA Street Stocks
Sat : Feb 25th – Havasu 95 Speedway ; Lake Havasu City : AZ – Legends
Sat : Feb 25th – Havasu 95 Speedway ; Lake Havasu City : AZ – Bandoleros
Sat : Feb 25th – Havasu 95 Speedway ; Lake Havasu City : AZ – Factory Stocks
Sat : Feb 25th – Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA – USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
Sat : Feb 25th – Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA – California Lightning Sprints
Sat : Feb 25th – Bubba Raceway Park ; Ocala : FL – All Star Sprint Cars
Sat : Feb 25th – Desoto Speedway ; Bradenton : FL – Opening Night TBARA Winged Sprints
Sat : Feb 25th – East Bay Raceway ; Tampa : FL – Florida Mini-Sprint Association
Sat : Feb 25th – Marion County Speedway ; Ocala : FL – Sunshine Micro Sprints
Sat : Feb 25th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 46th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Super Late Models
Sat : Feb 25th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 46th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing NASCAR Tour-Type Modifieds
Sat : Feb 25th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 46th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Pro Late Models
Sat : Feb 25th – North Florida Speedway ; Lake City : FL – DIRTCar Late Models
Sat : Feb 25th – North Florida Speedway ; Lake City : FL – DIRTCar Ump Modifieds
Sat : Feb 25th – Volusia Speedway Park ; Barberville : FL – Super DIRTCar Big Block Modifieds
Sat : Feb 25th – Volusia Speedway Park ; Barberville : FL – World of Outlaws Late Models
Sat : Feb 25th – ArkLaTex Speedway ; Vivian : LA – Dirt Late Models
Sat : Feb 25th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – Icebreaker 410 Sprints
Sat : Feb 25th – Winchester Speedway ; Winchester : TN – Late Models
Sun : Feb 26th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Roadrunners
Sun : Feb 26th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Hornets
Sun : Feb 26th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Legends
Thu : Mar 1st – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – 15th Annual 15th Annual Bama Bash Crate Late Models
Thu : Mar 1st – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – 15th Annual 15th Annual Bama Bash KMSA
Thu : Mar 1st – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – 15th Annual Bama Bash Outlaw Thunder
Thu : Mar 1st – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – 15th Annual Bama Bash Sportsman
Thu : Mar 1st – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – 15th Annual Bama Bash Street Stock
Thu : Mar 1st – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – 15th Annual Bama Bash Super Late Models
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