By Lonnie Wheatley
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 25, 2019) – It’s little more than one week away.
An influx of the nation’s best 360-ci Sprint Car racers and hordes of Sprint Car racing fans will flock to the Little Rock area for the 32nd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires that is set to take place atop the ¼-mile I-30 Speedway clay oval next weekend on October 3-5.
A Thursday, October 3, Test ‘N Tune will be followed up a $2,500-to-win preliminary event on Friday and then the prestigious 41-lap, $10,041-to-win STN championship finale on Saturday, October 5.
The pre-entry deadline that includes a free driver pit pass for both Friday and Saturday is this Friday, September 27. Entries for the event are just $100 and are available at https://i-30speedway.com/flyers/2019STN.pdf. Entries submitted after September 27 do not include the free driver pit pass.
The field is already one of an international variety with Canadians Dylan Westbrook, Robbie Price and Alex Hill among the elite field of contenders looking to unseat Sapulpa, Oklahoma’s Blake Hahn as reigning STN king.
Hahn battled past Howard Moore and led the final 29 rounds of last year’s 41-lapper to become the 18th different winner in event history.
Hall of Famers Sammy Swindell and Gary Wright top the STN win charts with five and four triumphs respectively with other past event winners including the likes of NASCAR Xfinity Series title contender Christopher Bell, Paul McMahan, Brad Sweet, Tony Bruce, Jr., Jason Meyers, Jason Johnson, Tim Montgomery, Jason Sides, Mike Ward, Tim Crawley, Wayne Johnson, Pete Butler, Terry Gray, John Gerloff and Steve Kinser.
The Pertinent Info:
The What: 32nd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.
The Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR). I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road).
The When: October 3-5, 2019. (Test ‘N Tune on Thursday, October 3, followed by two full cards of racing action on October 4-5).
The Entry Info: Entry forms available at https://i-30speedway.com/flyers/2019STN.pdf. Entry is just $100 and includes driver pit pass for Friday and Saturday if submitted by September 27. Entries submitted after September 27 does not include driver pit pass.
The Format: Both nights will feature a full card of heat and qualifying races followed by feature events. The top 40 in passing points each night will advance to four qualifying races with the balance to “C” Mains. Combined points from heats and qualifiers will set lineups for twin “B” Mains and the “A” Main.
While there will be no lock-ins from Friday’s $2,500-to-win preliminary, the top two drivers in combined passing/finishing points from Friday and Saturday heats and qualifiers that don’t race into the Saturday feature will be awarded the 19th and 20th starting positions in the Saturday night STN championship finale. The 21st starting position is reserved for the 2019 I-30 Speedway track champion if needed.
Saturday night heat races will each offer up $100 to win courtesy of Jenkins Fleet Services.
The top four in Saturday night heat and qualifying race passing/finishing points will compete in the Mike Pack Building Materials “Dash for Cash” that will set the lineup for the first two rows of the 41-lap STN championship finale. The Dash will pay $500 for first, $250 for second, $150 for third and $100 for fourth.
The “Red Shirt Dash” in honor of Lanny Edwards for non-transfers will pay as follows: 1st – $400, 2nd – $300, 3rd – $250, 4th – $200, 5th – $150, 6th – $100.
The Past Winners:
2018-Blake Hahn
2017-Sammy Swindell
2016-Sammy Swindell
2015-Rained Out
2014-Christopher Bell
2013-Sammy Swindell
2012-Paul McMahan
2011-Sammy Swindell
2010-Brad Sweet
2009-Tony Bruce, Jr.
2008-Tony Bruce, Jr.
2007-Jason Meyers
2006-Jason Johnson
2005-Tim Montgomery
2004-Gary Wright
2003-Gary Wright
2002-Paul McMahan
2001-Jason Sides
2000-Mike Ward
1999-Gary Wright
1998-Tim Crawley
1997-Wayne Johnson
1996-Pete Butler
1995-Gary Wright
1994-Terry Gray
1993-John Gerloff
1992-Rained Out
1991-Steve Kinser
1990-Sammy Swindell
1989-Steve Kinser
1988-Steve Kinser
The Tickets: Day of show prices are $20 on Friday and $28 on Saturday plus a $1 processing fee per ticket if paying by credit/debit card.
Children’s tickets will be available at the event only for just $1 on both Friday and Saturday plus a $1 processing fee per ticket if paying by credit/debit card.
To order tickets or for more information, check online at www.i-30speedway or call the track at 501-455-4567.
Pit passes are $35 on both Friday and Saturday. Driver pit pass for Friday and Saturday is included in the $100 entry fee if submitted by the deadline.
The Camping: Track camping for RV’s in the pits is $50, reserved for drivers with RV’s first.
The parking on the west side of the property is open for camping and parking as well. Parking is $10 per car. Camping is $25 per night with a maximum of $100 for anyone that arrives on Tuesday night.
For more information regarding I-30 Speedway’s Short Track Nationals, check at www.i-30speedway.com or call the track at 501-455-4567.