Lonnie Wheatley
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 16, 2020) – With the pre-entry deadline approaching for the upcoming 33rd Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires at Little Rock’s I-30 Speedway, a number of top contenders are among the earliest batch of entries.
The crown jewel event of 360-ci Sprint Car racing is set for October 1-3 atop the high-banked, ¼-mile clay oval.
Following a Thursday night Test ‘N Tune session, a $2,500-to-win preliminary event takes place on Friday before the Saturday night, October 3, $10,041-to-win 41-lap STN championship feature event.
Early entries already encompass the nation from Pennsylvania to California with Sunbury’s Mark Smith representing Pennsylvania’s and Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi throwing his hat into the STN waters for the first time.
Smith ranks as the winningest 360-ci Sprint Car driver in the nation with 17 triumphs including a score in this past weekend’s Ralph Henson Memorial at I-30 Speedway.
Scelzi has run a true “Outlaw” schedule in 2020, competing in all variety of events across the country with an All Star Circuit of Champions triumph in June at Louisiana’s Chatham Speedway among a pair of wins.
Perennial STN contenders Derek Hagar and Dale Howard are also among the early entries as is Howard Moore, who will wheel the Rains No. 3 Sprint Car. Others among the early entries include Oregon native Roger Crockett and Memphis-area rep Ernie Ainsworth.
Entries for the event are just $100 and include driver pit pass for Friday and Saturday if submitted by September 27. Entry forms are available at https://i-30speedway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-STN.pdf.
Last October, Sapulpa, Oklahoma’s Blake Hahn bested a field of 70 competitors to become just the fifth racer in event history to win in back-to-back years, joining the likes of Steve Kinser (1988-1989), Gary Wright (2003-2004), Tony Bruce, Jr. (2008-2009) and Sammy Swindell (2016-2017).
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: 33rd 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 1-3, 2020. (Test ‘N Tune on Thursday, October 1, followed by two full cards of racing action on October 2-3).
The Entry Info: Entry forms available at https://i-30speedway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-STN.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 doesn’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 2020 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:
2019-Blake Hahn
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: Advance two-day tickets are $40 plus a $2 processing fee if paying by credit/debit card.
Day of show prices are $20 on Friday and $28 on Saturday plus a $2 processing fee per ticket if paying by credit/debit card.
Children under 12 are admitted free courtesy of Hog Wild Janitorial Services LLC on Friday night and Howard Moore Racing on Saturday night.
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.
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.