SOMERSET, KY (February 1, 2014)-The Ray Cook Southern Nationals Bonus Races will sanction one of Cherokee Speedway’s largest events of the season with their 11th Annual March Madness weekend March 1-2. For the first time, the weekend will feature two complete Super Late Model races with $3,000 to win / $300 to start going to the winner on Saturday evening, March 1st then $10,000 to win / $700 to start going to the Sunday afternoon winner. An open practice session will be held on Friday night, February 28th from 6-10 pm.
Promoter Lennie Buff is currently re-surfacing the 3/8th’s mile track located in Gaffney, SC with new loads of dirt and a complete new surface that will greet the drivers when they compete on the March 1-2 weekend. A couple of practice sessions will be scheduled before the Super Late Model teams hit the track for the March Madness Weekend.
The Southern Nationals Bonus Races will have two complete races with purse monies in excess of $51,000 for both days. Saturday Evening’s format includes the traditional Southern Nationals format and Sunday Afternoon’s format everyone will be running heats with no-one being locked in after Qualifying and everyone being split into an A & B group and B-Mains also being ran. The two highest finishers from Saturday’s feature finish will be guaranteed starters as 23rd and 24th starting spots in Sunday’s main event.
The Series entry fee will be $100.00 each night but if a driver competes on Saturday Night then Sunday’s entry fee will be just $50.00. The Tire rule will be as follows: Hoosier 1350, 1600, SPEC 70 (right rear option) along with the American Racer 48, 56 and DTW70 (right rear option). On Saturday all tires will be marked before Qualifying. You can only change one tire for the feature. You must run the B-Main on the four tires you qualified on. For the feature everyone can have one tire different and the driver’s choice where it is. On Sunday, it’s the same format for Qualifying and Heats, drivers can change one tire for the B-Main and for the Feature drivers can have as many as they need. Tire samples will be taken all weekend. The Southern Nationals format, race procedures and technical rules will be in effect.
On Saturday March 1st the Gates will open at 10:00 am and Driver’s Meeting will be slated for around 1:00 pm with racing to begin later that afternoon. General Admission for Saturday is $20.00 with Pit Passes going for $30.00. On Sunday March 2nd the Gates will open at 10:00 am with Driver’s Meeting slated for 12:30 pm. Hot Laps will begin around 1:15 pm. General Admission for Sunday is $25.00 with Pit Passes going for $35.00. Two-Day Passes will be offered as a two-day General Admission pass will be $40.00 while a two-day Pit Pass will be $60.00. Support Classes will be ran and be announced by the track.
Further information on Cherokee Speedway located at 153 Speedway Road in Gaffney, SC 29341 can be obtained by contacting the following: Track Phone (864) 489-1969 or Promoter Lennie Buff (864) 505-9199. The track’s official website is located at www.cherokeespeedwaysc.com or follow them on twitter @Cherokee_DirtSC.
Further information on the Southern Nationals Bonus Races can be obtained by calling Ray Cook at (828) 360-5353 or Chris Tilley at (606) 219-1723 or visit the official website located at www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com.
March Madness Saturday, March 1 Purse (35 Laps): 1) $3000, 2) $1500, 3) $900, 4) $800, 5) $700, 6) $600, 7) $575, 8) $550, 9) $525, 10) $500, 11) $400, 12) $390, 13) $380, 14) $370, 15) $360, 16) $350, 17) $340, 18) $330, 19) $320, 20) $310, 21) $300, 22) $300. TOTAL $13,800
March Madness Saturday, March 2 Purse (60 Laps): 1) $10000, 2) $5000, 3) $2500, 4) $2000, 5) $1500, 6) $1300, 7) $1200, 8) $1100, 9) $1050, 10) $1000, 11) $950, 12) $900, 13) $850, 14) $800, 15) $750, 16) $700, 17) $700, 18) $700, 19) $700, 20) $700, 21) $700, 22) $700, 23) $700, 24) $700 TOTAL $37,200
Previous March Madness Winners:
2003-Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH
2004-Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL
2005-Jeff Smith of Dallas, NC
2006-Chris Madden of Gray Court, SC
2007-Clint Smith of Senoia, GA
2008-Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN
2009-Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA
2010-Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN
2011-Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA
2012-Jared Landers of Batesville, AR
2013-Jared Landers of Batesville, AR