Florence Speedway
Fast Facts: 35th annual North-South 100
By Robert Holman
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
35th North-South 100
Dates: Aug. 10-12 (one $10,000-to-win program on Thursday followed by Friday’s prelims for Saturday’s $50,000-to-win finale)
Track: Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., (half-mile high-banked clay oval)
Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Purse: $50,000-to-win, $3,000-to-start ($10,000-to-win, $800 to start on Thursday)
Tickets: Adult general admission is $25 Thursday, $25 Friday and $35 Saturday; see below for discounts for children and more information.
On the web: florencespeedway.com or lucasdirt.com
Track phone: (859) 493-0034
Last year’s winner: Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., who, at 19, became the youngest driver to win the event
Notes: The 2017 North-South 100 marks the 34th running of the crown-jewel event that began in 1983. The race was rained out in 2001. … The event is sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. … The North-South 100 has averaged 71.4 cars over the last decade, including a high of 95 in 2008. … The weekend kicks off Thursday with the North-South Shootout, a complete program paying $10,000 to win for the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series, along with a complete program for the UMP Modifieds. … The North-South 100 two-day format features two sets of heat races on Friday, with heat lineups determined by pill draw. Each driver’s finish in their two heat races, along with passing points factored in, will be used to determine lineups for Saturday’s feature, dashes and consolations. … There’s also a 20-car non-qualifiers' race that pays $2,500-to-win and $300-to-start on Saturday. … There have been 22 North-South 100 winners since its inception in 1983. … There have been four winners in the last four events. … Nine drivers have multiple North-South victories, led by Jimmy Owens and the late Jack Boggs with three apiece. Seven others have won twice. … Only three drivers managed to win the race in back-to-back seasons: Pat Patrick (’83-’84), Owens (’10-’11), and Don O’Neal (’12-’13). … Along with his two North-South 100 wins, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., has seven runner-up finishes, including three straight from 2014-16. Bloomquist has three third-place finishes in the event as well. … Bobby Pierce (’16) and his father Bob (’99) are the only father-son duo to win the event. … Five times in the history of the race, a driver repeated his first victory two years after his inaugural North-South triumph: Jeff Purvis (’87 and ’89), Jack Boggs (’92 and 94), John Gill (’93 and ’95), Donnie Moran (’96 and ’98) and Steve Shaver (’04 and ’06). … Bloomquist won Florence’s Ralph Latham Memorial in May. … Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., won the Southern Nationals Bonus Series race at Florence in April. … Jason Jameson of Lawrenceburg, Ind., won the 41st annual Spring 50 in March.
(Complete North-South 100 coverage)
North-South 100 Winners
Year: Winner, hometown
1983: Pat Patrick, Sayler Park, Ohio
1984: Pat Patrick, Sayler Park, Ohio
1985: John Mason, Millersburg, Ohio
1986: Jack Boggs, Webbville, Ky.
1987: Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
1988: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
1989: Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
1990: Mike Head, Ellenwood, Ga.
1991: Rodney Combs, Lost Creek, W.Va.
1992: Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1993: John Gill, Mitchell, Ind.
1994: Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1995: John Gill, Mitchell, Ind.
1996: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
1997: Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D.
1998: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
1999: Bob Pierce, Danville, Ill.
2000: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2001: Rained out
2002: Chub Frank, Bear Lake, Pa.
2003: Dan Schlieper, Sullivan, Wis.
2004: Steve Shaver, Vienna, W.Va.
2005: Bart Hartman, Zanesville, Ohio
2006: Steve Shaver, Vienna, W.Va.
2007: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2008: Darren Miller, Milledgeville, Ill.
2009: Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
2010: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2011: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2012: Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2013: Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2014: Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W.Va.
2015: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2016: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
(Complete race history)
Weekend purses
Thursday feature
1. $10,000
2. $5,500
3. $3,500
4. $2,750
5. $2,250
6. $1,800
7. $1,500
8. $1,300
9. $1,200
10. $1,100
11. $1,075
12. $1,050
13. $1,025
14. $1,000
15. $950
16. $925
17. $900
18. $875
19. $850
21-24. $800
Saturday feature
1. $50,000
2. $10,000
3. $7,000
4. $5,000
5. $4,000
6. $3,800
7. $3,600
8. $3,400
9. $3,350
10. $3,300
11. $3,250
12. $3,200
13. $3,150
14. $3,125
15. $3,100
16. $3,075
17. $3,050
18. $3,025
19-24. $3,000
Event schedule
Thursday
3 p.m. - Pit gates open
5:30 p.m. - Main gates opens
6 p.m. - Hot laps
7:30 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model time trails
- Late Model heats
- Late Model consolations
- Late Model feature
- Complete show for UMP modifieds
Friday
3 p.m. - Pit gates open
5:30 p.m. - Main and back gates open
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7:30 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model heats (first set)
- Modified heats
- Late Model heats (second set)
- Modified consolation
- Fan/racer appreciation party
Saturday
1 p.m. - Hall of Fame auction
3 p.m. - Pit gates open
3 p.m. - Main and back gates open
4:30 p.m. - Hall of Fame induction ceremony
7:30 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model consolations
- Modified feature
- Late Model non-qualifiers' race (30 laps)
- North-South 100
Tickets
Thursday
General admission (12-and-up): $25
Children (6-11): $5 (children 5-and-under free)
Three-day pass: $80 general admission/$15 children
Pit pass: $40
Three-day pass: $110 pit gate
Friday
General admission (12-and-up): $25
Children (6-11): $5 (children 5-and-under free)
Three-day pass: $80 general admission/$15 children
Two-day pass: $55 general admission/$10 children
(Reserved seating available for $2 more)
Pit pass: $35
Three-day pass: $110 pit gate
Two-day pass: $70 pit gate
Saturday
General admission (12-and-up): $35
Children (6-11): $8 (children 5-and-under free)
Three-day pass: $80 general admission/$15 children
Two-day pass: $55 general admission/$10 children
(Reserved seating available for $2 more)
Pit pass: $45
Three-day pass: $110 pit gate
Two-day pass: $70 pit gate
Camping
Call (859) 493-0034
