National notebook
Notes: Half-mile VMS oval won't open in '25
Virginia Motor Speedway in 2024. (ZSK Photography)
Citing financial struggles, Virginia Motor Speedway today announced to cease operations at the half-mile oval after 25 years under Sawyer family ownership.
Inflation and the difficult financial climate since the pandemic has affected not only the track but competitors and fans, according to the track's announcement.
"I wish there was an answer, but this decision wasn't made easy," track owner Bill Sawyer said. "I am very sorry to have to make this decision."
The 55-year-old facility reached prominence early in the Sawyer's ownership, hosting same-season events for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and World of Outlaws Late Model Series with Rick Eckert, Chris Madden, Steve Shaver, Jonathan Davenport, Shannon Babb, Earl Pearson Jr. among national touring winners along with regional standouts Jeremy Miller and Jamie Lathroum.
Along with national tours, VMS hosted events sanctioned by the Renegade Racing Series, Mid-Atlantic Championship Series, Carolina Clash and Ultimate tours since 2001.
The track last hosted the WoO circuit in 2011 — with Steve Shaver winning a $25,000 purse that matched the track's winningest Super Late Model payout — and hosted its final Lucas Oil Series event in 2012. Since then, except for a 2014 race on the short-lived National Dirt Racing League, the track scaled back to primarily focus on regional tours and Crate Late Model specials.
The track had state-of-the art facilities but frequently struggled to draw large car counts or large crowds to Late Model specials in Virginia's Tidewater region, relatively distant from the home base of most teams and other Super Late Model venues.
The track's richest payout came in 2019 (winner Brandon Overton) and 2022 (winner Tyler Bare) for $50,000 Fastrak World Championship events for Crate Late Models. The track's lone 2024 special event was a $10,000-to-win race on the Vision Wheel Steel Block Bandits captured by tour champ Russell Erwin.
VMS hosted weekly Limited or Crate Late Model divisions over the last 25 years with Austin Hubbard (2007, '22-23), Justin Williams (2013-17, '19, '21), Booper Bare (2003-04) and Les Hare (2001-02) among multiple-time champions.
The track remained dark during the pandemic-hampered 2020 season.
While stock car racing won't be scheduled at VMS in 2025, the facility does plan to host a pair of mudbog events. — Track and staff reports
TOURS REBRANDED: A pair of regional Limited Late Model tours have changed names for 2025. The former Steel Block Late Model Series is now the Ohio Valley Late Model Dirt Series with no significant changes otherwise for the tour dominated by Zach Milbee of Poca, W.Va., in 2024. The tour hasn’t released a complete schedule but plans a May 2-3 weekend at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Kan., and Rockcastle Speedway in Mount Vernon, Ky. In Missouri, the Cash Money Dirt Late Model Series owned by Isaac Keeper and Glen Powell has been renamed the 4 State Dirt Late Model Series. The tour has a new name and Facebook page but not other changes were announced.
PLYMOUTH’S LATE MODEL SCHEDULE: The Plymouth (Wis.) Dirt Track has announced the dates for its Super Six Late Models, seven events for the Late Model division at the third-mile oval. The races are scheduled for May 3, May 10, May 31, June 28, July 12, July 19 and Aug. 9. The June 28 race is on Late Model Appreciation Night and the July 12 event is part of the track’s Wall of Fame night. Minitour promoters plans to announce to nightly bonuses for the 2025 events. Brad Mueller of Random Lake, Wis., is the reigning Super Six champ.
SELINSGROVE’S LUCRATIVE SLATE: The new promotional team’s commitment to returning Super Late Models to prominence at the half-mile oval means the track has 16 division events scheduled for 2025 paying at least $5,000-to-win. Along with a handful of specials, Selinsgrove’s regular-season Super Late Model purse is among the richest in the country paying $5,000-to-win and $500-to-start, a total purse exceeding $27,000. April 11 marks the track’s 2025 Super Late Model debut for co-promoters Paula Schick, Jenna Mowery and Colin Rice (members of the Snyder County Dirt Management Group). The track ran just a handful of Super Late Model events last season under the trouble ERS Promotions.
TALLADEGA’S ICE BOWL TUNEUP: Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., has long hosted one of the offseason’s biggest event with January’s Ice Bowl, but the track has added a tuneup race for the Ice Bowl just before Christmas. Dec. 21’s Santa Shootout will have six divisions in action including Limited Late Models and two divisions of Crate Late Models (604 and 602 under Crate Racin’ USA rules). Gates open at noon with hot laps at 2 p.m. General admission is $15 or $10 if spectators bring a non-perishable food item to donate for the Red Door Kitchen.
ODDS AND ENDS: Thunderhill Raceway Park in Summertown, Tenn., has been sold, owner Jason Walker posted on the track’s website. Walker will host a postseason banquet and the new owners plan to continue using the property as a racetrack. … The Jim Bernheisel-promoted Fall Clash, set for autumn 2025, has added a Sept. 7 event at Action Track USA, a $6,000-to-win event and the Kutztown, Pa., oval’s first-ever Super Late Model event. … Reopening next season, 201 Speedway in Sitka, Ky., announced it will run weekly Crate Late Models under American All-Star rules with Super Late Model special events. … East Moline (Ill.) Speedway, which runs a weekly IMCA-sanctioned Late Model division, will be under new promoters in 2025. Chuck Hanna, who promoted the quarter-mile oval the last two seasons with Kyle and Casey Meier, announced they won’t be back. … Reggie Frazier has taken over as promoter at Laurens County Speedway in Laurens, S.C., with Rick Hartman serving as general manager. New dirt for the surface and taller walls are among planned improvements with rules and the schedule coming later in the offseason. … Pitts Homes and Realty has been named title sponsor for weekly racing in 2025 at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., with $5 general admission for the 10 events that includes unsanctioned Limited Late Models. …. The city of Hibbing, Minn., is taking applications for the position of venue manager of Hibbing Raceway. See hibbingmn.gov. … The Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 will remain at I-94 EMR Speedway in 2025, the promoters organization announced. The race is scheduled for Sept. 9-13.
