Southern SportMod Super Nationals conclude with $5,000 checkers at KSP

Feature, Southern SportMod

KENNEDALE, Texas (July 31, 2024) – You can almost predict what he’ll say, when you ask Kennedale Speedway Park promoter James Lopez about the upcoming IMCA Southern SportMod Super Nationals powered by Smiley’s Racing Products.

The third annual event, scheduled Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 5-7, promises Lopez, will be super.

The $5,000 to win, minimum $500 to start 30-lap main event on Saturday night is a shoo-in to feature the best drivers competing weekly in the division in Texas and Oklahoma. Total purse for the Big Dance is more than $20,000 with another $4,000-plus paid to drivers in Friday’s All-Star race.

“Our qualifying format will be very similar to last year,” Lopez said. “One thing that we’re doing differently is a fan vote to add one driver to the All-Star race and a different driver will be elected to start at the back in the $5,000 to win main event.”

Pre-registration for drivers to be vote eligible is required by Aug. 14: Voting will be conducted on MyRacePass and starts Aug. 16 for the All-Star race and Aug. 21 for the main event provisional.

Division title sponsor Smiley’s Racing Products doubles as title sponsor for the Southern SportMod Super Nationals, he notes, while Sunoco Race Fuels, Landrum Springs, Dirt Defender, Schoenfeld Headers, Generation Race Cars, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, Dr. Pepper, Speaks Automotive and Revolution Graphics are among the event sponsors.

An open practice on Thursday will be followed at approximately 8:30 p.m. by All-Star qualifying, open to any driver who has won at least one sanctioned feature this season. All SportMods run two heats on Friday and lock in the top eight for the main event and eight more for the “B” main.

All other drivers will attempt to advance from “C’ features to the ‘B’ and ultimately the main event on Saturday.

The top four finishers receive trophies similar to those to be given the same night at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

Trey Votaw is already guaranteed a starting spot in the main event at Kennedale, as champion of the All Star Shootout Tour in May.

Votaw, Jeff Shepperd and Trevor Cogburn all earned starts in the $1,000 to win, $100 to start All-Star race with feature wins during that tour.

Pit passes will be $25 for the Thursday practice session that runs from 6-8 p.m. and will be followed by All-Star qualifying and the barbeque party in the pits. No grandstand seating will be available that evening.

Pit passes are $35 Friday and $40 on Saturday. Spectator admission for adults is $15 on Friday and $20 on Saturday, with seniors and military $12, kids ages 6-11 $7 and five and under free both nights.

Justin Long at Generation Race Cars helps with sponsorship of the All-Star race as well as Thursday’s party in the pits. Early registration on MyRacePass for the IMCA Southern SportMod Super Nationals powered by Smiley’s Racing Products is $80. Registration after Sept. 1 will be $120.

More information is available from Lopez at 817 478-7223.

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