The state of Alabama has a underappreciated Pro Late Model scene.
The Show Me the Money Series at Montgomery Motor Speedway is the proving ground for the elite each month, while Mobile International Speedway returned to life in 2018 with a handful of races this summer. Many of those same teams put on a similarly excellent show at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida — just over the state line.
Meanwhile, South Alabama Speedway, Huntsville Speedway and Sayre Speedway all added to the Late Model culture with their respective programs.
But it could use something else to get it out of the Super Late Model shadow.
Covering Late Model Stock racing in the Virginias this season gave me an idea for a neat addition to the Alabama Pro Late Model scene.
A triple crown.
READ MORE: Alabama 200 date moved to March
The South Boston 200, Hampton Heat and Martinsville 300 are each marquee victories on their own but, the three tracks up the ante each summer by providing a $10,000 bonus to the driver that posts the best average finish between them.
Imagine a Triple Crown between the Baby Rattler 125 at South Alabama, Alabama 200 at Montgomery and the Lee Fields Memorial at Mobile. That of course assumes the Lee Fields will even exist moving forward under the Lyons family ownership.
There has been a lot of talk about forming a Pro Late Model touring series on the Gulf Coast, similar to the CRA JEGS Tour in the Midwest. With Nashville and Montgomery running monthly, not to mention four summer races at Pensacola’s Five Flags Speedway, that might be a tall task.
But a Triple Crown might be the best way to spotlight the Pro Late Model scene in the Heart of Dixie without going full tour.
READ MORE: Peyton Sellers won the 2018 Virginia Triple Crown
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Eldon
November 22, 2018 at 10:48 pm
Very interesting. That was done as a touring series in The Ken-Tenn series a few years ago. 5 tracks agreed to the same rules they had 25+ cars at each event. We would be interested in participating.