Florence Motor Speedway and Southern National Motorsports Park have announced the formation of a new points series for Late Model Stocks, the “I-95 Showdown.”
The series will see eight races, four apiece at both tracks, contested over three unique rounds. It will have a $125 entry fee. The championship winner will receive $7,500, with second place receiving $2,500, and third receiving $1,000. The Championship banquet will take place on a cruise at the end of the year. The top three in the points will have the cruise paid for, and discounted cruise tickets offered to crew and family members. Fourth place in the points will earn $500, fifth gets $300 and sixth $200.
The opening round will be four races long, starting with The Icebreaker at Florence on February 8th. Speedweek Race 1 will be the next event for the series at Southern National on March 12th, then Southern National’s Point Season Finale on June 14th. The final race of the round will be the Sun Fun 101 at Florence on July 19th. The top four in points after this round will be locked into the final round.
The “Battleback Round” will see those who did not advance fighting for spots in the final round across two races, the Road to the Classic at Southern National on September 6th and the Pee Dee 100 on October 11th at Florence. After these two races, the top two in points will advance to the final round, making it a six driver contest for the championship.
The top four from the opening round will receive bonus points, with first getting 4 points, second place getting 3 points, third place with 2 points, and 1 point for the fourth place finisher. No bonus points for the two drivers that advance out of the second round. The final round is two races long, Florence’s South Carolina 400 on November 22nd and the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National on November 30th.
All six drivers in the final round will have their entry fee and pit passes paid for for both the South Carolina 400 and the Thanksgiving Classic, as well as guaranteed provisionals for both events.
“This will be an exciting year of Late Model racing, and it gets even better with the creation of the I-95 Showdown. The success of Daytona 1 Beach Madness years ago at Myrtle Beach Speedway sparked interest throughout the entire season for drivers and teams. We believe the Showdown will bring back that excitement and create a buzz amongst the Late Model scene along the East Coast,” said Florence Motor Speedway General Manager Brian Vause. Southern National Motorsports Park owner and operator Michael Diaz added, “We are gearing up for the upcoming season and very excited to partner with the team down at Florence. After discussions back and forth, it is refreshing to work with people that share the same passion and mindset on the growth of racing in the region.”
The points structure is as follows.
The last place finisher of eligible drivers in a race will receive 2 points, and 1 more point to each eligible position ahead (second lowest finisher gets 3 points, third lowest 4 points, etc.), meaning the points you earn depends on how many cars enter. There are also several bonus points up for grabs. Pole, one lap led, most laps led, and hard charger (tie-breaker being the fastest lap) will all give a driver 1 extra point. Leading the race at halfway will bring a driver 2 bonus points. They will also have a show up bonus that awards 10 points to all drivers who enter after the first race of a round. If a tie-breaker is needed, it will go to average finish in races entered, then go to highest starting position in races entered if need be.
The full schedule for the I-95 Showdown can be viewed below.
Opening Round
February 8- The Icebreaker at Florence Motor Speedway
March 12- Speedweek Race 1 at Southern national Motorsports Park
June 14- Point Season Finale at Southern National Motorsports Park
July 19- Sun Fun 100 at Florence Motor Speedway
Battleback Round
September 6- Road to the Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park
October 11- Pee Dee 100 at Florence Motor Speedway
Final Round
November 22- South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway
November 30- Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park
