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Big money, star studded Bigley Memorial at Freedom Factory

Event: The Noland’s Roofing Bill Bigley Sr. Memorial 128 presented by West Orange Roofing is slated for Thanksgiving Weekend, November 24-25. It is the eighth annual edition of this event and the first time it will be sanctioned by the SRL National.

It is a return to Freedom Factory (formerly Desoto Speedway) (FL) for the first time since the inaugural event in 2016. The previous six editions were contested at 417 Southern Speedway (FL).

Big Money: The Bill Bigley Sr. Memorial 128 will pay $30,000-to-win, with $10,000 to finish second. $1,200 will be paid to start the 128-lap feature, with $82,200 distributed to feature competitors. Fast Time will pay $4,000 with another $1,000 added if the Fast Qualifier can win the event. Both of those bonuses are thanks to Langford Lawn and Landscape.

The Non-Qualifiers race will pay $1,500 to win with $650 to start. Over $15,000 will be paid out to those starters with a 51-car entry. The Hard Charger and Hard Luck Awards will pay $200 each, thanks to NoSweat. Lap sponsorship money for this weekend’s event is already over $1,940 thanks to Sunshine State Racing and racing fans and businesses throughout the state of Florida. The “Best Appearing Car Award” will pay $250 thanks to Tyler Sontag with SpeedRacer Photos and Robert Howell from Sunshine State Racing. All total, over $100,000 is up for grabs on Saturday.

Field Grows to Record Numbers: A race record 51 Super Late Models have submitted paid entries for this weekend’s event. The previous record was 41 Super Late Models set in 2021. The inaugural event in 2016 sported a 26-car entry at Desoto Speedway on September 17th. 22 Super Late Models appeared in 2017 at 417 Southern Speedway with 18, 23, 28, 41 and 37 making up the entry through 2022.

Former Bigley Winners: All former winners of the Bigley Memorial race are entered for the weekend’s action. Jesse Dutilly grabbed the inaugural round with Steve Dorer and Anthony Sergi the winners in 2017 and 2018. Jesse Dutilly was the first repeat winner in 2019. Sergi followed up his 2018 win in 2020, with Michael Atwell victorious in 2021 and 2022.Atwell has attended all seven events with Sergi and Dutilly making six starts.

Sentimental Favorite: The grandson of Bill Bigley Sr. will make his eighth start in the annual event this weekend. Dylan Bigley has earned three top-five, and five top-10 finishes in his previous seven appearances. But he is still looking for his first win in an event that has special meaning to his family, for a man that was a huge influence on his racing career.

“To my family and I, this race means the world to us,” the 2021 417 Southern Speedway (FL) Super Late Model Track Champion explained. “My father, eight years ago, started this memorial race just to honor my grandfather. To see where it has come in such a short time is incredible. It keeps getting bigger and bigger and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here on out. My grandfather influenced my career in so many ways. He was the first in our family to start racing.

He was the biggest supporter, not only in my racing career, but so many others as well. He was always the first at the shop to work on the cars and the last one to leave. Without him I do not know where we would be.”

Championship Hunt: Bubba Pollard will earn the championship for the 2023 SRL National, having earned $79,650 in the earnings-based system. Jeremy Doss sits second with $27,500 won. Jacob Gomes ($26,500), Ty Majeski ($13,500), and Erik Jones ($11,900) round out the top-five. John Moore ($10,000), Kyle Crump ($10,000), Stephen Nasse ($9,000), Jet Noland ($7,000), Gio Ruggerio ($7,000), and Chase Elliot ($7,000) make up the top-11. With over $30,000 available to the winner, any team entered this weekend could claim the runner-up position.

Florida Defends Turf: Of the 51 Super Late Model entries, 37 currently reside in the Sunshine State. All seven previous winners are also from Florida, and the in-state teams will look to keep the $30,000 winner’s prize at home once again.

Former winners Steve Dorer, Anthony Sergi, Jesse Dutilly, and Michael Atwell will be joined by other multi-time Super and Pro Late Model winning teams from the state. Those include Nick Neri, Dylan Bigley, Daniel Webster, Michael Goddard, Jonathon Guy, Jett Noland, Stephen Nasse, Jake Finch, Michael Hinde, Dustin Dunn, Patrick Staropoli, Colin Allman, and Florida native Jared Irvin.

Invaders: The strongest contingent of out of state drivers in race history will take on the home team. Those efforts will be led by national Super Late Model stars Ty Majeski, Jeremy Doss, Johnny Sauter, Derek Kraus, Derek Griffith, Chris Davidson, and Luke Fenhaus. Regional stars include Michael Bilderback, Albert Francis, Paul Shafer Jr., Dave Farrington Jr., Jeff Storm, and Tyler Tanner. Majeski, Doss, and Fenhaus are all former Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) champions. Griffith was a two-time finalist. 10 total states are represented this weekend.

West Coast Flavor: Jeremy Doss will make the cross-country trip from Upper Lake, CA to Freedom Factory this weekend. The recently crowned Blizzard Series Champion made the trip to Nashville for the All American 400, charging from last starting to third, when fluid on the track ended his effort, along with that of multiple other front runners.

The 2018 Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series champion will now make the return trip to the east coast for the Bigley Memorial and the Snowball Derby in back-to-back weekends, with a great deal of confidence, as he heads to another new track.

“Running as well as we have this year, against the competition back east, is definitely a confidence boost going to events like this”, Doss stated about his first trip to Freedom Factory. “We will be running a different car at the Bigley, then we will be testing Monday for the Derby, so it should go pretty smooth. I do not know a whole lot about Freedom Factory, but I have seen some footage of the track, and it seems like it will be right in my wheelhouse. We want to race as much as possible right before the Derby, so this was a good opportunity to do so, and the great pay day always helps.”

Northeast Reps: Hudson, NH driver Derek Griffith will make the trip to Freedom Factory, after his original schedule precluded his participation, because of the “Derby”. The two-time KDDP finalist will now be in the Finish Line Fabricating Racecars house car for Tim Curry.

“We told Ricky awhile back that we would not be able to race, due to only having one Super and the Derby so close, it had us in a tough spot,” Griffith began. “He helped line this deal up for us, so that is awesome that the Series Promoter is working that hard for the racers. I am super excited to get the call to drive the FLF house car. I am especially excited for the Bigley race. I know we can be competitive, as it seems they always are. My expectations are to have a good showing as always. There has been a ton of traction around the Freedom Factory, and this race, so it will be awesome to have our hat in the ring.”

Desoto Rebirth: The 3/8-mile paved oval, located in Bradenton, FL, was originally constructed in the 1970’s. It was known as Desoto Speedway, but it closed after the 2017 season, after the death of Sprint car racer Dave Steele. YouTube star Cleetus McFarland purchased the property two years later and began renovating the facility, renaming it “Freedom Factory”. While renovations were underway, several Pay Per View events, such as the Freedom 500 and LeMullets, were held before the track was ready to accommodate spectators. The track hosted its’ first public event in February of 2021.

The facility now hosts a wide variety of automotive centered events, including this weekend’s Bill Bigley Sr. Memorial 128.

Saturday Race Schedule:

11:00 am Spectator and Pit Gates Open
12:30-2:00 pm Super Late Model Practice
3:00 pm Pre-Qualifying Tech
5:30 pm Langford Lawn Qualifying (Five Laps, Two Cars) Top 20 locked in (Cars impounded in the infield)
6:45 pm Invocation / National Anthem
B-Mains (Two; Odd and Even Qualifiers) 20 Laps (Top three Transfer) plus two Series Provisionals
Bigley Non-Qualifiers Race 50 Laps
**Intermission, Autograph Session & Introductions**
(Drivers Group Photo under banner)
Noland’s Roofing Bill Bigley Sr Memorial 128 presented by West Orange Roofing

Live Stream: The Bill Bigley Sr. Memorial 128 can be viewed LIVE at www.srlracing.TV and www.PitRow.TV.

Entry List

1 Steve Dorer – Lakeland, FL
2 Michael Bilderback – South Beloit, IL
4 Luke Fenhaus – Wausau, WI
5 Albert Francis – Painesville, OH
5 Johnny Sauter – Necedah, WI
7 Paul Shafer Jr. – Portage, IN
08 Tony Elrod – Lecanto, FL
9 Charles Ayers – Daytona Beach, FL
9 Derek Kraus – Stratford, WI
9 Rob Partelo – Largo, FL
13 Granger Para – Labelle, FL
14 Chris Davidson – Pearland, TX
15 Sean Lemaster – Naples, FL
17 Nick Neri – Palmetto, FL
20 Anthoni Sergi – Oviedo, FL
22 Robert Jonas – Port Richey, FL
23 Dave Farrington – Jay, ME
25 Jeff Storm – Waterford, WI
27 Cody Krucker – Bonita Springs, FL
28 Dylan Bigley – Naples, FL
28 Jared Irvin – Concord, NC
30 Jesse Dutilly – Bradenton, FL
33 Kyle Crain – Cape Coral, FL
33 Daniel Webster – Brooksville, FL
37 Michael Goddard – Fort Myers, FL
42 Jonathan Guy – Lakeland, FL
44 Jeremy Doss – Upper Lake, CA
46 Cody Strickler – Pinellas Park, FL
47 Keith Zavrel – Brooksville, FL
50 Jett Noland – Groveland, FL
51 Jake Finch – Lynn Haven, FL
51 Stephen Nasse – Pinellas Park, FL
55 Michael Atwell – Naples, FL
55 Richard Elkins – Winter Haven, FL
57 Brey Holmes – Auburndale, FL
58 John Coffman – Live Oak, FL
59 Dustin Dunn – Jupiter, FL
62 Chad Rutherford – Hollywood, FL
64 Dr. Patrick Staropoli – Plantation, FL
65 Tyler Tanner – Auburn, WA
66 Tim Sozio – Debary, FL
67 Colin Allman – Plant City, FL
69 Michael Hinde – Hernando, FL
75 Bryton Horner – Seffner, FL
78 Cody Coffman – Live Oak, FL
82 Chris McIntyre,- Miami, FL
88 T.J. DeClaire – Land O’Lakes, FL
90 Derek Griffith – Hudson, NH
91 Ty Majeski – Seymour, WI
98 Jim Brinkley Jr. – Dade City, FL
99 Cody Martell – Fort Meyers, FL

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