What Might a National Super Late Model Schedule Look Like?

With the announcement that Champion Racing Association is being acquired by Track Enterprises with the intentions of starting a national Super Late Model points series, we here at Racing America got to thinking – what would a national series schedule look like for the 2022 season?

READ MORE: National Super Late Model Tour is the Goal of New CRA Promoter

For this, we used pre-existing dates for races that are currently on this year’s schedule. Our schedule consists of 10 races at 10 different tracks from February to December, with at least one race in all corners of the country.

Take a look at our proposed schedule and let us know on social media what races you would add or subtract from your national Super Late Model schedule.

1.) Irwindale Speedway - All Star Showdown (February 5)

The All Star Showdown is the scheduled season opener for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour, and the start of a historic season for the west coast-based sanctioning body as they expand east for races at Citrus County Speedway and Berlin Raceway among other to be determined tracks east of the Mississippi. As SRL expands east, Irwindale would be on a big national stage akin to the old Toyota All Star Showdown days.

2.) Orange Blossom 100 – New Smyrna Speedway (February 19)

The Orange Blossom 100 ends nine days of racing at the World Series of Asphalt every year, with extra big names usually added just for that race every year. The inaugural SRL National race is being held across the state at Citrus County Speedway the week before, which could potentially mean other drivers stick around the Sunshine State for another week to compete at New Smryna.

3.) Easter Bunny 150 – Hickory Motor Speedway (March 19)

PASS opens up their season in North Carolina with the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway in March. The Easter Bunny has been seen as a North vs. South battle along the Eastern Seaboard for most of its history. A race that has always had high car counts could potentially have historical numbers with a hit of national implication.

4.) Money in the Bank 150 – Berlin Raceway (June 8)

This is another date that is currently set as an SRL National race, which would make it the perfect opportunity for another potential combination national event. The Money in the Bank 150 has become a driver favorite due to its one-day format and huge $20,000 payday, making it another event that could see a monster car count.

5.) Slinger Nationals – Slinger Super Speedway (July 12)

After a mix of big half-miles and “intermediates”, the series would then head to Slinger Super Speedway for a battle on the 1/4^th mile bullring in one of Wisconsin’s biggest races of the year. Currently unsanctioned by any series, bringing along a national SLM tour combined with the state’s deep Super Late Model roots would make for an exciting show.

6.) Summer Showdown – Evergreen Speedway (July 23)

From the smallest track on the tour to one of the largest, the series would go back west to Evergreen Speedway and the Summer Showdown. The Summer Showdown has been another race that has had traditionally large car counts filled with mostly drivers from the Northwest, and a national boost could make for perhaps the biggest Super Late Model show the region has seen in a long time.

7.) Oxford 250 – Oxford Plains Speedway (August 28)

This race normally sees the highest car counts anywhere in the country year after year, with 62 cars signing in on race day in 2021. However, most of those entries come from the Northeast. Add in a national tour with representation from all over America and the heat race format and you have yourself one of the most intense and unpredictable races on the schedule with car counts never seen before.

8.) Winchester 400 – Winchester Speedway (October 16)

What would a national Super Late Model tour be without the crown jewels? The series’ next stop would be at the arguably the most daunting short track in America. The Winchester 400 is the ultimate test of man and machine, with only the strongest surviving 400 trips around the high-banked half-mile in search for the famed Winchester Rifle.

9.) All American 400 – Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway (October 30)

This race is already seen as a battle between drivers from all corners of the nation. Last October’s All American 400 featured drivers from 14 different states/provinces, two countries and nearly every major region. A race that’s regained notoriety in recent years, this race would continue to be a true “All American” race.

10.) Snowball Derby – Five Flags Speedway (December 4)

It would only be fitting for the biggest Super Late Model race in the country to play as the season finale in a national Super Late Model series. Here’s the caveat – the Derby hasn’t been sanctioned by any series since it was the season finale of the USAR Hooters Late Model Series in 1995. To give you additional info on how long ago that was, both Five Flags Speedway Promoter Tim Bryant and Snowball Derby Tech Director Ricky Brooks were competing in the race as drivers.

Only 36 drivers start the Snowball Derby every year (37 if there’s a promoter’s option or defending winner doesn’t get in through qualifying) and with a maximum of three provisionals given, a series championship could all come down to the always-intense qualifying night. Just when you thought the Snowball Derby couldn’t get any bigger.