Fortunately for us in the Dirt Late Model world, we have a number of top notch — sometimes called crown jewel — events that draw most if not all of the top names in the sport several weekends each year. Fans and teams look forward to these events and often plan extensively around them. Yes, they generally pay the most money and have the most prestige, but they’re also usually some of the most difficult races to win. Oftentimes some of the best racing of the year happens at these events.

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As most of you know, the Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals was delayed three days by rain and run in a condensed one-day program. Mother Nature kept a large contingent of the nation's best Dirt Late Model drivers at bay three consecutive days before finally relenting enough to let the fans and teams that stuck around the entire week to get in a great day of racing.

Although it was delayed, Sunday's 100-lap feature was by far one of the best races I have ever seen in person. The track was MORE

While it's still two months away, many Dirt Late Model teams out West are already penciling in the Silver State Dirt Championships at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on their schedule for Nov. 20-21. For most teams the opportunity to both get in some gambling and relaxation along with some racing is just too much to pass up.

While the details of the event are still being hammered out and finalized, as of right now it looks like the two-day event will pay $5,000-to-win Saturday for MORE