National notebook
Notes: Hurricane-battered tracks forge ahead
Blackwater Speedway is replacing the frontstretch wall. (facebook.com/blackwaterspeeedway)
Three Gulf Coast tracks that sustained damage from Hurricane Isaias are working to make repairs while sorting out plans for the rest of the season.
Blackwater Speedway in Baker, Fla., which saw half its frontstretch wall tumble onto the racing surface, has decided to end its season prematurely, cancelling Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 events while working on the installation of a new wall.
At Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla., oval racing has been put on hold while making repairs to the pit shack, scoring tower, signage, fencing and various other issues. Immediately after the storm, the track grounds were used by electrical crews rushing to the Florida Panhandle to assist with repairs.
The track has an ambitious winter schedule with seven weekends of action during the Gulf Coast Winter Nationals, which includes a February visit by the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, but it hasn’t announced a revised late-2026 oval racing schedule. The lone makeup date announced was for a monster truck event originally scheduled for Oct. 24 that was rescheduled for Nov. 14.
At Tri-County Speedway, the Day family that promotes the Pollard, Ala., oval said damage to the track was “all things considered, not nearly as bad as we had feared when we woke up Saturday morning to survey the destruction in our community.”
The track’s season finale on Oct. 24-25 — the ninth annual Tri-County Speedway Legacy Championship — will be made up in November with a date to be announced. The track’s 602 Crate Late Model division is among several classes planned for the two-day event.
Among other repairs, roof reconstruction is under way on damaged buildings at Tri-County with the track thanking those who have assisted, including Tommy Pickern and his crew, T.J. Grimes, Parker Bell and Shannon Yoder of Air Refrigeration.
The Days were grateful for the “outpouring of love” in the community to endure the storm.
“We will be back better than ever,” the track said in a statement. “Not just us, but this community.” — Track and staff reports
SUGAR CREEK SPECIAL: After cancelling a sprint car doubleheader between Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, Ga., and Hartwell (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Sugar Creek added a $4,000-to-win Super Late Model event for Oct. 17 on Applefest weekend. The track’s regular divisions will be in action as well. Sugar Creek’s season will conclude with Oct. 30’s Trick or Treat & Cheat event, a non-rules run what you brung event that will include Halloween costume contests for children and adults.
LOUISIANA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Baton Rouge Raceway in Baker, La., announced details for the Oct. 30-31 Louisiana State Championships with a $2,500-to-win feature for Crate Racin’ USA Late Models among seven divisions. Trick or treating will be done for children on the track with drivers asked to bring candy to hand out.
PENNSYLVANIA LOSS: Former Late Model racer Dave Meloy of Butler, Pa., died Oct. 12 at the age of 84. The western Pennsylvania driver competed for 13 seasons, mostly in the 1970s, at Butler Speedway and Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., among other tracks. His wife of 52 years, Ginger, is a longtime employee at Lernerville.
KENTUCKY HALL OF FAMERS: The Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame on Nov. 7 will induct its Class of 2026 at the Motorsports Museum in Central City. Dirt Late Model racers Chuck McWilliams of Walton, Ky., who has more than 300 victories, and Kentucky native Vern LeFevers of Cincinnati, Ohio, with more than 660 victories, are among inductees. Joining them will be truck and tractor puller Wayne Sullivan, Corvette Museum executive director Wendell Strode, drag racers T.C. and Donna Morris, engine builder and drag racer Dale Meers, car builder Terry Elmore, engine builder Lewis Browner and former racer Rick Erwin.
CROSSVILLE DATES: Crossville (Tenn.) Speedway has set details for a pair of October events promoted by Raymond Sheppard, who operates nearby Wartburg Speedway. Oct. 16’s event will include a $2,000-to-win Crate Late Model event (under Best Plumber 604 tour rules) while Oct. 30’s Spooktacular 30 will include a $2,500-to-win Limited Late Model event (Wartburg rules). See the Crossville Facebook page for details.
HUMMINGBIRD SALE: The Caltagarone family is seeking an appraisal of Hummingbird Speedway in Reynoldsville, Pa., in hopes of selling to a buyer who will continue operating the third-mile oval. The Louie Caltagarone-founded track, which operated from 1964-75 and again from 2000-26, was shuttered by the family at season’s end. Leases won’t be considered, but the family plans to sell the property as a turnkey operation, including all the grounds and equipment. “The family hopes the right opportunity will allow Hummingbird Speedway to remain a part of the racing community for years to come,” a track statement said.
LANCASTER HONOREES: Lancaster (S.C.) Motor Speedway will induct its Class of 2026 into the track’s Hall of Fame during Oct. 17’s racing program. Among inductees are longtime dirt track official Bruce Arrants along with Buster Bass, Perry Laney and Brian “Fuzzy” Mahaffey.
ODDS AND ENDS: Ahead of late October's National 100, East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City is updating the racing surface with Evergreen Siteworks developing a topographical map to help crate multigroove racing. … Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park announced that it will honor penalties from other tracks for drivers banned for aggressive or dangerous driving. … Raceway 7 in Conneaut, Ohio, is mourning last month’s passing of Bill Taylor, a 50-year competitor at the track who raced until he was 75 years old. He was 81. … Late Models have been removed from Oct. 24’s Harvest Hussle at Marshalltown (Iowa) Speedway.
mikeruefer.webp?v=2.0.6)
.webp?v=2.0.6)
