This Saturday night the National Late Model Series will be rolling into Waycross Motor Speedway for their first stop of the year there. The NLMSS has been visiting Waycross since their inception, with Waycross carrying a couple of races a year. I called race director Chad Starling to get more info about this weekend's race schedule. He was polite, and very helpful in any questions I had. For over 60 years, which is forever in track years, the track was oil-based making it look almost like asphalt. It was a mixture of peanut oil, tar and clay. The owners decided to change the track by hauling in over 500 dump truck loads of red Georgia clay. During the past off season they shortened the track up and brought in turns 3 and 4. This has created some exceptionally good racing for Waycross and has helped them see an increase in car count and fan attendance.
With the change in track surface it has helped the drivers save tires which can make the cost of racing in this economy a heavy burden. A driver can drive the track on a Saturday night and still have some tire left. This should help make this weekend's car count be above their average amount. There is usually an average field of 24 but this weekend it looks to be around 30. With a 50 lap feature and $3,000 to win feature, who wouldn't want to be part of that? I'll drive a tricycle to win $3,000 but I don't think it'll meet NLMSS rules which by the way all late models at Waycross run for their regular weekly races and can be found here.
Some of the drivers expected to attend are Mark Whitener, who always has a strong showing at Waycross, Evan Becton, Rhett Carter, Brandon Cameron, Johnny Collins, Tyler Ivey, Dewayne Johnson, Brandon Dewitt, Jason Fitzgerald, and a possible Ivedent Lloyd. Depending on count, which looks really good so far, they may lock in qualifying times or with a full field the top 6 will be locked in, then from 7th on back they will run heat races to get a starting spot. The other 3 classes that Waycross runs will run heat races and features which include, limited sportsman, superstreet, and pure stocks. Mother Nature has tried to slow down the season for Waycross with 4 races scheduled and 2 of them getting rained out. From everything I hear from fans and drivers alike, the pure stock and superstreet classes have put on shows just as good as the late models. I've been and can attest to it. If there are any questions fans or drivers have they can contact Chad Starling at 912-550-3662 or check their website here. They also have a Facebook page that they are constantly keeping updated. Looking ahead in the season, October 19th and 20th, Waycross will again host the NLMSS for The Showdown in the Swamp. It involves a higher purse and they have the drivers take the roof off of their car and run topless. Yep, I said topless cars. Sounds like I'm going to have to make my plans already. Better go ahead and make yours.
