The first track last year to close was Needmore.Not because of car count or money but noise caused legal problems for the track. The track in Dothan shut down, GIS at one point closed for sale. Before the year was up, two more tracks suspended racing to regroup, Putman County and Lake city's asphalt track. Putman put new red clay down in the winter but the permits for much needed repairs have been hard to obtain. Lake City on the other hand was hit by the cost of running asphalt.
Area racing started out strong this year with Douglas running some winter races having good car counts but with scheduling problems with the drag strip and Waycross and Dublin running the same week promoter Tony Gaskins had no choice but to hang it up.
There have been some good things this year also. Needmore opened back, tracks like Albany , 441 , Cochran, East Alabama, Haleburg, North Florida, SGMP ,Waycross,and" THE MELON" have had great car counts. Needmore saw over a hundered cars pull in the gate May 19 and a great crowd even with the NASCAR All Star race on TV. Albany had a super Nesmith event with 40 late models on hand and great local support. Waycross had probably the best late model race of the year so far, with Dewitt and Ivedent Lloyd bringing the always passionate Waycross crowd to their feet.
There are also some new series that have been formed like the Outlaw Late Models at "THE MELON". Bringing dirt cars and asphalt cars together for some great racing. Then there is the Outlaw Super Street series out of Warner Robins. Bobby Piper has put together some great rules that let cars from other tracks run the big money races. The first race at 441 had 38 cars in attendance.
On the other hand late model racing in this area is king and right now it is in limbo with three series running the area and all with different motor rules.It has put the late model drivers and car owners in a hard spot. Some have moved down to the limiteds so they have an option to run a different track, or just because of cost.
In Florida, you have the costly 362 motors. Waycross ,Needmore , Cochran ,and 441 run NLMS motor rules, and the Nesmith Crate Series has santioned Albany , East Alabama, and Smokey Harris. Time will tell if this is good for late model racing but at some point they will have to come back together. If not, your limited sportsman will be your late models. If you remember back in the early 90's a promoter from Florida took the sportsman class and turned it in to the NLMS today.
With all that being said, the state of racing in the area is strong and holding, but as I mentioned, late models are king, and right now we have three kings.
By:LJ
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