The engines have been silent except for some heavy machinery at the South’s Finest Dirt Track since the end of the 2017 season.

But the silence will soon be over as Southern Raceway will come alive for its 30^th season of racing action on the three-eighths mile dirt.

“We are excited about the upcoming season ahead as we are bringing a lot of racing action to Milton and Northwest Florida early on this year,” said Track Owner Tom Lowery. “We are going to have a lot of big series coming here in the first two months.

“When you start a season off there is a lot of excitement because everyone has been working on their cars and are ready to get back out on the track to see where they are.”

This year the big event is the two weekend Winter Nationals at Southern Raceway.

Opening night, Feb. 10, will see the pretty car awards being presented plus racing in six different classes.

Then the following weekend the racing will get ramped up even more as the NeSmith Late Models will take to the dirt and compete for the $2,000 going to the winner plus the 2^nd Annual David Martin Memorial Vintage race.

Both weekends will also have a great deal of racing in other classes as well.

The on Feb. 24th and 25th the methanol monsters of the dirt, the USCS (winged) Sprint Cars will take to the track for two days of action packed racing.

After an absence of several years the USCS will return Milton, but you can expect many of the same drivers who competed in the Southern Outlaw Sprints to be among those competing.

“After last race season the ASCS folded,” said Lowery. “But with the USCS we can expect more action as the driver from the old ASCS will be joining the USCS.

“I am expecting 25 to 30 cars competing on this weekend and them putting on exciting shows both nights.”

If that isn’t enough of a prelude to the official season kickoff on March 25, you better get ready to tighten your belts for the Fifth Annual Gator DIRT Nationals.

This event will feature competitors you may recognize from the midget and late model series you see racing most recently at the Chili Bowl Nationals for the Golden Driller on MAVTV.

These drivers from the Lucas Oil Southern States Midget Series, Lucas Oil Southern States 600 Mini-Sprint Series, Slingshots and more will put on a show you won’t forget on March 9^th and 10^th.

“All of these drivers will be coming from out of town for this weekend, which should be a big thing for our community,” said Lowery. “This in a way will be like a micro show to what was held in Oklahoma at the Chili Bowl Nationals.”

Then if that isn’t enough to get the 30^th season of racing started for 2018 at Southern Raceway, the pre-season racing festivities will conclude March 16^th and 17^th with the 2^nd Annual Spring Break Bash.

This two-day racing show will be headlined by the Southern All Star Super Late Models along with racing from the Pure Stock, Street Stock, Open-Wheel Modifieds, Vintage, 602 NeSmith Sportsman, and Stinger divisions.

“We are looking to get 2018 started with a lot of quality racing action before we kick off our regular season on March 24^th,” said Lowery. “We will have some even bigger events planned for later this season including our official 30^th Anniversary on Labor Day weekend.”

Southern Raceway is located at 9359 Nichols Lake Rd. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Admission is $10 for adults, military and seniors is $9, students (13-18) $7, and children (6-12) $5, and kids 5 and under are free. Please note that sprint and late model night are extra.

Visit Southern Raceway on the web at www.southernraceway.com or on Facebook @southernraceway.

 

 

Southern Raceway 2018

February-March Schedule

Winter Nationals

Feb. 9                      Open Practice 6-10 p.m.

Feb. 10                   Winter Nationals – Special 6 p.m. Start

Pretty Car Awards (PS, SS, MOD, VIN, SP, and ST)

Feb. 16                   Open Practice 6-10 p.m.

Feb. 17                   Late Models $2K to win, David Martin Memorial Vintage Race

(PS, SS, VIN, LM, MOD, SL)

 

Battle at the Beach

Feb. 22                   Open Practice 6-9 p.m.

Feb. 23                   USCS Sprint Cars (PS, VIN, ST)

Feb. 24                   USCS Sprint Cars (PS, SS, VIN)

 

5^th Annual Gator DIRT Nationals featuring the Lucas Oil Southern States Midget Series, Lucas Oil Southern States 600 Series, Sharp Mini Late Models and the Gulf Coast Sling Shots.

March 8                 Open Practice 6-9 p.m.

March 9                 Gator Dirt Nationals Night 1 3-11 p.m.

March 10              Gator Dirt Nationals Night 2 3-11 p.m.

 

2^nd Annual Spring Break Bash

March 15              Open Practice 6-10 p.m.

March 16 & 17  Two day show featuring Southern All Star Super Late Models, Pure Stock, Street Stock,

Modifieds, Vintage, 602 Sportsman and Stingers. Racing starts at 6 p.m. each night

 

March 23              Open Practice 6-10 p.m.

March 24              Regular Season Opener (PS, SS, VIN, SP, ST, MOD)

 

ST – Stinger, PS – Pure Stock, SS – NeSmith Street Stock, VIN – Vintage, MOD – UMP Open Wheel Modified, SP – Sportsman 602 Late Model, LM – NeSmith 604 Crate Late Model, MC – Motorcycles, SL – Slingshots, NPCS – NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series, BAM – Bay Area Modifieds, SAS – Southern All Stars