DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- At first glance it seems a very simple idea, but often the simple ideas are the ones that work the best. And at ASA Member Track 311 Speedway in Madison, N.C., the Twin 25 races are really revving up the interest among the fans and racers.
These races are held monthly on the half-mile clay oval, and exclusively for the Super Late Model division. These cars run a 25-lap shootout with a $2500-to-win purse. After the fans pulse rate comes back to regular levels, 311 Speedway’s Bobby Johns inverts the top 10 cars and sends them out for another 25-lap sprint.
“People really like the Twin 25 races,” said Bobby Johns, 311 Speedway promoter/owner. “I have had a number of fans come up and tell me that it is like watching two different races.”
One noteworthy participant in the April 7 Twin 25’s was Austin Dillon, grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress and son of former NASCAR Busch Series driver Mike Dillon. Making this even more of an event, Dillon ran the number 3 on the side of his car, painted black naturally. Although Dale Earnhardt is the one who made this particular number famous, Childress first used it when he was a driver and Dillon chose to use his grandfather’s number on his car.
“It is pretty intimidating,” Dillon told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an interview regarding his choice to race as car number 3. “A lot of people talk to me about it and ask me if I’m going to NASCAR in the 3. A lot of people say I should.”
Though Johns has no say in Dillon’s future, he recognizes the 16-year old as a, “Good boy. He is not cocky or smart-mouthed. He is very polite and I enjoy having him here at the racetrack.”
Another positive change for 311 Speedway this season has been the addition of the Junior U-Cars. This new division was designed to bring more kids into the sport at a level that is affordable.
“The Go-Karts have become very expensive and this new Junior U-Car division is a way to help keep kids in the sport,” explained Johns. “One guy said that he was able to build two Junior U-Cars with fuel cells for less than it was costing him just for a Go-Kart engine.”
“We have no problems with the kids racing here. They get on and off the track quickly, and race clean. There is not a lot of wrecking going on and the fans love to watch these kids,” said Johns. In fact, the support of the fans for the Junior U-Cars even took Johns by surprise.
“Actually, it surprised the fool out of me,” he admitted. “We usually run them after the Late Models and people would normally start heading home after that race. Now the stands are full. People are staying just to see the kids run.”
Thinking of ways to get his community more involved, Johns mentioned an idea he has been toying around with which is based off the successful Junior U-Cars.
“I would like to start getting the youth and their schools more involved. I was thinking about starting a class where the high school coach or quarterback would run the team colors and part of the race purse would go back to the school as a donation.”
In addition to the Junior U-Cars, the regular Saturday night program at 311 Speedway features Late Models, Stock Fours, Super Street, Domestic U-Cars and Hobby Stocks. The schedule, which began in March, runs through October 27 and can be found on www.New311Speedway.com along with ticket information, directions and results from past races.
A change in the rules for the Stock Fours has, according to Johns, really increased the level of interest in the class. In 2007 they weight limit was reduced to 2300 pounds for vehicle and driver combined, which has closed the gap considerably.
“Since changing the rules we have had cars coming out of the woodwork,” Johns said. “Some guys had cars that were sitting for 10 years and they are now bringing them to the racetrack.”
Johns is not afraid to change the rules, even mid-season, to keep a fair and level playing field for all the competitors. This makes him somewhat unique in the short track world, but he feels that this approach is better for the fans and drivers. Just like adding ASA Member Track to his lineup.
“We are always trying to things a little here and there,” Johns said. “The goal is to always make the class more competitive so that one guy just doesn’t always seem to run away from the rest of the field. That makes the racing more exciting for the fans, and if all the drivers feel that they have a legitimate chance of doing well or winning then they are happier too.”
“I give Bobby Johns a lot of credit for what his is doing at 311 Speedway,” said Dennis Huth, president of the ASA Member Track, Regional and National programs. “He is trying some innovative new ideas that are working well, such as the Twin 25 races and adding the Junior U-Cars. Without trying new and fresh ideas a short track will become stagnant and wither in the community. Johns represents what we feel is a vital part of the ASA Member Track program – the willingness to try fresh thoughts and share those with his fellow promoters. I am quite pleased that Johns and his progressive ideas are an integral part of the ASA Member Track program.”
As a new Level II partner with the ASA Member Track program, 311 Speedway joins a network of racetracks across the country dedicated to working together to improve the state of weekly racing for both fans and competitors.
During the 2007 season the 311 Speedway competitors will be covered by the renowned ASA participant accident insurance. The ASA insurance program, always noted for its excellence, has been further enhanced by an expanded ASA-exclusive $500,000 participant accident medical program. ASA Member Track operators are able to purchase general and excess liability, automobile, , workers compensation and health insurance directly from TOPIC Motorsports Insurance TMI.
To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based ASA Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
