NICHOLS, S.C. – The South of the Border Showdown for the Northeast DIRTcar Sportsman at South Carolina’s Lake View Motor Speedway is shaping up to be a historic event.
Many of the top stars from New York State have already entered for the event and, with help of many sponsors, prize money for the event has increased to more than $25,000.
The event was conceived in August and announced in November, but since then the South of the Border Showdown has taken off to be a must-see event at the ultra-modern dirt oval in the heart of South Carolina.
“We are just extremely excited on how the event has been received so far and just can’t wait to January 28-30,” noted track promoter Scott Tripp. “Tim (Clemons) and I always wanted to see the DIRTcar style cars from the Northeast at our track and the Sportsman teams have been responding tremendously.
“We already had a good purse set up for the teams coming down but now thanks to so many great sponsors we have added over $3,000 to the cash payout,” Tripp noted regarding the extra funding. “We sold all the laps on both nights and have come up with a bunch of other awards that will spread out the prize money to so many. We still have a little over three weeks to go and we will keep adding to the event.”
While the events pay $2,000 to win and $150 to start on Friday and $3,000 to win and $200 to start on Saturday, other bonuses have added to the overall pot.
Glen Ridge Motorsports Park/West End Towing and Auto Repair has sponsored every lap on Friday while Devil’s Bowl Speedway/Bruno’s Towing have sponsored all the laps on Saturday.
The Northeast Paving and Sealcoat Heats will pay $50 to win for each heat, the ONYX Industries Fast Time will award $100 to the overall fast time in time trials each night.
Earl Ramey Race Engines will offer $50 to win, $25 for second in all Last Chance Showdowns, with Vertex Property Management offering each hard charger $100.
Signworks Fleet Graphic Services will offer $100 each night to the Hard Luck driver with #racelifeforreal giving $50 to each feature event’s halfway leader. Hoosier Tires has also come aboard to give away a free tire each night.
A top-flight group of competitors have already filed their entries for the event with many-time DIRTcar Sportsman champion Kevin Root leading the way.
He will have many challengers looking for the top prize money being offered, including Andrew Buff, Zach Sobotka, Robert Delormier, Nick Guererri, Brandon Carvey, Brendan Gibbons, Kevin Ridley, Jeff Prentice, Robert Gage, Seth Zacharias and others.
Fans can expect nearly 30 of these potent machines to invade Lake View.
Competitors are remined that if they enter by Jan. 15, the drivers’ entry for the Thursday night practice session will be free.
It all begins on Thursday night, Jan. 28 with an open practice session, followed by a meet and greet bonfire on the track grounds. Friday night will showcase a 30-lap feature paying $2,000 to win, with Saturday’s finale going 51 laps and paying $3,000 to win.