CONCORD, N.C. — Saturday served up a busy day of on-track action as the 10th World Short Track Championship got underway at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, culminating with a lone DIRTVision SEHA Hornet Showdown feature.
Hot Lap/Qualifying sessions for nearly 500 entries, spread across 10 divisions, kicked things off and set the stage for Heat Races and the Hornet Showdown feature.
Drivers scratched and clawed all evening for coveted transfers from the heats directly to Sunday’s features.
Running up to the very last minute of the track’s curfew, the event was able to fit in one Hornet Showdown Feature, pushing the remaining three to Sunday. On-track action will resume at noon on Sunday, starting with Last Chance Showdowns before feature action for all 10 divisions.
Gage McManus claimed the title as the first driver to visit victory lane during the 10th World Short Track Championship Saturday night by claiming his first DIRTVision Hornet win at the event.
The Lancaster, S.C., driver made his first two starts at the track last year, finishing third and seventh, respectively. But this time, his efforts went uncontested.
McManus started on the pole of the 15-lap feature and wasted no time distancing himself from the field. Helping his case, the three cars behind him of Bryson Harper, Willie Fowler, and Tony Hill couldn’t get away from each other as they dueled for positions second through fourth.
Three red flag conditions hindered the pace of the race with two cars rolling over and one catching fire. However, nothing thwarted McManus’ drive to his first World Short Track Championship win. Harper finished second and Fowler rounded out the podium.
