SOPHIA, N.C. – Officials from the PRA Tours and the reborn Southern Modified Auto Racing Teams have formed a partnership that combines the two tours for the remainder of the season.
SMART Presented By PRA Tours will join together for the first of at least three races this season beginning with the 55th Anniversary Night At The Races on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Caraway Speedway.
The SMART tour-type modifieds will compete in a two segment, 99-lap event that will pay the top three runners at the lap 30 break and then race the final 69 laps to complete the race. Sponsors are currently coming on board, including Smart Chevrolet in Madison, N.C., to sponsor the Restart Zone and Citrusafe Cleaners, who will be sponsoring the restart cone. Joining the SMART Mods at Caraway will be the PRA Tours’ 602 Modifieds and 602 Super Limiteds, along with the Limited/Challengers, Mini Stocks and U-Cars.
“We are really glad to announce this partnership with all the SMART Modified drivers and teams,” said PRA Tours President and Caraway Speedway owner, Darren Hackett. “Caraway Speedway hosted more events with the original SMART series than any other track and we can’t think of a better place to begin this new relationship.”
In addition to the Aug. 29 date at Caraway Speedway, SMART Presented By PRA Tours will also be in action on Saturday, Oct. 10, along with the PRA Super Late Models at Hickory Motor Speedway. Then on Saturday, Oct. 24, SMART Presented By PRA Tours will be in action with additional PRA Tours divisions at the Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C.
Three dates have already been confirmed for 2021 and additional dates could be added this year. Many SMART Tour-Type Modified teams will also be a part of the 17th Annual North-South Shootout at Hickory Motor Speedway on Nov. 5-7, along with the PRA Super Late Models and more.
“SMART was successful years ago because the racers had a voice,” said SMART representative Chris Williams, speaking of the original series which held races from 1989-2004. “The drivers will now have more control over their own destinies. This group of teams want to race and to resurrect Modified racing in the south we needed to partner with Darren Hackett, Caraway Speedway, and the PRA Tours.”
The next event at Caraway Speedway will be the Hot Summer Clash this Saturday night, Aug. 22, featuring the PRA Tours 602 Modifieds and 602 Super Limiteds, along with Limited/Challengers, Mini Stocks, BGS Sportsman and U-Cars.