ABERDEEN, Ala. — The Southern Thunder Series has released its working schedule for the upcoming season, which features nine events at six different tracks in Mississippi and Alabama.
The Southern Thunder Series is for dirt late models powered by the economical Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine and an affordable shock package. Six of the nine races will be $1,200-to-win, $75-to-start races. Those races will include the season opener on March 4 as a part of the Battle of the States Races at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, Miss.
Other $1,200-to-win, $75-to-start events will be held at The Bullring at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway on April 1, Tri-County (Ala.) Speedway on May 6 and September 9, and Buckshot (Ala.) Speedway on June 10 and August 19. There will be one $2,000-to-win, $75-to-start on July 8 at Talladega (Ala.) Short Track.
Magnolia Motor Speedway in Mississippi will host a pair of two-day events with the 50-lap, $3,000-to-win Southern Thunder Series World 602 Championship Race on May 27 and May 28. Qualifying and heat races will be held on May 27, while the main event will follow on May 28.
The Cotton Pickin’ 100 weekend at Magnolia Motor Speedway on September 22 and 23 will also include a two-day show for the Southern Thunder Series with extra laps and extra cash to be announced.
Southern Thunder Series officials are still working to secure more dates at other venues for the 2023 season.
Motorsports businessmen Mike Boland of Boland Performance in Cuba, Ala., and Robert Brown of Brown Engineering Racing Engines in Aberdeen, Miss., are the founders of the Southern Thunder Series. Their goal is to give racers and tracks an economical option to make a little extra money in a tough economy. There will also be a proposed season points fund for the Southern Thunder Series.
“The 602 Late Model is now the affordable way to go dirt late model racing, and the goal of the Southern Thunder Series is to give entry level late model racers an opportunity to travel to different tracks to compete without having to spend a lot of money to do so,” Boland said. “We intend to keep the purses low because big purses bring in big spenders and more experienced racers. We also want to make these races affordable to track owners in a tough economy.”
The engines that will power the Southern Thunder Series Dirt Late Models are the affordable all-steel 350 horsepower Chevrolet Performance 602 “Crate” Engines that are built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. The Southern Thunder Series will also utilize an affordable shock rule with a claim option.
SOUTHERN THUNDER SERIES WORKING SCHEDULE
DATE TRACK LAPS WIN/START $
March 4 Whynot Motorsports Park, Meridian, MS 25 $1,200/$75
April 1 Columbus Speedway, Columbus, MS 25 $1,200/$75
May 6 Tri County Speedway, Flomaton, AL 25 $1,200/$75
May 27 Magnolia Motor Speedway, Columbus, MS Qual/Heats $100/$400/$50
May 28 Magnolia Motor Speedway, Columbus, MS 50 $3,000/$300
June 10 Buckshot Speedway, Clanton, AL 25 $1,200/$75
July 8 Talladega Short Track, Eastaboga, AL 25 $2,000/$75
August 19 Buckshot Speedway, Clanton, AL 25 $1,200/$75
September 9 Tri-County Speedway, Flomaton, AL 25 $1,200/$75
September 22 Magnolia Motor Speedway, Columbus, MS Qual/Heats TBA
September 23 Magnolia Motor Speedway, Columbus, MS TBA TBA