6/2/2021
Crate Racin' USA Dirt Late Model Series
Collins Looks Forward to Senoia Stop
Collins Looks Forward to Senoia Stop
EASTABOGA, Ala. — One of the raciest tracks in the Southeast is squarely in the sights of competitors on the Newsome Raceway Parts-sponsored Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series, as the 3/8-mile oval will host the touring circuit’s fifth event of an extremely busy season that will likely end up close to 25 races before it’s over in late November.
The 40-lap event scheduled June 5, 2021, will be shown as a live production on Crate Racin USA TV. It will pay $2,500 to the winner, and is expected to draw a strong field to the facility, which switched management over the winter and is now under the direction of Sonny Pollard and his family. The late Hence Pollard (Sonny’s father) built and established the oval in 1969, but a heart attack took his life in the summer of ’81, and the track was sold. The family regretted that decision, and have reestablished their involvement at the facility.
“We’re really looking forward to racing there with the new management in place, and all of the improvements that have already been planned and completed thus far by the Pollard family,” series director Adam Stewart said. “Fans have responded well and good crowds have been turning out to watch the racing, so we hope to be part of that continued growth for them, and to take steps toward building a stronger relationship with them in the future. It’s a track that races extremely well, and we believe it’ll be a great location to showcase the type of competition provided by our GM Performance Circle Track Engine-equipped Late Models.”
Tanner Collins Heads Home
Courtesy of a third-place finish in the Harvey Jones Memorial held May 29 at All-Tech Raceway in Ellisville, Fla., the touring circuit’s current points leader Jason Welshan will lead a strong group of top competitors into the facility, while Tanner Collins, who is his closest challenger in the championship chase, is a local favorite that is eagerly anticipating a return to what he considers his home oval.
“We’re definitely looking forward to going back there,” Collins said. “It’ll be nice going to a place where I probably have more laps than any other track on the circuit. Hopefully we can get a good run and move up in the points a little bit more.”
While Collins was never a serious factor in the series’ most recent event at All-Tech, and his learning curve continues to evolve in his first full season on the tour, he did manage to finish with a ninth-place finish in a 27-car field, using a patient, wait-and-see approach after starting 25th that paid off when a massive multi-car incident late in the race took out many top contenders and allowed him to post a top-10 showing.
It also moved him up in the points, and as a Rookie of the Year candidate on the popular tour, he now sits just 34 markers behind Welshan in the season-long chase for a $10,000 championship.
“We decided to run for this championship after winning one of these Crate Racin’ USA events last year at Talladega Short Track [Eastaboga, Ala.], and that has taken us to a lot of tracks that we hadn’t previously seen,” Collins said. “Prior to that, we spent just about every Saturday night at Senoia, so that gives me a lot of confidence going into this particular race weekend. That win at TST is so far the biggest win of my career, and it’s really what got us traveling.”
Weekend Schedule
Pit gates swing wide at 3 p.m., and the grandstands will open at 5 p.m. A mandatory drivers meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m., with hot laps slated to receive a green flag at 6 p.m.
Other divisions featured on the program will include Limited Late Model, Bombers, Hobby Stocks, Hot Shots, 602 Late Model Sportsman, Mini-Stocks and 602 Chargers.
The track is located at 171 Brown Rd., Senoia, Ga. 30276. More information is available on the well-kept facility’s website at www.senoiaraceway1969.com, and also on their Facebook page.
Crate Racin’ USA, whose home offices are now based at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., after the recent purchase of the facility by Adam Stewart and David Miller, is located at www.crateracinusa.com, and the series can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
More About Crate Racin’ USA
The economical Chevrolet Performance 602 and 604 Circle Track Engine is utilized by competitors in the various divisions presented by Crate Racin’ USA. It’s in stock and available for free, next-day delivery from Newsome Raceway Parts in Hartsville, S.C.
Each engine is built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. To place an order, call 1-877-497-3624.
For more information and rules, visit the organization’s website at www.crateracinusa.com, or follow our extensive social media programs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Newsome Raceway Parts, a division of Raceway Chevrolet in Hartsville, S.C., is the title sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. E-Z-GO Golf Carts is the title sponsor of the newly-established E-Z-GO $100,000+ Challenge.
Chevrolet Performance is an official sponsor of the organization, along with Advanced Laser & Machine, Cruise with the Champions, Hoosier Racing Tire, KRC Power Steering, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, My Race Pass, VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants and Willy’s Carburetors.
Official chassis sponsors include Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis and CVR Race Cars.
Article Credit: Brian McLeod
