411 in Tn, asphalt back to dirt in 07

kelloggs5TLfan

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CARTERSVILLE, GA – The StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series has announced that 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN will be a part of the StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series for the 2007 season. This announcement sees the 40-year-old race track going back to the future.

The 3/8-mile high-banked oval will be returning to a dirt track beginning this season after being covered with asphalt sine 1993. 411 Motor Speedway has a rich history as a dirt track dating back to the 1960s, and track owner Doug Sopha is looking to bring that magic back to 411 Motor Speedway as a dirt track.

“I’ve been watching the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series for a couple of years now, and I really like what they’ve been doing for weekly race tracks,” Sopha said. “They are making it affordable for promoters to put on a good competitive late model show that the competitors can afford to race in and be competitive. The StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series is the fastest growing dirt late model series in the country, and what I believe to be the future of weekly racing. We’re glad to be a part of it.”

The growth Sopha talked about is attributed to the GM Performance Crate engines that power the StormPay.com Dirt Late Models. They are built and sealed at the factory to prohibit any expensive modifications to the engine. The engines are shipped to GM dealers across the nation, and are readily available to racers at an economic price.

The 400-horsepower aluminum-head 604 engine sells for right at $5,000, and the 350-horsepower 602 engine sells for right at $3,000. The dirt late models powered by the 602 engine also receives a 150 pound weight break.

The StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series competitors at 411 Motor Speedway will also have the opportunity to race for two point funds during the StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series season that runs from March 30 through September 30. Not only will they compete for a track point fund, but they will also compete for a regional point fund during that period where their best 16 finishes will be tabulated against drivers throughout the region at other WRS tracks.

“I have worked with and for Doug Sopha for many years during my career in Tennessee and Florida, and I’ve come to know him as a good businessman,” StormPay.com President of Operations and Communications Roby Helm said. “Doug has not given in to paying the highest purses, like other promoters in East Tennessee, but rather have an economic balance with a purse that will enable him to stay in business. Promoters that have given in to the higher purses have all come and gone, and Doug is still here. The economic aspect of the StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series fits what Doug has been trying to do in this business for many years.”

Sophia said the StormPay.com WRS will give 411 Motor Speedway an affordable top division with a fair purse for the racers, and give the fans an opportunity to see close competitive racing.

“With the late models using a $5,000 engine instead of a $30,000 engine, they can afford to race for a purse that won’t cause a promoter to spend more money than they are taking in,” Sopha said. “With the engines all being the same, the competitive emphasis is more on driver skill and knowledge of chassis set up instead of who can spend the most money for horsepower. That lends itself to more side-by-side racing that the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series is known for.”

The StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series will also be bringing its National Touring Series to 411 Motor Speedway on Tuesday night, July 3 for a 40-lap $2,500-to-win event.

411 Motor Speedway will begin the process of removing the asphalt from the track next week, and the rich red clay underneath will be brought back to life. Sopha said there will be a practice day held on the dirt surface on April 7, and the first night for racing action will be on Saturday night, April 14.

There will also be a rules meeting held at 411 Motor Speedway for interested competitors in all divisions on Saturday, March 24 beginning at 12 Noon. StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series officials will also be on hand at the meeting to explain the benefits of the StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series.

For more information about 411 Motor Speedway visit their web site at www.411motorspeedway.net. For more information about the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series and the StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series visit the series web site at www.stormpayracing.com.
 
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