The American Sprint Car Series National Tour is back in Memphis for the first time in three years this weekend for a one-of-a-kind Sprint Car racing spectacle.
The Series will join forces with the ASCS Hurricane Area Super Sprints and the United Sprint Car Series for 360 Sprint Car racing’s newest premier event, the World Short Track Challenge at Riverside International Speedway.
The race will pay show-up points only for the National Tour, meaning teams will be gunning solely for Saturday night’s $10,000 top prize. All teams who start Saturday’s main event will make at least $1,000, which puts the World Short Track Challenge in a tie with the 360 Knoxville Nationals for the largest starting payout on the National Tour schedule. Friday’s preliminary action will conclude with a $2,000-to-win, $200-to-start Feature.
Tickets will be available at the track on race day. Can’t make it? Catch every lap live on DIRTVision.
Here are the top storylines entering the weekend:
WHAT A FIELD: With the season winding down and a huge purse up for grabs, teams from across the nation are planning to make the trip to “The Ditch” to chase the checkered flag.
The field of National Tour regulars will be headlined by championship contenders Seth Bergman and Sam Hafertepe Jr., who enter the weekend as the only Series full-timers with Riverside victories to their name. Bergman won with the National Tour in Memphis in 2012 and 2015, while Hafertepe did the same in 2014.
More than 50 names are on the pre-entry list for the event, but there are none bigger than three-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion Sammy Swindell. The 68-year-old Sprint Car legend is making his first National Tour start since the 2023 360 Knoxville Nationals, but if his wins in local action at Riverside on Aug. 24 and with the USCS at Buckshot Speedway on Aug. 31 are anything to go by, “Slammin’ Sammy” could be a contender for his first Series win in six years.
Other invaders to keep an eye on include four-time National Tour champion and current USCS points leader Terry Gray, North Dakota standout Tim Estenson and eight-time National Tour winner Derek Hagar.
RUN OF SHOW: The tri-sanctioned event will feature a format unlike anything else on the schedule leading up to the main event on Saturday.
After Hot Laps on Friday, cars will be divided into two groups for Qualifying, which will set the lineups for the Heat Races and pay points that will determine lineups later in the night. The top four qualifiers in each Heat Race will be inverted, and passing points will be paid out. The top 14 drivers in combined Qualifying points and Heat Race passing points will be locked into the Feature, while everyone else will have to race their way through a B-Main, C-Main or D-Main.
The top six finishers in the D-Main will transfer to the C-Main, the top six from the C-Main will move on to the B-Main, and the top six from the B-Main will start at the tail of the 25-lap Feature to conclude Friday’s program.
No Qualifying will be held on Saturday; instead, combined points from Qualifying, Heat Races and preliminary Mains on Friday along with a dice roll invert will set the starting lineups for Heat Races on Saturday, which will again pay passing points. After Saturday’s Heat Races, the top 12 in points from both nights will be locked into the Feature, while the rest of the field will be placed into a D-Main, C-Main or B-Main. Those races will see the top six finishers transfer in the same fashion as on Friday night.
Before the main event, a Dash will be held with the top two drivers in Friday’s points along with the top four from Saturday to set the first three rows of the Feature lineup. Once all preliminary action is complete, the weekend will wrap up with a 40-lap, $10,000-to-win Feature.
FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME: The win column was dominated by two familiar names in the first half of the year, with Bergman and Hafertepe combining to win 14 of the first 18 races of the National Tour season. The tide has shifted in the opposite direction since then, as neither driver has found Victory Lane in the last six races on tour.
Instead, the Series has seen five different winners in those six races. It was the first National Tour win of the season for all five drivers, and in the case of Rookie of the Year contender Hank Davis, his pair of wins at Electric City Speedway were the first and second of his career.
One of the leading candidates to continue the streak of first-time winners in 2024 is the No. 95 of Matt Covington. The 19-time National Tour winner entered the year fresh off a three-win season a year ago, but it has now been more than a year since his most recent score on Aug. 25, 2023 at Lakeside Speedway. While he hasn’t broken through yet, he has been in contention to do so all year, as he sits third in the standings on the heels of seven podiums and an average finish of 6.2.
The list of potential winners also includes Zach Blurton, who has picked up two podiums and five top 10s in the last nine races, as well as Andrew Deal, who made an impressive 22nd-to-ninth charge last time out at Arrowhead Speedway to remain second in the Rookie of the Year chase.
WELCOME HOME: No one will have a shorter drive to the track this weekend than Memphis’s own Landon Britt.
The driver of the No. 10 is another name on the list of those searching for their first National Tour victory of 2024. Britt enters Riverside amid a challenging stretch over the past few weeks, as he has only finished in the top 10 twice in the last six races.
While he has never won in 360 Sprint Car competition at his home track, his recent history there suggests it could be the place for a turnaround. Britt has raced at Riverside twice so far in 2024, coming home 10th in weekly action on May 11 and seventh with the USCS on May 25.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27-28, at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, AR
AROUND THE TURN:
The American Sprint Car Series National Tour will make its only stops of the year in Missouri and Kentucky, with Benton Speedway set for Friday, Oct. 11, before Paducah International Raceway on Saturday, Oct. 12.
CURRENT POINT STANDINGS (TOP 10):
- Seth Bergman (3045 points)
- Sam Hafertepe Jr. (-111)
- Matt Covington (-240)
- Hank Davis (-372)
- Andrew Deal (-506)
- Jason Martin (-526)
- Landon Britt (-577)
- Zach Blurton (-617)
- Kyler Johnson (-629)
- Terry Easum (-732)
FEATURE WINNERS (11):
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 9
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 5
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 2
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 1
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 1
QUICK TIME AWARDS (12):
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 11
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 1
Josh McCord – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Alex Sewell – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 1
Tyler Groenendyk – Oskaloosa, IA – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
HEAT RACE WINS (40):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 7
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 6
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 6
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 6
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 5
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 4
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 3
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 3
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 3
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 2
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 2
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 2
Lane Whittington – Denham Springs, LA – 1
Koty Adams – Haughton, LA – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 1
Cody Gardner – Benton, AR – 1
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Matt Juhl – Tea, SD – 1
Garet Williamson – Columbia, MO – 1
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 1
Hunter Schuerenberg – Sikeston, MO – 1
Tanner Holmes – Jacksonville, OR – 1
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Tyler Groenendyk – Oskaloosa, IA – 1
Parker Price-Miller – Kokomo, IN – 1
Colton Hardy – Phoenix, AZ – 1
Tanner Thorson – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Brian Brown – Hugginsville, MO – 1
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Joe Perry – Billings, MT – 1
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 1
Chris Martin – Ankeny, IA – 1
Garrett Benson – Concordia, MO – 1
DASH APPEARANCES (39):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 20
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 19
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 12
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 12
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 8
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 5
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 5
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 5
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 4
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 4
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 3
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 3
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 2
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 2
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Garrett Benson – Concordia, MO – 2
Lane Whittington – Denham Springs, LA – 1
Koty Adams – Haughton, LA – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 1
Elijah Gile – Phoenix, AZ – 1
Cody Gardner – Benton, AR – 1
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Harli White – Lindsay, OK – 1
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 1
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
DJ Brink – Rapid City, SD – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Joe Perry – Billings, MT – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chris Martin – Ankeny, IA – 1
Riley Goodno – Knoxville, IA – 1
LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (15):
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 2
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 1
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 1
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 1
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chase Porter – St. Joseph, MO – 1
Kerry Madsen – Knoxville, IA – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Rich Bailey – Helena, MT – 1
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 1
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 1
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 1
Brandon Anderson – Glenpool, OK – 1
Noah Harris – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
PODIUM FINISHERS (24):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 16
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 14
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 7
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 7
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 2
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 2
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 2
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 2
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 2
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 2
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
Tanner Conn – Oklahoma City, OK – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 1
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Kade Higday – Knoxville, IA – 1
Cory Eliason – Visalia, CA – 1
Brian Brown – Higginsville, MO – 1
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 1
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
TOP 10 FINISHERS (64):
Seth Bergman – Snohomish, WA – 20
Matt Covington – Glenpool, OK – 19
Sam Hafertepe Jr. – Sunnyvale, TX – 16
Jason Martin – Liberal, KS – 15
Hank Davis – Sand Springs, OK – 14
Landon Britt – Memphis, TN – 12
Andrew Deal – Caney, KS – 12
Kyler Johnson – Quinter, KS – 8
Jordon Mallett – Greenbrier, AR – 8
Zach Blurton – Quinter, KS – 7
Blake Hahn – Sapulpa, OK – 6
Austyn Gossel – Windsor, CO – 5
Rees Moran – Tulsa, OK – 4
Brandon Anderson – Glenpool, OK – 4
Harli White – Lindsay, OK – 4
Kelly Miller – Stirling, AB – 4
Sean McClelland – Tulsa, OK – 4
Kyle Clark – Sapulpa, OK – 3
Whit Gastineau – Moore, OK – 3
Jake Bubak – Arvada, CO – 3
Terry Easum – Broken Arrow, OK – 3
Terry McCarl – Altoona, IA – 3
Brady Baker – Alexander, AR – 3
Alex Sewell – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Tyler Courtney – Indianapolis, IN – 2
Emerson Axsom – Franklin, IN – 2
Austin McCarl – Altoona, IA – 2
Brian Brown – Higginsville, MO – 2
Cory Eliason – Visalia, CA – 2
Tasker Phillips – Pleasantville, IA – 2
Jamie Ball – Knoxville, IA – 2
Kaleb Johnson – Sioux Falls, SD – 2
Jeremy Campbell – Wichita, KS – 2
Skylar Gee – Leduc, AB – 2
Riley Goodno – Knoxville, IA – 2
Roger Crockett – Broken Arrow, OK – 2
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 2
Channin Tankersley – Arlington, TX – 1
Tanner Conn – Oklahoma City, OK – 1
Brekton Crouch – Lubbock, TX – 1
Jeremy Huish – Jetmore, KS – 1
Ryder Laplante – Calera, OK – 1
Bradley Fezard – Bonnerdale, AR – 1
Fred Mattox – Drumright, OK – 1
Dale Howard – Byhalia, MS – 1
Brad Bowden – Hernando, MS – 1
Michael Day – Farmersville, TX – 1
Chase Randall – Waco, TX – 1
Kade Higday – Knoxville, IA – 1
Justin Peck – Monrovia, IN – 1
Gunner Ramey – Sedalia, MO – 1
Miles Paulus – Marshall, MO – 1
Kasey Kahne – Enumclaw, WA – 1
Ryan Giles – Grimes, IA – 1
Kerry Madsen – Knoxville, IA – 1
Alex Hill – Six Nations, ON – 1
Cole Macedo – Lemoore, CA – 1
DJ Brink – Rapid City, SD – 1
Blayne Brink – Gillette, WY – 1
Phil Dietz – Laurel, MT – 1
Kory Wermling – Great Falls, MT – 1
Aaron Reutzel – Clute, TX – 1
Chris Martin – Ankeny, IA – 1
Emilio Hoover – Broken Arrow, OK – 1
2024 AMERICAN SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE & WINNERS:
Friday, Apr. 19 / Super Bee Speedway / Chatham, LA / Seth Bergman (1)
Friday, May 10 / Red Dirt Raceway / Meeker, OK / Terry Easum (1)
Friday, May 31 / Rush County Speedway / La Crosse, KS / Seth Bergman (2)
Saturday, June 1 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (1)
Tuesday, June 11 / Texarkana 67 Speedway / Texarkana, AR / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (2)
Thursday, June 13 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3)
Friday, June 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Seth Bergman (3)
Saturday, June 15 / Tri-State Speedway / Pocola, OK / Seth Bergman (4)
Saturday, June 22 / Batesville Motor Speedway / Locust Grove, AR / Jordon Mallett (1)
Friday, June 28 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (4)
Friday, July 19 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (5)
Saturday, July 20 / 81 Speedway / Wichita, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (6)
Thursday, Aug. 1 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Kaleb Johnson (1)
Friday, Aug. 2 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (7)
Saturday, Aug. 3 / Knoxville Raceway / Knoxville, IA / Tyler Courtney (1)
Friday, Aug. 16 / Dodge City Raceway Park / Dodge City, KS / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (8)
Saturday, Aug. 17 / Lincoln County Raceway / North Platte, NE / Sam Hafertepe Jr. (9)
Friday, Aug. 23 / Big Sky Speedway / Shepherd, MT / Seth Bergman (5)
Saturday, Aug. 24 / Big Sky Speedway / Shepherd, MT / Jake Bubak (1)
Friday, Aug. 30 / Electric City Speedway / Black Eagle, MT / Hank Davis (1)
Saturday, Aug. 31 / Electric City Speedway / Black Eagle, MT / Hank Davis (2)
Tuesday, Sept. 10 / Clay County Fair Speedway / Spencer, IA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
Friday, Sept. 13 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Roger Crockett (1)
Saturday, Sept. 14 / Arrowhead Speedway / Colcord, OK / Jason Martin (1)
Friday, Sept. 27 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR
Saturday, Sept. 28 / Riverside International Speedway / West Memphis, AR
Friday, Oct. 11 / Benton Speedway / Benton, MO
Saturday, Oct. 12 / Paducah International Raceway / Paducah, KY
Friday, Oct. 25 / RPM Speedway / Crandall, TX
Saturday, Oct. 26 / RPM Speedway / Crandall, TX
Thursday, Nov. 14 / Tulsa Speedway / Tulsa, OK
Friday, Nov. 15 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK
Saturday, Nov. 16 / Creek County Speedway / Sapulpa, OK
