Lonnie Wheatley, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 22, 2022) \u2013 The countdown is well into single-digits as I-30 Speedway\u2019s 35th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires is just one week away.<\/p>\n
And it\u2019s already an impressive slew of entries that are set to gather for the $15,041-to-win Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour event that takes place atop the high-banked, quarter-mile clay oval next weekend.<\/p>\n
The 35th STN weekend kicks off Thursday night, September 29, with the ASCS Mid-South sanctioned 15th Annual \u201cRalph Henson Tribute\u201d that offers up a $5,646 winner\u2019s share. The 2022 I-30 Speedway track champion will be determined that night as well and punch a free pass into Saturday\u2019s STN finale if needed.<\/p>\n
The STN officially gets under way on Friday, September 30, with preliminary action that culminates with $1,500-to-win \u201cTwin 20s\u201d before going into the Saturday, October 1, STN finale that wraps up with a $15,041-to-win, $1,100-to-start championship finale.<\/p>\n
Feature money for just the two STN nights of action is approaching $70,000 at a minimum of $69,891.<\/p>\n
Three past event winners are already included among the entries including Blake Hahn, Tim Crawley and Wayne Johnson.<\/p>\n
Reigning Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour champion Hahn of Sapulpa, OK, has topped three of the last four editions of the STN including last year\u2019s edition.<\/p>\n
Tim Crawley, who leads the way by far in career STN championship feature starts at 24 (Gary Wright is next at 18), looks to add another win to his triumph in 1998 as he enters the closing stretch of his retirement season. Crawley has raced into the last six STN finales.<\/p>\n
Coming off a win in the Hockett\/McMillin Memorial, Oklahoma City\u2019s Wayne Johnson tries for a second STN triumph as well after picking up the win in 1997. Johnson\u2019s last top-five STN run was a fourth-place finish in 2014.<\/p>\n
Several other top contenders are among the current entries include current I-30 Speedway points leader Derek Hagar, who posted back-to-back STN prelim wins in 2019 and 2020, reigning Knoxville 360 Nationals champion Aaron Reutzel, past STN podium finishers Howard Moore (3rd in 2018) and Dale Howard (2nd in 1999) along with other past STN championship finale starters Marshall Skinner (11 starts) and Matt Covington (4).<\/p>\n
Pre-entries submitted by Tuesday, September 27, are $100 and include a free two-day driver pit pass. Entries after September 27 are $100 with no pit pass included. The entry form is available at https:\/\/www.i-30speedway.com\/downloads\/get.aspx?i=760397.<\/p>\n
After going back-to-back in 2018 and 2019, Hahn made a lap 39 move past Jordon Mallett and then beat defending STN champ Sam Hafertepe, Jr., to the stripe for his third STN crown in 2021.<\/p>\n
Mallett and Hafertepe, Jr., topped the preliminary \u201cTwin 20\u2019s\u201d on Friday night to set the stage for Saturday\u2019s finale.<\/p>\n
Hahn\u2019s triumph matched Steve Kinser\u2019s three STN titles in the early years of the event while Hall of Famers Sammy Swindell and Gary Wright lead the way with five and four victories, respectively.<\/p>\n
Other drivers with multiple STN wins include Paul McMahan and Tony Bruce, Jr., with single wins posted by the likes of Hafertepe, Jr., NASCAR star Christopher Bell, reigning World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet, Jason Meyers, Jason Johnson, Tim Montgomery, Jason Sides, Mike Ward, Tim Crawley, Wayne Johnson, Pete Butler, Terry Gray and John Gerloff.<\/p>\n
The Pertinent Info:<\/p>\n
The What: 35th Annual COMP Cams Short Track Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires.<\/p>\n
The Where: I-30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR). I-30 Speedway is located seven miles southwest of Little Rock off I-30 Exit 126 (Alexander Road).<\/p>\n
The When: September 29 through October 1, 2022.<\/p>\n
Thursday, September 29 – $5,646-to-win ASCS Mid-South sanctioned \u201c15th Annual Ralph Henson Tribute<\/p>\n
Friday, September 30 \u2013 35th Annual Short Track preliminary that culminates with $1,500-to-win \u201cTwin 20\u2019s\u201d with top two from each feature locking into the STN finale.<\/p>\n
Saturday, October 1 \u2013 35th Annual Short Track Nationals championship finale.<\/p>\n
The Format: Friday\u2019s preliminary event will be contested under a derivative of the All Star Circuit of Champions format, with group qualifying establishing heat race lineups with an invert of four in each heat race. The Friday preliminary will conclude with \u201cTwin 20\u2019s\u201d, a pair of $1,500-to-win 20-lap \u201cA\u201d Main events.<\/p>\n
The top two from each of the \u201cTwin 20\u2019s\u201d will be locked into Saturday night\u2019s \u201cDash for Cash\u201d and the championship main event.<\/p>\n
Friday events points accumulated will be carried over to Saturday night, with another set of heats utilizing passing points added to the Friday total to set the championship feature lineups. The top two in combined points from Friday night and the Saturday heat races with join Friday\u2019s four lock-ins in the Pack Building Materials \u201cDash for Cash\u201d. The next eight in points will occupy STN championship feature positions 7-14 with the balance of the field in \u201cB\u201d and \u201cC\u201d Mains. Three will transfer from both \u201cB\u201d Mains to set the 20-car feature field. The 21st position is reserved for this year\u2019s I-30 Speedway track champion if necessary.<\/p>\n
The Feature Purse:<\/p>\n
October 1, STN Finale: 1st – $15,041, 2nd – $7,500, 3rd – $5,000, 4th – $2,500, 5th – $2,000, 6th – $1,700, 7th – $1,600, 8th – $1,500, 9th – $1,450, 10th – $1,400, 11th – $1,350, 12th – $1,300, 13th – $1,200, 14th – $1,150, 15th – $1,100, 16th – $1,100, 17th- $1,100, 18th – $1,100, 19th – $1,100, 20th – $1,100.<\/p>\n
September 30 STN Preliminary \u201cTwin 20\u2019s\u201d: 1st – $1,500, 2nd – $750, 3rd – $650, 4th – $625, 5th – $600, 6th – $550, 7th – $525, 8th – $500, 9th – $450, 10th – $400, 11th – $350, 12th – $325, 13th – $300, 14th – $275, 15th – $250, 16th – $250, 17th – $250, 18th – $250, 19th – $250, 20th – $250.<\/p>\n
The Past Winners:<\/p>\n
2021-Blake Hahn<\/p>\n
2020\u2013Sam Hafertepe, Jr.<\/p>\n
2019-Blake Hahn<\/p>\n
2018-Blake Hahn<\/p>\n
2017-Sammy Swindell<\/p>\n
2016-Sammy Swindell<\/p>\n
2015-Rained Out<\/p>\n
2014-Christopher Bell<\/p>\n
2013-Sammy Swindell<\/p>\n
2012-Paul McMahan<\/p>\n
2011-Sammy Swindell<\/p>\n
2010-Brad Sweet<\/p>\n
2009-Tony Bruce, Jr.<\/p>\n
2008-Tony Bruce, Jr.<\/p>\n
2007-Jason Meyers<\/p>\n
2006-Jason Johnson<\/p>\n
2005-Tim Montgomery<\/p>\n
2004-Gary Wright<\/p>\n
2003-Gary Wright<\/p>\n
2002-Paul McMahan<\/p>\n
2001-Jason Sides<\/p>\n
2000-Mike Ward<\/p>\n
1999-Gary Wright<\/p>\n
1998-Tim Crawley<\/p>\n
1997-Wayne Johnson<\/p>\n
1996-Pete Butler<\/p>\n
1995-Gary Wright<\/p>\n
1994-Terry Gray<\/p>\n
1993-John Gerloff<\/p>\n
1992-Rained Out<\/p>\n
1991-Steve Kinser<\/p>\n
1990-Sammy Swindell<\/p>\n
1989-Steve Kinser<\/p>\n
1988-Steve Kinser<\/p>\n
The Tickets: Advance two-day tickets are $45.<\/p>\n
Day of show prices are $20 on Friday and $30 on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Children under 12 are admitted free on both nights.<\/p>\n
To order tickets or for more information, check online at https:\/\/i-30speedway.com\/short-track-nationals\/ or call the track at 501-455-4567.<\/p>\n
Pit passes are $40 on both Friday and Saturday. Driver pit pass for Friday and Saturday is included in the $100 entry fee if submitted by the deadline.<\/p>\n
The Broadcast: If you can\u2019t make it to the STN to catch all the breathtaking action in person, no need to fret as you can catch it all live online at www.floracing.com.<\/p>\n
For more information regarding I-30 Speedway\u2019s Short Track Nationals, check at www.i-30speedway.com or call the track at 501-455-4567.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"