Limited Drivers Gunning For Big Bucks In July 1 South Boston Race

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Many race fans are already looking forward to the July 1 Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston Speedway because of all the fanfare surrounding the big 200-lap Late Model Stock race.

But there’s plenty of excitement with almost as much at stake in the 100-lap Limited Sportsman Division race at South Boston’s big pre-July 4th event, which includes pre-race entertainment and postrace fireworks.

The Limited competitors will be racing for $1,500 to win, which is almost double the normal winner’s payout. In addition, there is a $300 pole award sponsored by Sparks Oil and another $50 pole award sponsored by Halifax Insurance.

And then there is the matter of the bounty on eight-time Limited winner Joey Throckmorton. He’s won every race this year and earlier this season track management placed a bounty on him, awarding a bonus to anyone who can beat him. The bounty increases by $100 every race he wins, and is now up to $300. Throckmorton can claim the bonus by dropping to the rear of the field at the start of the race and then winning himself.

He says the bonus hasn’t reached the point where he would consider taking a shot at it. “I don’t want to be fixing my race car for a couple of hundred dollars. I don’t want to tear it up if I don’t have to.”

But he admits the increased purse and pole awards have caught his attention.

“To be honest with you, I’ll go just as hard for $400 as I will for the $1,500,” said Throckmorton. “We’re there to be as competitive as we can. I’d do the same thing if we were just racing for a trophy. But a little more money sure helps your pocket.”

The bounty, and now the increased Limited purse on July 1, has caught the attention of drivers who haven’t raced at South Boston all season. Boo Boo Dalton, a former track champion at Caraway Speedway and Ace Speedway, was in the field last Saturday night and will be back gunning for Throckmorton next week. Brian Pembelton, South Boston’s 2009 Limited champion, is also expected to make a return to South Boston on July 1.

There will be big bucks on the line in the Late Model race, with $5,000 going to the winner of the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 and $3,000 in bonuses added to the purse.

The Late Model pole winner will receive a $500 award sponsored by Sparks Oil and the driver leading at the half-way break of the 200-lapper will get a $1,000 bonus. At the half-way break, three drivers from 11th and deeper in the field will receive a $500 bonus a piece in a random draw.

The Budweiser Pure Stock competitors haven’t been forgotten, either. The pole winner for their 50-lap race will receive a $100 award sponsored by Sparks Oil.

The winner of the Budweiser Pure Stock race will be awarded the Clark Daniel Memorial Trophy in honor of the long-time Pure Stock supporter who died earlier this year.

During the fan appreciation event on the track prior to the racing action, Nashville recording artist and South Boston native Crystal Day will perform patriotic songs.

After the final race of the evening, the crowd will be treated to a huge fireworks display, one of the largest in the area.

Advance tickets are $15 and will be available at the South Boston Speedway office until 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 30. Tickets at the gate on race day will be $20 for adults and $10 for youth ages 7-12. Kids ages six and under will be admitted free with a paid adult.

Grandstand gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and the first race of the night will get the green flag at 7 p.m.

SBS PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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