Drivers Fired Up For South Boston Speedway’s Open Practice Saturday

by March 14, 2017 0 comments
SOUTH BOSTON, Va. – One of the biggest days of the season for drivers at South Boston Speedway is Saturday and it isn’t even a race.

Saturday is the track’s annual preseason open practice day, with the track open to drivers in all divisions for a full day of practice. Grandstands will be open to fans from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at no charge.

South Boston’s season opens the afternoon of March 25 with the Danville Toyota NASCAR Whelen Late Model Twin 100s race card.

This Saturday’s practice session will be dedicated to getting ready for the real thing next Saturday.

“I would say the first thing we need to do Saturday is knock the rust off and shake the car down,” said Danny Willis Jr., a winner in the track’s Late Model Stock division in 2016. “We will work on finding out what we will need for this new tire and asphalt. I’m looking forward to a good day of testing and getting ready to go racing.”

The new asphalt, which has produced track-record speeds during a tire test and other practice sessions this month, is on everyone’s mind headed into the new season.

“Saturday’s open test is the best way to get acclimated to the new surface,” said Peyton Sellers, former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion and South Boston Speedway champion. “Most of the guys have waited on the new surface to season in and it all comes down to Saturday to see what type of setup your car needs and what type of gearing you’ll need for the opener.”

“The practice is going to be a good time to see where you compare to your competitors. It’s also going to be a good time to get used to being on the track, especially with the new pavement,” said Bobby McCarty, also a Late Model winner in 2016.

And while the new asphalt is foremost on drivers’ minds, there will be much more going on Saturday, Sellers said.

“It’s been a long off season for most of us and it will help sharpen up hand-eye coordination and it’s a great way for new drivers to get on the track with other cars out there and at the same time also help veterans adjust with new team members,” said Sellers.

Sellers said he believes fans can expect typical South Boston excitement in 2017, but perhaps at a little faster pace.

“South Boston will be a different beast this year, but a beast none-the-less,” said Sellers. “It has already show to have the speed to break all the records and the fans should circle their calendars to be there for opening week.”

Registration and pit gates open at 9 a.m. for Saturday’s practice session with cars on track from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

South Boston Speedway’s season opener on March 25 will feature twin 100-lap Late Model Stock races, a 50-lap Limited Sportsman Division race, a 30-lap Budweiser Pure Stock race and a 15-lap Budweiser Hornets race.

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