MARTINSVILLE, Va. – In an effort to reward more drivers for entering the three biggest NASCAR Late Model Stock Car races in Virginia, the Virginia Triple Crown will pay the top-three drivers with the best average finishing positions in the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson Presented by Grand Atlantic Ocean Resort 200 at South Boston Speedway, the Hampton Heat 200 at Langley Speedway and the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway.
The $10,000 prize will be distributed $7,000 to the winner, $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place.
“We want to give drivers even more of an incentive to start all three races,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “By going to this format, a driver who gets unlucky at South Boston still has incentive to race at Langley and Martinsville.”
South Boston Speedway General Manager Cathy Rice said they are excited to have the Triple Crown back again this year.
“I think it will be a big year for everyone involved,” Rice said. “Paying the top-three finishers of the Virginia Triple Crown will certainly entice more competitors to join this year and compete in all three events that are included. Not only that, but the fans will have more action to look forward to, as well.”
Bill Mullis, owner of Langley Speedway, said he believes paying the top-three will benefit both fan and drivers.
“Langley Speedway is proud to continue to participate in this great event,” said Langley Speedway Owner Bill Mullis. “We believe the new purse structure will add a bonus to the top finishing drivers that will increase the interest level in all three of these important races.”
The Triple Crown has previously paid to the top-3 finishers, but recently has been a winner-take-all format.
Peyton Sellers, the 2018 Triple Crown Champion, has won with both formats and said he likes paying the top-3 as opposed to just the winner, even though it’s less money for the Champion.
“There’s a lot of guys that travel back and forth to Langley and South Boston that put a lot of work into it and don’t get rewarded with the winner-take-all approach,” Sellers said “By paying the top-3 it also may keep more drivers racing for the Triple Crown, as one bad race won’t eliminate you. A lot of times the Triple Crown comes down to just one position and it can be decided in the last five laps at Martinsville, so this is a good way to reward more drivers for their efforts.”
In the event of a tie for any of the positions, the tie will be broken by the driver with the higher finish at Martinsville. To be eligible for the Triple Crown a driver must start all three races.
The Triple Crown starts June 29 with the running of the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson Presented by Grand Atlantic Ocean Resort 200 at South Boston Speedway and continues on July 20 with the Hampton Heat 200 at Langley Speedway. The Triple Crown will wrap up with the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville on October 5.
Source: Martinsville Speedway
Photo Credit: Hunter Thomas/TheFourthTurn.com
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