At first glance it seems a very simple idea, but often the simple ideas are the ones that work the best. And at ASA Member Track 311 Speedway in Madison, N.C., the Twin 25 races are really revving up the interest among the fans and racers.
These races are held monthly on the half-mile clay oval, and exclusively for the Super Late Model division. These cars run a 25-lap shootout with a $2500-to-win purse. After the fans pulse rate comes back to regular levels, 311 Speedway’s Bobby Johns inverts the top 10 cars and sends them out for another 25-lap sprint.
“People really like the Twin 25 races, ” said Bobby Johns, 311 Speedway promoter/owner. “I have had a number of fans come up and tell me that it is like watching two different races. ”
One noteworthy participant in the April 7 Twin 25’s was Austin Dillon, grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress and son of former NASCAR Busch Series driver Mike Dillon. Making this even more of an event, Dillon ran the number 3 on the side of his car, painted black naturally. Although Dale Earnhardt is the one who made this particular number famous, Childress first used it when he was a driver and Dillon chose to use his grandfather’s number on his car.
“It is pretty intimidating, ” Dillon told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an interview regarding his choice to race as car number 3. “A lot of people talk to me about it and ask me if I’m going to NASCAR in the 3. A lot of people say I should. ”
Though Johns has no say in Dillon’s future, he recognizes the 16-year old as a, “Good boy. He is not cocky or smart-mouthed. He is very polite and I enjoy having him here at the racetrack. ”
Another positive change for 311 Speedway this season has been the addition of the Junior U-Cars. This new division was designed to bring more kids into the sport at a level that is affordable.
“The Go-Karts have become very expensive and this new Junior U-Car division is a way to help keep kids in the sport, ” explained Johns. “One guy said that he was able to build two Junior U-Cars with fuel cells for less than it was costing him just for a Go-Kart engine. ”
“We have no problems with the kids racing here. They get on and off the track quickly, and race clean. There is not a lot of wrecking going on and the fans love to watch these kids, ” said Johns. In fact, the support of the fans for the Junior U-Cars even took Johns by surprise.
“Actually, it surprised the fool out of me, ” he admitted. “We usually run them after the Late Models and people would normally start heading home after that race. Now the stands are full. People are staying just to see the kids run. ”
| 
|