Southern National Motorsports Park has released the schedule for the 17th running of the Thanksgiving Classic, which will be contested over three days on Thanksgiving weekend.
The Thanksgiving Classic race weekend begins on November 24 and will once again be headlined by a 200-lap, $20,000-to-win Late Model Stock Car race on Sunday, November 26. The three-day event will feature 795 laps of racing across 11 different divisions.
Track owner and promoter Michael Diaz says diversity of schedule is what makes the Classic such a compelling weekend.
“We’ve got an action-packed schedule this year with divisions ranging from our ever growing Any Car class to the Late Models and Super Late Models that’ll fill any fans desire for racing,” Diaz said. “This year’s Thanksgiving Classic is going to be a stepping stone to making this event even bigger in the future and I think it starts with our $20,000 to win Late Model Stock Car race which is drawing a ton of interest.”
The first night of the Thanksgiving Classic will feature racing for the Bandolero, Charger and Legends divisions as well as a 40-lap Limited Late Model Dash for Cash.
The Limited Late Model race will feature a unique format for the racers. The drivers must run two scuff tires from the track but can run two scuff tires they bring with them from their home track. The Limited Late Models, along with the Legends, Bandoleros and Any Cars, will run multiple races during the Thanksgiving Classic.
Saturday, November 25 will feature seven different divisions of racing as well as qualifying which will set the field for Sunday’s Super Late Model race and set the top-15 for the Late Model Stock Car race.
Saturday evening’s racing program is headlined by a 75 lap, $2,500-to-win Limited Late Model feature. In addition to the Limited Late Models, the Bandoleros, Legends, Southern Lightning Modifieds, Mini Stocks, U-CARs, Street Stocks and Any Cars will all be in action.
The main events will get underway shortly after noon on Sunday, Nov. 26, starting with the Last Chance Qualifier for the Late Model Stock Car portion of the Thanksgiving Classic which will set the remainder of the starting lineup from 16th on back. That will be followed by the 125 lap Super Late Model event, a 15-lap Any Car race and the 200 lap, $20,000-to-win Thanksgiving Classic Late Model Stock Car race.
The complete schedule can be viewed below.
Friday, November 24TH:
7:30 AM REGISTRATION OPENS
7:45 AM PIT GATE OPENS / TRACKSIDE OPENS
9:00 AM TIRE BUILDING OPENS
ALL LMSC / SLM OPTIONAL TECH ON FRIDAY TO GO OVER CAR AND GET SAFETY DECAL
CAN NOT GET ON TRACK ON SATURDAY FOR ANY PRACTICE WITHOUT IT
HIGHLY SUGGESTED TO TECH ON FRIDAY TO GET YOU AS MUCH PRACTICE TIME POSSIBLE
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PRACTICE (LMSC, Super Late Model, Limited Only)
(OPTIONAL INSPECTION ON FRIDAY AFTER PRACTICE FOR SUPER LATE MODEL, LATE MODEL, LIMITED LATE MODEL)
12:00 PM BREAK
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM FINAL LMSC PRACTCE FOR THE DAY
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM FINAL SLM PRACTICE FOR THE DAY
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM 7 MIN ROUNDS FOR ALL DIVISONS
ROTATING PRACTICE FOR ALL WEEKEND RACING DIVISIONS
LLM, UCAR, BANDO, LEGENDS, SL MOD, SEMST, BOMBER, STREET STOCK, CHARGER
5:00 PIT GATE OPENS TO CLEAR TRACK AND LET TRAILERS IN
6:30 PM CHARGER TIRES & LLM TIRES RELEASED
6:30 PM GRANDSTANDS OPEN
6:30 PM – 7:45 PM LOCAL DIVISION PRACTICE
8:00 PM LOCAL DIVISION RACING
Saturday, November 25TH:
7:30 AM REGISTRATION OPENS
8:00 AM PIT GATE OPENS / TRACKSIDE OPENS
8:30 AM DRIVER/CREW CHIEF/SPOTTER (LMSC & SUPER LATE ONLY)
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM LMSC / SLM PRACTICE (INSPECTION DECAL MUST BE ON CAR)
10:10 AM – 12:30 PM LOCAL DIVISION PRACTICE
11:05 – 11:15 AM LMSC PRACTICE
11:15 – 11:25 AM SLM PRACTICE
11:30 – 12:30 LOCAL DIVISION QUALIFYING
1:00 PM GRANDSTANDS OPEN
1:20 PM QUALIFYING BEGINS GROUP
1ST LLM, 2ND SL MOD, 3RD MINI STOCK. 4TH LEGENDS, 5TH UCAR, 6th STREET STOCKS
2:30 PM LMSC SINGLE CAR QUALIFYING – (GREEN, WHITE, CHECKER)
TOP 15 ARE LOCKED IN AND THE REMAINING WILL RUN A LAST CHANCE RACE ON SUNDAY
SLM SINGLE CAR QUALIFYING – (GREEN, WHITE, CHECKER)
IF NEEDED DUE TO TEMPERATURE DEAD LAP WILL BE ADDED TO QUALIFYING
ALL LMSC / SLM IMPOUNDED AND TECHED AFTER QUALIFYING
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM PRE RACE CEREMONIES – Register at Guest Services
4:30 PM LOCAL DIVISION RACING
Sunday, November 26TH:
8:30 AM PIT GATE OPENS / TRACKSIDE OPENS
9:00 AM DRIVERS MEETING / SPOTTERS MEETING (TECH BUILDING)
STAGE CARS FOR AUTOGRAPH SESSION
9:45 AM CHAPEL SERVICE / GRANDSTANDS OPEN
10:15 AM – 11:30AM AUTOGRAPH SESSION (ALL DIVISIONS REQUIRED)
11:45 PM – 12:00 PM PRE-RACE CEREMONIES – Register at Guest Services
11:45 PM PEDAL KART RACES
12:00 PM LMSC LAST CHANCE RACE (25 LAPS)
TO FOLLOW: SUPER LATE MODEL (125 LAPS)
TO FOLLOW: ANY CAR (15 LAPS)
TO FOLLOW: LMSC (200 LAPS)
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Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.
Gregory craven
October 26, 2020 at 6:57 am
Can I get a sample of the short track magazine my name is Greg Craven 62 Jackson St Newnan,GA.30263