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Staff Reports

(Cordele, GA) Over 100 race cars are entered for “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest 2024” coming up this weekend in Cordele, GA. Officials are planning to go full speed ahead with the event despite the cold temperatures as the forecast also calls for sunshine. The Saturday afternoon, January 20 race is set to feature the season opening event for the ASA Southern Super Series vs the ASA CRA Super Series, JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour, Legends and Bandoleros.

Officials were forced to make a similar decision in 2022 when temperatures were unseasonably cold with sunshine. The high that day was 45 degrees but a surprisingly good crowd came to see what turned out to be great racing on that Saturday afternoon. Bubba Pollard went on to claim victory over Chandler Smith and Carson Hocevar.

As of Monday afternoon, the impressive entry lists have hit 30 for Super Late Models, the most SpeedFest entries since 2018. In addition, 24 JEGS/CRA All Stars presented by Chevrolet Performance, 32+ Legends, and approximately 15 Bandoleros put the total entries over 100.

This weekend’s festivities will get underway on Thursday afternoon with an optional practice for all teams with free grandstand admission. Cost for the optional practice is $150 per Late Model car and $100 per Legend and Bandolero car. Pits will open Thursday at 9:00 AM, while on track activity runs from 12:00 – 5:00 PM.

Friday action will include practice and qualifying for all four classes of cars with pits opening at 9:00 AM, rotating practice beginning at 12:00 PM, and qualifying on track starting at 4:45 PM.

The big day of the weekend is Saturday, with afternoon racing on tap. Grandstands are scheduled to open at 10:00 AM, with an on-track autograph session at 11:30 AM, and feature racing to take the green at 1:00 PM.

The ASA Southern Super Series Presented by Sunoco and ASA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS will sanction the 150-lap Super Late Model race and for the first time, SpeedFest will be a point race for the Southern Super Series. The JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance, Legends, and Bandoleros will complete the four strong divisions of competition at the Cordele, GA facility.

Advance sale discounted tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/SpeedFestTix for a $5 per ticket discount. Tickets will also be available at the track on race day. Pit passes can be purchased in advance on the Pit Pay app or at the gate upon arrival.

For those unable to attend the popular event, online live coverage will be widespread with TrackTV.com, MidwestTour.TV, and Racing America all providing subscription-based coverage. Sign up now to receive live coverage of Friday qualifying and all of Saturday’s feature action.

About “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest” Event:

SpeedFest began in 2005 at the now defunct USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL before moving to Georgia’s Lanier National Speedway in 2009. SpeedFest then found its home at Cordele Georgia’s Watermelon Capital Speedway at Crisp Motorsports Park in 2012 and has been held there ever since. Some of the biggest names in motorsports have won SpeedFest including Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Harrison Burton, Chandler Smith, and Corey Heim. Bubba Pollard has won the last two SpeedFest events at the track.

SpeedFest PRO Late Model Entries

SpeedFest Super Late Model Entries