CONCORD, NC — Variety. Few words better describe the World Short Track Championship, the mega, 10-division event on tap Oct. 26-28 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. More than 200 drivers are expected to converge in Concord, N.C., at the 4/10-mile oval just 17 miles from the heart of North Carolina’s Queen City.
The eighth annual showcase pits the nation’s best weekly racers against each other in a chase for more than $120,000 in purse money. With Newsome/Raceway Parts Network Crate Racin' USA and DIRTcar Racing collaborating on portions of the event, the focus for many CRUSA competitors will be on the 604 Crate Late Model (DIRTcar Pro Late Models) and the Street Stock divisions.
CRUSA officials and the Mid-East Street Stock Series will work together to help officiate and handle tech for that portion of the show.
Neither the CRUSA 604 Late Model feature, nor the Crate Racin’ USA Street Stocks, will be points events for competitors with the Eastaboga, Ala-based organization.
Last season, 42 604 Crate Late Model drivers signed in to compete for the $4,000 top prize. It was eighth-starting Trent Ivey of Union, S.C., moving forward to grab the victory over 2021 winner Dillon Brown of Gaffney, S.C. Ivey, who lives just 65 miles from Charlotte, plans to return this year to defend last year’s victory. He said winning back-to-back “would be big.”
“Mainly I just really need to kind of do it (win again) to prove myself again,” said Ivey. “I don’t really know how to say this … but last year, there wasn’t really anyone that big there other than (runner-up) Dillon (Brown). I’d like to win with some of the other guys who are supposed to be there this year. (Winning the SECA SRI Topless Tour SECA Outlaw Showdown at Charlotte) in 2016, I had to outrun Ricky Weeks and Rambo (Dennis Franklin). It seems like it is harder to win now than it was back then because everyone has good equipment.”
Ivey will again return to the seat of Gary Shurling’s Rocket Chassis.
“I feel like I have a small upper hand being a Super (Late Model) guy dropping back to Crates,” Ivey said. “But we do it because it’s not far from home and we do it because it’s Charlotte. Everybody loves Charlotte. We do it because we want to have a good time and really we want to win there because you’re on a big stage.”
Stepping onto the big stage is part of the allure of the World Short Track Championship, and that’s the way it’s designed. Last year there were 17 different winners in 19 features. Only Newman Presnell of Travelers Rest, S.C., and John Windham of Lake City, Fla., managed to win two features each last year—both in the Hornet division. Meanwhile, Devon Morgan of Easley, S.C., picked up last year’s Street Stock victory, while making his first feature start in four attempts.
Other divisions in action during the Oct. 26-28 extravaganza include DIRTcar Sportsman, SECA Crate Sportsman, Monster Mini Stock Association, Mid-East 602 Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar Pro Modifieds and DIRTcar Sport Compacts and Hornets.
Thursday’s action will be highlighted by championship features— featuring 2023 track champions—for the DIRTcar Pro Late Models (604), UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman and DIRTcar Pro Stocks. On Friday, there will be heats and last-chance showdowns and the first round of Hornet features. Saturday includes the final last-chance showdowns and features for all 10 divisions.
Pre-registration is open for all divisions through Wednesday, Oct. 25. Every driver who pre-registers, regardless of division, will receive one additional entry into the drawing for a new Chevrolet Performance 604 Crate engine at Saturday’s drivers meeting.
Spectator tickets are available online at dirtcar.com/events/world-short-track-championship. The event will also be streamed live online on DIRTVision with a monthly or annual subscription.
Article Credit: Robert Holman