Earlier today, the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) and Myrtle Beach Speedway announced that UNOH would be sponsoring Myrtle Beach Speedweeks 2015 with the main race being called the UNOH Battle at the Beach.

In 2013 and 2014, races held at the legendary Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida carried the same name.  The UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona consisted of a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model (2013 only), the NASCAR K&N Pro Series race and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.  More important than those races being at Daytona was national television coverage from Fox Sports and national attention.  For two nights a year, short track racing’s stars shined on the national stage.

Now, that event’s title has moved over to Myrtle Beach Speedway for the 23rd installment of Myrtle Beach Speedweeks which now consists of two weekends of racings.  It’s more than just a title however.  The rebranding of Myrtle Beach’s two week spectacle could draw new eyes to the sport of Late Model Stock Car racing after the kind of attention the event received in Daytona.

“I’m real excited about having UNOH involved,” Myrtle Beach Speedway chief executive officer Bob Lutz said.  “It’s going to take an already very successful event and make it that much more successful with the involvement of UNOH and what it brings to the table.  The Battle at the Beach, it was a great event and we are delighted to be rebranding the Myrtle Beach 400 to the Battle at the Beach.  I think with the involvement of UNOH, it’s going to help bring more attention to the event which is also going to bring more drivers to both the Late Model and Modified races and make it a much better event for everyone involved.”

The first of the two race weekends, which is headlined by the Southeast Limited Late Model Series (SELLM), will now be called the UNOH 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway.  Last year was the first time the race was run on a separate weekend.  That race, and the SELLM Challenger race which was run before it, generated numerous storylines.  Everything from first time winners to on-track controversy made the much talked about event, the biggest in all of Limited Late Model racing, a success.

The second of the two weekends, formerly called the Myrtle Beach 400, will now take up the UNOH Battle at the Beach title.  That race will consist of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car feature event as well as the season finale for the KOMA Unwind Modified Madness Series.  The UNOH Battle at the Beach always generates thrilling racing action for the Late Model Stock Cars.  Three-wide racing, tire conservations, comers, goers and breathtaking action are the norm, not the exception.

“Last year, we had a very successful two weeks of racing.  Everyone was very happy with the way the schedule worked out with splitting it up and one thing we did learn from last year is that we need to move the features to Saturday so we can use Sunday as a rain date.  Last year, we did the opposite and ran on Saturday night because of the 100% chance on Sunday but this year, we’re going into it prepared so that, if we have rain on Saturday, Sunday is the rain date and everything gets in on that one weekend it was supposed to versus having to come back.”

The University of Northwestern Ohio have been longtime supporters of auto racing, sponsoring races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series over the years.

“Everyone at the University of Northwestern Ohio is excited about this new partnership with Myrtle Beach Speedway and continuing the UNOH Battle at the Beach, Dr. Jeffrey A. Jarvis, President of UNOH, said in a press release.  “Being involved in the historic UNOH 400 provides an additional opportunity for UNOH to showcase our institution and programs to future students in that area.”

Lutz said today’s announcement of the race being rebranded is just the first of several exciting announcements the track will be making over the coming weeks and months.  With the involvement of UNOH, Myrtle Beach’s 2015 Speedweeks could be the biggest yet in the race’s 23 year history.