Story by: Corey Latham ~ [email protected]

Altamahaw, NC(September 1, 2011) — As the racing regular season begins to wind down at various tracks across the region, “Big Race” season is just now getting underway.

One of the tracks doing it up big this weekend will be Ace Speedway as they celebrate the Labor Day holiday with four days of on-track activity. The PASS Super Late Model series will highlight the card Saturday night as the weekend ends with a special event on Monday, the second installment of the “Madhouse Meltdown” . The Meltdown last year was the most popular event of the season at Ace with the track actually running out of tickets making the event “Standing Room Only” and this year looks to be no different.

The feature event of the day will be twin 55 lappers for the tour type modifeds from Bowman Gray Stadium running on the same tires that the Stadium uses, cheaper 10 inch tires, giving drivers that don’t usually run the NASCAR tour races a chance to shine somewhere else without buying the more expensive wider tires. After last years event which saw Burt Myers take the first race and Brian King beat Myers by a mere three feet to take race two, it looks to be another action packed event.

Myers is looking to defend his win but it is not yet known if King will compete as he has only raced a handful of times this season. Burt’s brother, Jason, will be in the house and while he seemed to “play pretty” this season at the Stadium as Burt was in the points championship, this is a special event at another track so Jason looks to get a little rough with his brother if need be. All in all it could be some of the best racing of the year as the short distance and twin races make it very exciting for the fans.

The Sportsman/Limited Late Model cars from Bowman Gray will also get their own event as they will go for 50 laps driving on the same tires they use at the stadium also……..treaded American Racer tires. These tires are used only at Bowman Gray, nobody seems to know why they run a treaded tire but it makes for great racing as the cars fight for traction all the way around the track.

Rumor is that Kenny Bost may not be back to defend his title from last year but other drivers are ready to go including Tommy Neal, Barry Edwards, Taylor Branch, Kevin Neal and Late Model winner this season Ryan Robertson. You may even get a taste of the Ace locals as Ziggy Zimmerman looks to make an appearance. This race especially looks to have a much larger field than last year as drivers are on edge to race at a different track after the grueling summer at Bowman Gray every week.

Other events include the Street Stock and Stadium Stock (Mini-Stock) who look to have good fields also. The Streets will go for 30 laps while the Stadium Stocks look to be 25 for now, but that can change. While these divisions are the undercard during the summer, they both put on some incredible racing and some hurt feelings and tempers to boot. With Ace being a much bigger track they will have a different animal in front of them and a track that is a lot less forgiving when you drive over your head and into the wall. These will be prety wild.

The entire weekend is a party atmosphere, food, fellowship, games for the kids, live bands with racing to boot, a fun time had by all. The conclusion on Monday with the Meltdown is a perfect way to end it, no pressure for the drivers at all, this is just a fun event where they don’t have to worry about points and drama. But then again they are race car drivers so when they put the helmet on friendship, patience, forgiveness and lack of desire go out the window, thats what we all came to see anyway.

With the increased interest for the Meltdown, track GM Brad Allen has added a Sunday practice to the mix, maing the track hot four days in a row.

Wednesday, August 31 – Open Practice: 4-8pm

Friday, September 2 – Pit Gates Open: 3pm
PASS/ Support Divisions Rotating Practice: 4- 6pm
Extremes Check-In: 6- 6:45
Rotating Practice w/ Extremes: 6:45- 7:45pm
Extreme Heat Races: 8:00
PASS Final Practice (to follow): 40 min session
Extreme Program – Concert to follow

Saturday, September 3 – Pit Gates Open: 12pm
Practice: 2- 5pm (Extremes – Turn 1 check-in 3pm)
Grandstands Open: 3pm
Qualifying: 5:45pm
Pre-Race Ceremonies: 7pm

Sunday, September 4 – ‘Madhouse’ Open Practice: 1- 6:30pm (Gates@ 1pm/ Practice@ 2pm)

Monday, September 5 – Pit Gates Open: 10am
Hauler Doors Open: 11am
Modified Practice: 12:30- 1pm
Rotating Practice: 1- 3:15pm
Grandstands Open: 2pm
Qualifying: 3:45pm
Autograph Session/ Concert: 4:30pm
Pre-Race Ceremonies: 5:30pm