Perhaps one of the most anticipated races each season, the Mid Atlantic Classic at Orange County Speedway, is quickly being a highlight event for both divisions, especially with Super Late Models in the region. The 2nd annual Mid Atlantic Classic will pay the Super Late Models $10,000 to win and $800 just to take the green flag. The large purse is expected to attract major Super Late Model names such as Steven Nasse, Tate Fogleman, Bubba Pollard, Ryan Moore, and defending winner Steve Wallace just to name a few. While those drivers are coming for the money, a tight points battle has quickly developed after two of nine events this season. Jared Fryar leads the battle by one point over Corey Heim and Anthony Cataldi who are tied for second place.
Late Model Stock fans will be treated with another solid car count at the fast 3/8th-mile track. Many drivers like Ronald Hill, Craig Moore, and Justin Johnson call Orange County their home track and will have a large fan base in the grandstands to cheer them on. However; the car most are ready to see this weekend will be the #99 machine normally driven by Layne Riggs. Riggs, who is recovering from a broken collarbone injury, will have his dad, Scott Riggs, fill the seat at the family’s hometown track. The elder Riggs, who made 383 starts in NASCAR’s top three divisions, was a late model ace in the region long before his NASCAR days. Scott will have big shoes to fill, as son Layne won the June race just a season ago.
Mid Atlantic Classic NOTES & QUOTES
NOTES:
Track/Location: Orange County Speedway-Rougemont, NC
Track Size: .375mile
Event Name: Mid Atlantic Classic
Laps/Distance: 100L (LMSC)/150L (SLM)
Event Schedule: Practice: 1PM-3:15PM, Qualifying: 5:05PM, Green: 7:30PM LMSC/SLM
Twitter Handle/Event Hashtag: @CARSTour / @OCS_track / #MidAtlanticClassic
CARS LMSC Tour Pre Entered Drivers:
#09 Bruce Anderson
#07 Bradley McCaskill
#06 Terry Dease
#1 Craig Moore
#2 Cody Haskins
#2P Brandon Pierce
#2D Chris Denny
#5 Lee Pulliam
#9 Sam Mayer
#9W Charlie Watson
#16 RD Smith
#18 Ty Gibbs
#22 Grayson Cullather
#22M Bobby McCarty
#27 Craig Stallard
#35 Carson Kvapil
#44 Justin Johnson
#74 Ronald Hill
#77 Trevor Ward
#88 Deac McCaskill
#99 Scott Riggs
(21 total)
CARS SLM Tour Pre Entered Drivers:
#00 Anthony Cataldi
#2 Danny Gilchrist
#6 Brandon Setzer
#8 Tate Fogleman
#14 Jared Fryar
#15 Roy Hayes III
#16 Molly Helmuth
#16J Lucas Jones
#17 Mike Speeney
#26 Bubba Pollard
#33 Preston Peltier
#37 Dan Speeney
#49 Jeff Batten
#51 Raphael Lessard
#51N Steven Nasse
#54 Matt Craig
#58 Tyler Ankrum
#66 Steve Wallace
#74 Ryan Moore
#78 Corey Heim
#96 Wyatt Alexander
#98 Jody Measamer
(22 total)
***Official Entry Deadline: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 4PM***
Media Coverage:
-Race22 (race22.com) will provide Raceday Live Coverage
-Speed51 (speed51.com) will provide Trackside Now Live Coverage
-Short Track Scene (shorttrackscene.com)
-CARS Tour TV (www.carstour.tv) – LIVE Broadcast Video Production Coverage
-CARS Tour Facebook (facebook.com/CARSTour) / CARS Tour Twitter (@CARSTour)
QUOTES:
Family Fill In:
Several weeks ago two-time CARS Response Energy Tour winner Layne Riggs broke his collarbone in a dirt bike accident during an off weekend. Luckily for Riggs and his #99 team rain showers came and washed out the scheduled race on April 7th at Wake County. With a return to his team’s home track of Orange County Speedway on tap for the weekend, the team didn’t have to look far to fill the seat of the #99 Romeo Guest Construction/Chick-fil-A of Durham Ford. Scott Riggs, father of Layne Riggs, is a two time Southern National Motorsports Park track champion behind the wheel of a Late Model, before moving to NASCAR’s top three premier divisions where the Bahama, NC native made 383 starts collecting 9 wins during that time period.
“We’ve got a chance to defend our Mid Atlantic Classic title from a year ago and represent all of our loyal sponsors and partners that are based right in our backyard. Even though I won’t be driving this weekend my Dad, who is usually my crew chief, and I will be switching roles. The #99 is a Riggs family tradition so I couldn’t think of a better person to be behind the wheel this weekend. This will be a great opportunity for some of my newer fans to see where the Riggs racing heritage came from because more than likely they’ve never seen my Dad race. It should also bring back lots of memories for those longtime fans as well. Despite the situation, it should be a pretty special weekend for our team.” Layne Riggs – #99 Puryear Tank Lines/Creech Heating & Air Ford
Wallace Ready to Defend Classic Title:
Steve Wallace overcame the heat and a battle with Super Late Model kingpin Bubba Pollard on a green-white-checkered finish to be crowned the inaugural CARS Tour Mid Atlantic Classic champion last July. With changes including an April race date, controlled cautions, bonus money for stage wins and being able to start the final stage within the top eight, Wallace feels he and team can repeat as Classic winners Saturday at Orange County.
“That was a wild finish last year but it was a good battle with Bubba (Pollard) there at the end. That was a big win for me. I think we’ll be right up there at the front again this year. We’ve had a fast car this year so far we’ve just been in some bad situations. I think the controlled cautions give the teams more freedom on pitting throughout the race compared to last year where most guys changed tires all at the same time. The main thing you got to do is be up front going into that final stage. If we’re in the right position, I make sure we got a chance at it again this year.” Steve Wallace – #66 JetTool.com Ford
Get Your Tickets, Get Grillin’ and Winnin’:
Longtime event presenting sponsor TheGrillingStore.com and the CARS Response Energy Tour have teamed up for this weekend’s Mid Atlantic Classic to offers fans a discount ticket price of $17 ($25 at the gate) when purchased online at carsracingtour.com. In addition to the heavy discount for the big money Super Late Model spectacular, all fans who pre-order their tickets online by 4pm Thursday will be automatically entered for a chance to win a grilling prize pack and wave the green flag on the Mid Atlantic Classic to get an exciting night of racing going.
“Chris and Mike Davis of The Grilling Store in Durham have been a huge supporter of the CARS Tour and our events at Orange County since day one. Their support is unwavering and as a growing short track series, partnerships like these are vital to being successful. We really encourage all fans to get those tickets early, not only to save money but to be entered to win this prize pack from The Grilling Store. It’s got smoking chips, grilling sauces, rubs, and a complete grill tool set. It’s everything you need to be grilling out at the rest of the CARS Tour races this year.” Jack McNelly – CARS Response Energy Tour, Series Owner
For more information and to stay up with all the latest news and information about the CARS Response Energy Tour, featuring both Late Model Stock Car and Super Late Model divisions, visit www.carsracingtour.com or contact the tour’s office directly at 704-662-9212. Stay social with the tour by “liking” the CARS Tour Facebook page and following along on Twitter @CARSTour.
