SOUTH BOSTON, VA :: The time has arrived. The date area short track fans have been waiting for is here. South Boston Speedway will drop the green flag for the start of the Dr. & Mrs. Maresca of St. Lawrence Radiology presents the Thunder Road Harley Davidson NASCAR Late Model 200 racing program Thursday, July 3 at 7 p.m.

The Dr. & Mrs. Maresca of St. Lawrence Radiology presents the Thunder Road Harley Davidson NASCAR Late Model 200 racing program will feature three big money races, the biggest names in the region in short track racing and a fireworks extravaganza at the close of the night.

Children attending the night of racing and fireworks will also have a chance to win one of six children’s bicycles that will be given away, courtesy of Dr. & Mrs. Maresca of St. Lawrence Radiology. Children up to 12 years of age can register to win one of the bicycles. All winners must be present in order to win a bicycle.

The featured attraction of the night will be a 200-lap shootout for the competitors in the NASCAR Whelen All American Late Model Stock Car Division.

Thursday’s night of racing action will also include a 100-lap battle for the Limited Sportsman Division competitors and a 50-lap battle for the drivers in the Budweiser Pure Stock Division.

The night of racing will be preceded by a Fan Appreciation Session trackside at 5:45 p.m.

At the close of the evening, the annual South Boston Speedway Fireworks Extravaganza will be held and will once again light up the skies over the four-tenths mile asphalt oval with the best fireworks display in the area.

Among the competitors who are expected to be on hand for the Late Model shootout are three of the top 10 competitors in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series national championship standings. They include two-time defending national champion Lee Pulliam, former national champion Peyton Sellers and former South Boston Speedway champion Matt Bowling.

Many others are also expected to contend for the victory Thursday night including NASCAR Camping World truck series driver Timothy Peters, NASCAR K&N East driver Brandon Gdovic, Deac McCaskill, Matt Waltz and Greg Edwards.

The 200-lap race for the drivers in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Model Stock Car Division will also serve as the first event in the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown.

South Boston Speedway has teamed with Langley Speedway and Martinsville Speedway again this year to offer the unique racing tripleheader.

The Virginia Late Model Triple Crown consists of the July 3 event at South Boston Speedway, the July 26 Hampton Heat 200 at Langley Speedway and the Virginia is for Lovers 300 on Oct. 5 at Martinsville Speedway.

In addition to the big-money purses at each of the three events, the driver with the highest point total among the three racers will win the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown title and an additional $5,000. The runner-up in the three-race point battle will receive $3,000, and the third-place driver will collect $1,500.

Advance tickets for the Dr. & Mrs. Maresca of St. Lawrence Radiology presents the Thunder Road Harley Davidson NASCAR Late Model 200 racing program are currently on sale and priced at $15 for adults. Advance tickets are currently on sale at the South Boston Speedway until 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 2. Tickets on the day of the race will be priced at $20.

General admission tickets for youth ages 7-12 are $10 each. Kids ages six and under are admitted free with a paying adult.

Pit registration will begin at noon on Thursday. Practice for all divisions will be held from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. and qualifying time trials will get underway at 4:30 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 4 p.m.

For more information visit the track’s website or phone the track at (434) 572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540.