The world will be introduced to the newly formed Superstar Racing Experience at Stafford Speedway.
SRX Series management announced Monday that Stafford Speedway will host the first of six events for the inaugural season for the division.
Stafford will host the first event in SRX Series history on Saturday June 12, 2021.
The SRX Series is the brainchild of former NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and legendary NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham.
The remainder of the 2021 schedule includes events at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway (June 19), Eldora Speedway in New Weston, Ohio (June 26), Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis (July 3), Slinger (Wisconsin) Speedway (July 10) and the Nashville (Tennessee) Fairgrounds Speedway (July 17).
Each event will be broadcast live by CBS Sports.
“With a six-week back-to-back schedule that crosses America, visiting some of the most historic and challenging short tracks in auto racing, the SRX series will be a must-watch, and I am so excited to see these legends on the track,” Evernham said in a press release.
“Starting our series at the historic Stafford Motor Speedway will center the eyes of the nation on one of America’s oldest and most historic short-tracks. Then we head west, with back-to-back races on dirt at the renowned Knoxville Raceway and Stewart’s Eldora Speedway. Fourth of July weekend will be special at the great Lucas Oil Raceway, with so much energy and excitement at that facility. Then we head up to Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin where so many of the great NASCAR drivers have competed at the Slinger Nationals. Finally, we wrap up the 2021 series with our championship at the Nashville Fairgrounds, a track that has witnessed so much history of the course of their 100+ year existence.”
Said Stewart: “Our goal in crafting the inaugural SRX schedule was to feature tracks that are challenging, unique and have a strong motorsports history. This six-race series does just that. Four renown pavement tracks in Stafford, Lucas Oil Raceway, Slinger and the Nashville Fairgrounds and the two most prestigious dirt tracks in the country – Eldora and Knoxville. All demand respect and each forces drivers to adapt. What works at one track won’t necessarily transfer to another.
“These venues have seen some of the best racers in the country, but this will be the first time drivers from so many different disciplines will be racing on these historic tracks all at the same time. We’re proud to deliver another exceptional event to each of these tracks’ already rich histories.”
As described on the series website: “SRX will re-ignite the passion of the die-hard motorsports fan and reintroduce racing to a whole new generation.
“Featuring an unprecedented line-up of all-star drivers and crews, this supercharged spectacle is hellbent on recapturing the glory days of racing and getting things back on track. Big engines, bigger personalities, and big-time drama and intensity irresistible. This will be the most exhilarating racing on the planet.”
Thus far the driver lineup announced for the series includes Stewart, Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, Paul Tracy, Mark Webber and Willy T. Ribbs.
Each event is expected to feature 12 drivers, with some local drivers expected to be added to the field for events.
“SRX is a series where the cars will be so evenly matched that talent instead of equipment will win the race,” Stewart said in a press release announcing the series last July. “The competition will be intense, and thanks to the vision of such strong leaders in the sports and entertainment industry, millions will be able to watch live and in primetime on CBS.”
Said Evernham: “We’ve set this up to bring the focus back to the drivers and their ability to compete head-to-head as opposed to the car deciding who wins. That’s going to create a unique dynamic for fans at the track and everywhere else. Adding superstar-caliber drivers and our unique racing features, you’re going to see all kinds of emotions playing out live. It’s going to be quite exciting and rekindle why a lot of people love short-track racing.”
Stafford Speedway is offering an e-mail subscription to keep up to date on when tickets for the SRX Series event will go on sale.
Typo on the Stafford date, it’s the 12th, did a transpose thing it looks.
I honestly am as excited for Slinger as the Stafford date. That’s going to be wild on a quarter mile.
Hmm, June 12. Hopefully no capacity restrictions by then although it really isn’t critical to the show anyway.
Shivers of excitement must course through the Stafford management when they read getting national exposure like this going in. Darn right they weren’t ceding their Stafford TV rights to NASCAR. Hopefully the viewership for the Friday night following this event will get a huge bump.
First race, the curiosity factor might mean a huge audience aye?
Not messing around. Just rattling them off week after week to maintain the intensity. Like it!
First race, maybe skeptic Barry will end up being shocked. Not that half show up but darn near the full advertised field of drivers is there for the kick off. Plus local and celebrity wild cards fingers crossed. Hope they are signed, sealed and delivered via lucrative contract for the entire limited series with grudges and hard feelings to play out week to week.
I sincerely hope this is real racing. Not some type of reality type bs. I would expect that with Tony and Ray involved it would be real be but once you get TV and corporate involved you never know.
Will Stafford season tickets/season paddock passes be good for this event?
It would be cool if they let the winners from the night before join the event.
Any specs available on the cars?
I saw on Facebook that season passes don’t include this race but they are going to give season pass holders first shot at buying tickets.
Thanks Rob.
With chassis made by Fury, these SRX cars will be awesome fast.