(Press release from Camping World SRX Series)
Two 15-Minute Heat Races Set Field for 100-Lap Feature Race; Points Earned in Heats and Feature Go Toward Season-Ending Championship
Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) has announced the format for its six-race short-track series that will debut this summer on Saturday nights in primetime on the CBS Television Network and streaming live on Paramount+.
Each event will consist of three parts: two 15-minute heat races and a 100-lap feature race, with the heats setting the starting lineup for the feature. Points earned in both heats and the feature will count toward the season-ending championship. The season-opening SRX race is June 12 at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway with the live broadcast starting at 8 p.m. EDT. Details on the event format are as follows:
Heat Race No. 1:
● Timed race (15 minutes). When time is up, leader is shown white flag signifying one lap remaining.
● All drivers draw for their cars to start this heat.
● Field is lined up by a random draw.
Heat Race No. 2:
● Timed race (15 minutes). When time is up, leader is shown white flag signifying one lap remaining.
● Drivers’ finishing position in Heat Race No. 1 will be inverted for start of Heat Race No. 2.
Feature Race:
● Distance is 100 laps (except at Slinger Speedway where distance is 150 laps).
● Starting lineup is based on finishing position in Heat Race No. 2.
● Unlimited attempts at a green-white-checkered finish.
Points will be awarded in both heats and the feature. In each heat, the winner receives a maximum of 12 points. Second place earns 11 points with every position in descending order receiving one fewer point, with the 12th-place finisher earning one point. Points increase in the feature, with the winner receiving 25 points, second place 22 points, third place 20 points, fourth place 18 points, fifth place 16 points, sixth place 14 points, seventh place 12 points, eighth place 10 points, ninth place eight points, 10th place six points, 11th place four points and 12th place two points.
“It was very important to come up with a format that would provide the best entertainment to our fans while rewarding the drivers for their performance. This format will do that,” said Ray Evernham, co-founder of SRX. “Every driver has the same opportunity. They’re in a car that’s very different because it’s so universal. It’s a road-course car first, a pretty good dirt car, and just an OK paved oval car. That takes the advantage away from the stock-car guys who run ovals all the time. We’ve tried to take the car out of the equation and force these guys to use the skills that we pay to see – how to figure out a new surface, how to figure out a new racetrack, how can they make this car go around using the old-school tools of the steering wheel, the gas pedal and the brake pedal. Driver input is what’s really important with this racecar, and this format accentuates that.”
“The SRX team and CBS have created a great format that will make for an exciting viewing experience,” added Pam Miller, producer, CBS Sports. “The short heats will make the competition between drivers more intense, creating a thrilling broadcast from the early moments through to the final laps of the feature race. Watching those battles play out on the short tracks will add drama and excitement, entertaining viewers each week.”
“With this format, you not only have to be the fastest driver, but you’ve got to be the smartest driver too,” said Tony Stewart, SRX co-founder and driver. “This is going to be a challenge. These are new, purpose-built racecars that none of us have driven before. Every track is so different, and we don’t know how abrasive the pavement tracks are going to be and what kind of grip we’re going to have on the dirt tracks. Even for the local all-stars who have turned thousands of laps at their particular track, they’ll be doing it in a totally different environment. It’s all unpredictable, but that’s what’ll make for great racing and a great fan experience, whether they’re in the grandstands or at home watching on CBS.”
After SRX’s debut at Stafford, the series visits back-to-back dirt tracks – Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway on June 19 and Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, on June 26. SRX returns to pavement July 3 at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis and then ventures north to Slinger (Wis.) Speedway on July 10 before its season finale July 17 at the Nashville (Tenn.) Fairgrounds Speedway where the inaugural SRX champion will be crowned.
Stewart, Tony Kanaan, Paul Tracy, Bobby Labonte, Willy T. Ribbs, Bill Elliott, Ernie Francis Jr., Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves and Michael Waltrip are the 10 fulltime drivers comprising SRX. Local all-stars join the SRX regulars at the first five races, with six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby at Stafford, four-time Knoxville track champion Brian Brown at Knoxville, five-time USAC Silver Crown champion Kody Swanson at Eldora, prolific USAC and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner Bobby Santos III at Lucas Oil Raceway and the winner of the July 6 Slinger Nationals – one of the most prestigious short-track races in the country – competing in the penultimate SRX race at Slinger. Inclusion of additional drivers to round out the 12-car fields will be announced at later dates.
I am still not sure how a 12 car field will be on a .5 mile track. The Limited Lates have had some fields around 12 cars and most nights they are not that entertaining especially compared to divisions with bigger fields. Now I know the cars are supposed to be equal, they should be running together and you do have the celebrity aspect of the drivers to interest fans but it’s still only 12 cars on a big track.. Maybe they put on an exhibition and do a lot of passing for the first 75 laps before they get down to racing. I would be willing to bet the SK race will be a better race than the SRX event that same night. That being said, I will most likely turn the tv on to watch the broadcast. I hope I am wrong and it is a great show.
approx 45 lap heat races with 6 cars??? or are the running 2 heats with all the cars? too bad Santo’s is not running stafford. Is this going to be live on Flo racing?
Steve,
Pretty sure all the cars run both heat races. Events will be televised live on CBS.
I am thinking the SK race will be on FLO. The SRX will be on CBS, I doubt CBS will broadcast the local stuff. They are running all the cars in both heats with some sort of invert.
The SK all star event is limited to the top 15 in points plus any past champions. So you are probably looking at around 15-17 cars. I didnt realize they were limiting or restricting participation but makes sense as they have to fit the SKs into a tight window with live TV. I wonder if they will allow 16th or 17th in points if a few of the drivers decline invites or have issues the night before. Might add some drama to Fridays SK feature if there is a close battle for 15th in points. It should be interesting.
I’m with you, csg. 12 cars? I don’t care how they run it, there are going to be aboout five decent racing laps. the rest will be “entertainment” for the fans.
The good part about the SK’s is the level of competition and insanely tight window they compete it. The bad part is it’s mostly a closed division, Stafford unique and invaders simply don’t exist to come in and spice up the show. Stafford milks the SK cow as often as they can and it can come off as pretty much the same thing with a different wrapping. Unlike the 5K and TC13 this looks to be something truly unique.
$46000 worth of unique in three stages and no car competes for less then $2000.. With prior champions like Ryan Preece, Woody Pitkat, Mike Christopher, Sr., Frank Ruocco, and Bo Gunning eligible. Pennink as well and wouldn’t that be something. I don’t see why Dan Avery wouldn’t provide Woody with a good car. Preece has an SK they could take out of mothballs that they just may do this being such a big deal. Mike Christopher Sr in the backup car? There’s going to be a lot of fans in the stands and watching on FloRacing that have never seen this before so the purse is money well invested in my view.
Comparing the SRX cars to the Limited Late Models based on the number 12 is just apples and oranges. The difference between the top of the LLM field and bottom in terms of experience and quality is cavernous. The SRX cars are equal and the drivers well qualified. It won’t take a pack of cars competing under a blanket to make this event good. It could be good with only two cars racing at the front really hard with the win up for grabs. In each car a driver well known with an entire career reputation at stake to make the story line compelling.
I have know idea what kernel of inspiration drove Evernham to grab this tiger by the tale because the pressure must be at epic levels at this stage knowing he has to produce a good product out of essentially this air. Then fail or succeed with no precedent in prime time. I know I’ll be on pins and needles hoping as hard as possible this works out mostly for Ray Evernhams sake.
Better hope the cars are exactly equal and stay in a pack. The worst thing that can happen is that 12 cars get spread out on a big track.
Doug wrote, “… Evernham to grab this tiger by the tale because the …”
What tale was that? I must have missed that one, can you provide the title? Was it a tall tale?