Draft:Sumter Speedway

Sumter Speedway is a 3/8 mile dirt oval race track in Sumter, South Carolina.[1]It is one of the oldest running dirt tracks in South Carolina. Sumter races on Saturdays, April through November.[2] Many different classes race here, like Street Stocks and Late Models.

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Sumter Speedway

History edit

In 1957, Sumter Speedway opened as Gamecock Speedway.[3] Gamecock Speedway hosted a NASCAR Grand National Series race in 1960, which Ned Jarrett won.[4] After this, nothing very significant happened until the rename to Sumter Speedway.

Present Time edit

At present, Sumter Speedway is still racing almost every Saturday. Most of the tracks main races are streamed by FloRacing.[5]

2024 Schedule[6]
Event Date Classes
Monster Thunder Bomber April 13th, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Mod 4, Extreme 4, Econo 4
MMSA April 20th, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Carolina Sprint Tour April 27th, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Crown Vics, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Local Points May 4th, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Crown Vics, Mod 4, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Blue Ridge Outlaw Late Models May 18th, 2024 Street Stock,Thunder Bomber, Crown Vics, Mod 4, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Ultimate Super Late Models June 1st, 2024 Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Mod 4, Extreme 4, Econo 4
SCDRA June 7th & 8th, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Crown Vics, Mod 4, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Vintage & Sharp Mini Late Models June 22nd, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Frankie Frye Memorial June 29th, 2024 Late Models, Thunder Bomber, Crown Vics, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Local Points July 13th, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Crown Vics, Mod 4, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Blue Ridge Outlaw Late Models July 20th, 2024 Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Local Points July 27th, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Crown Vics, Mod 4, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Local Points August 3rd, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Southern Wedge Late Models August 10th, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Crown Vics, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Ultimate Super Late Models August 17th, 2024 Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Mod 4, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Local Points (FPR) August 24th, 2024 Late Models, Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Crown Vics, Mod 4, Extreme 4, Econo 4
The Gibbons Family Memorial October 5th, 2024 Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Extreme 4, Econo 4
Vern Geddings Memorial Turkey Day Race November 2nd, 2024 Street Stock, Thunder Bomber, Extreme 4, Econo 4
  • (FPR) = Final Points Race

Track Records edit

The current track records as of April 14th, 2024 are listed below.[7]

  • Super Late Models: Zack Mitchell 14.588 seconds
  • Steel/Limited: Dustin Mitchell 14.412 seconds
  • Blue Ridge/Local Rules: Justin Mintz 14.604 seconds
  • Super Street: Mikey Coursey 16.696 seconds
  • Street Stock: Banjo Duke 16.500 seconds
  • Thunder Bomber: Michael Stuart 17.798 seconds
  • MMSA: Aaron Weed 17.437 seconds
  • Extreme 4: Chris Vannausdle 17.746 seconds
  • Econo 4: Allen Ridgeway 18.961 seconds
  • Modifieds: Jeff Robinson 17.302 seconds
  • Mini Late Models: Joey Schoen 16.195 seconds
  • Sprints: Jacob McLain 14.148 seconds

Robert Sharp edit

File:Https://eta.creativecirclecdn.com/sumter/original/20210927-202645-BobSharp-19 45968.JPG
Sharp by his #14 race car

Robert Sharp was a business man from Sumter, who also raced cars. Sharp owned many companies, Sharp Construction Company, A Mobile Storage Co, Stateburg Housing Center, and more. When Sharp went on the racetrack, he was unmatched. He ended up having 7 championships and 200+ victories. Later, he was inducted into the Sumter County Sports Hall of Fame.[8]

Jody Truett edit

Jody Truett was a racecar driver that frequently raced at Sumter Speedway, Jody won many races and track championships. On April 10th, 2021, after the finish of a heat race, Truett suffered a heart attack which led to him wrecking.[9] When the death got announced, investigators didn't know what actually caused the death yet, so many people believed that the crash caused Truett's death. Later, investigators said that he died due to the heart attack.[10]

Further reading edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Sumter Speedway". National Speedway Directory. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Schedule". Sumter Speedway. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Gamecock Speedway Racing Circuit • Details | Motorsport Database". Motorsport Database - Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  4. ^ "1960 NASCAR Grand National | Motorsport Database". Motorsport Database - Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Stream Ultimate Late Models at Sumter Speedway - FloRacing". www.floracing.com. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Schedule". Sumter Speedway. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  7. ^ Williams, Ryan (14 April 2024). "Current Sumter Speedway Track Records". Sumter Speedway. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Robert Sharp Obituary (1942 - 2021) - Sumter, SC - The State". Legacy.com. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  9. ^ "One dead after race at Sumter Speedway, investigators say". wltx.com. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  10. ^ Feit, Noah. "Crash didn't cause race car driver's death at SC speedway, coroner's office says". The State. Retrieved 3 May 2024.