SOUTH BOSTON, Va. (Dec. 28, 2016) – Whether it be resolutions, wishes or hopes, South Boston Speedway competitors and staff are thinking positive thoughts as 2017 looms large in the windshield and 2016 fades in the rear-view mirror.
“My resolution is to be a better father and to better appreciate the family and friends around me that help make all things possible in my daily life,” said Mark Wertz, who finished third in South Boston’s Late Model Stock points in 2016. “I’m wishing for health and well-being for this country as we transition into a new team of leaders in Washington. I’m hoping for the best for the short tracks across the country, especially those struggling or closed.”
South Boston Late Model champion Matt Bowling has brief, but to-the-point aspirations for the new year.
“I’m hoping for a year full of wins and an opportunity to move up,” said Bowling, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion who won eight times at South Boston in 2016 while earning his third track title. He won 14 times overall and amassed 42 top-10 finishes in 49 starts at eight different tracks.
Cathy Rice, South Boston Speedway’s general manager, has simple wishes for the track’s 60th anniversary season.
“My wish is that we have a great car count with exciting and safe racing in all our divisions on our new asphalt,” said Rice. “I hope our fans see exciting and fun racing and enjoy themselves every race.”
Bobby McCarty got an early start on his resolution but plans to keep it alive in 2017.
“My resolution is gonna be to get in better shape,” said McCarty, who picked up a Late Model win in 2016 at South Boston. “I’ve lost a lot of weight, but I’m still not where I want to be.
“And I want to win more races next year. That is my main goal. We won one this year, but I feel we should’ve had way more than that.”
McCarty added he had one more resolution that could help him on and off the track.
“I need to work on my temper,” he said. “I’m a little bit of a hot head and I’d like to change that.”
South Boston Speedway will kick off its 60th season on March 25 with the Danville Toyota NASCAR Whelen Late Model Twin 100s, featuring two 100-lap races for the Late Model Stock Division, a 50-lap Limited Sportsman Division race, a 30-lap Budweiser Pure Stock race and a 15-lap Budweiser Hornets race.
The full 2017 schedule can be found at southbostonspeedway.com.
