The Chevrolet Performance Parts 525 Late Models set to invade Dixie and Rome Speedway this Labor Day Weekend
Pulling into the gates at Dixie or Rome Speedway on any given day, you will likely see Mickey Swims tackling one of the many tasks that are required to maintain and prepare for each event. Filling up a water truck, riding in a packer vehicle, working on equipment, or whatever else needs to be done. Mickey Swims is a throwback to the generation of hard work, and smart business acumen as the keys to being successful. And it would be hard for anyone to argue that Swims and his family have been some of the most successful in the short track racing world.
Swims and his family have seen the glory days of racing, and survived the lean times while many others have come and gone. His almost 50 years in the business has allowed him to see the trends that have helped racing, as well as the ones that have hurt. Swims, like many other promoters and competitors, recognize that continually increasing costs to compete are detrimental to the sport in the long run. He worries about costs across all of his divisions at his tracks, but especially the costs to compete in the top Super Late Model division where engines are north of $40,000 and shock packages can cost upwards of $7,000.
Mickey and his late son Mike were some of the first promoters to realize the benefits of a manufacturer based “crate” engine program to help offset rising engine costs. They implemented those engines across several of their divisions, and have seen the benefits first hand. The introduction of the Chevrolet Performance CT525 engine, based on the all-aluminum Chevrolet Corvette LS3 engine, caught Swims’ attention as an affordable option that could help sustain and build car counts which are important steps to maintaining and growing the sport both presently and in the future. The Chevrolet Performance CT 525 engine package can be fully dressed for around $10,000, and the engines are closely monitored to prevent costly modifications. The engines are also low maintenance with many drivers running them for up to three seasons with only a regular oil change.
Swims’ intrigue and hopes for the future of the sport, helped lead him in his decision to schedule events with the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series, a touring Late Model Series that sees cars utilize the Chevrolet Performance CT 525 engine package, that will take place at both of his facilities over the Labor Day weekend.
Saturday September 3rd the series will visit the “Home of the Champions” Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA for the “Down in Dixie 30” event paying $2,000 to the winner. The highlight of the weekend will be the Sunday September 4th event at Rome Speedway. The Chevrolet Performance 100 presented by Sunoco Race Fuels will see a 100 lap feature event at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile Clay Oval”. This will be the first 100 lap feature run at Rome Speedway in nearly 15 years. It also comes on the 50th Anniversary of Rome Speedway.
The weekend has excitement stirring for those events, and the future of Late Model racing in the area as well. Swims believes the lower cost engines are key to helping rebuild weekly Late Model car counts, which have declined at many tracks including his own. But it will take a collaborative effort by promoters to get the job done. “I can’t do it by myself,” Swims said. “But something has to be done. There are a lot of cars out there that aren’t being run because the costs are too high.” Vaughn is in the process of structuring a Weekly Late Model Series for cars powered by the all-aluminum Chevrolet Performance CT525 that could be implemented at race tracks across the country as their top Late Model division.
The weekend could be a pivotal weekend for local Late Model racing, as Swims and series promoter Mike Vaughn believes the equal horsepower engines will provide the side-by-side racing like was common during the golden era of racing. “I’m really looking forward to it,” Swims said, “I think it will be a treat for the fans, a barn-burner.” The golden era of racing saw side-by-side racing, and fans flocked to see their favorite drivers mix it up. Georgia Racing and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Leon “Slick” Sells was one of the drivers that fans loved to follow every time he raced his famous number 77 Chevrolets. Sells won the first race at Rome after Swims took over the promoting reigns from track founder Garner Snowden who hosted the track’s first two events. Fittingly enough, Sells will serve as Grand Marshall of the Chevrolet Performance 100 presented by Sunoco Race Fuels. Swims says that Sells was one of his most popular, and loyal racers through the years. “Slick stayed here with us a lot of years,” Swims said. “He helped us put on a lot of good races, and even though it’s been years since he raced, people still talk about him all the time.” For many of those races series owner Vaughn was a member of Sells’ crew, beginning when he was just 12 years old. “I’m 48 now, so I’ve been a fan of his for 36 years,” Vaughn said, “It’ll be a real honor to get to recognize him at Rome.” Another interesting fact about the 50th Anniversary race is the 1967 Rome Speedway opener Late Model winner was Joe Lee Johnson, father of 2015 Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series champion and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN. Johnson will be on hand to try and put his name on the winner’s check 50 years after his father was able to do so at the same track.
Along with the big race weekend, the 2016 Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series Championship will be decided as the final two events take place. A tight point battle between current leader Tyler Crowder of Tallahassee, FL, Rome, GA driver Jake Knowles, Ronnie Johnson, and Boaz, AL’s Tim Busha will play out. Fans are encouraged to get to the track early as the cars and drivers will bring their cars to you for the Chevrolet Performance Fan Zone. Fans will be able to get up close with the cars and drivers, as well as hero cards and autographs. Look to www.theredclayatwoodstock.com for more information about the big Labor Day weekend events, and point your browser to www.525superseries.com for more information about the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series.
Saturday night September 3rd at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA a Full Racing Program along with a Demo Derby will accompany the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series event. On Sunday Night September 4th at Rome Speedway in Rome, GA, the 50th Anniversary Event will feature the 100 lap Chevrolet Performance 100 presented by Sunoco Race Fuels, as well as the Rome Boss 40 Super Late Model championship and a Full Racing Program.
