Anyone Remember their First Late Model Race?

[latemodelman]

I remember my first late model race back in 1994. On a Sunday night my Dad and I went to Eldora and saw the tune up to the World 100 and was hooked. Saw about 160 cars between mods late models and stocks. And every year we went back.

[Kwoods25]

don't really remember the first one i was to young too. my dad used to help a guy run modified 4s. (late model with 4 cylinder).

[dirtdobber45]

Was 3 years old in 1973..Sportsman Speedway. Remember Walter Ball go over the back stretch wall. Cars were a whole lot different back then

[TerryM]

I was 6 years old and it was sometime in 1970, at Northern Kentucky Speedway. Now, of course, called Florence Speedway. I was hooked immediately.

[latemodelman]

I miss those times. Stellar fields and a lot of action like my dad says with each generation racing gets different. Now with my boy racing will be different then when I was a boy.

[formercrewguy]

I was a late bloomer....around 25 yrs old at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix.

[71PRPFan]

Sometime in the early 2000's a small 71prpfan watched someone win a 75 lapper at Portsmouth. Couldn't tell you who it was. seems like it was a 4th of July race and possibly Boggs won but it's just a faint memory of a scoreboard saying 75 laps

[calverton]

my first I could even think about remembering was about 1962 been going since 1956 thinks have changed a whole lot since then late model were not around our area in to th early 70s

[Late_Model_Mark]

It may not have been a Late Model at the time but it was I believe a U.S.A.C. Stock Car race at Ascot Park in California in 1968.


Late Model Mark
Talladega Short Track Announcer

[Krooser]

The first late model show I was as a spectator was at Milwaukee in 1962... USAC show.

The first late model show I drove in was at Hales Corners Speedway in the Milwaukee suburbs... 1972. Totaled the front stub in turn 2 on the first lap! Had to use the Jaws to pry my broken foot from between the roll cage and frame rail. My bell was wrung pretty bad, too.

[Josh Bayko]

I grew up in big block modified country. Late models around that way lagged far, far behind what the rest of the country called late models. First time I ever saw legit late models was at Hagerstown when I was about 10 or so, so like 86 or 87.

[cubcadet31]

Windber speedway in Pa....probably 90 or 91..around 7 yrs old....track was around a highschool football field..saw alot of good races there till it closed

[RRRKKK]

Gem City Speedway Quincy IL 1953

[W2Racing09]

I remember my first late model race back in 1994. On a Sunday night my Dad and I went to Eldora and saw the tune up to the World 100 and was hooked. Saw about 160 cars between mods late models and stocks. And every year we went back.

I definitely remember mine. It was Wissota Late Models at River Cities in 2012. The weekend of the Knoxville Nationals (I remember because the 410s were off that night). Im pretty sure Dustin Strand picked up the W.

[BTExpress]

I also grew up in big block modified country where at the time,late models to me,were a support class. I think the first time I ever saw the late models race was at Hagerstown and Lincoln running with the 410 sprint cars in the 90's. That all changed in August 2015 when I saw my first WoO race at Delaware International Speedway and I was hooked. I have since become almost obsessed.During the last 14 months I found 4M, subscribed to both DoD and Late Model magazine have attended many late model shows since........ My goal in 2017 is to attend a crown jewel event.

[CIRF]

My first late model race was at Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois. Of course that night would also have been my first sprint car (supermodified/rail car) race as well since the late models were a support class to the sprint cars at FALS at that time. The late models of that day and time weren't the generic, cookie cutter, type of today.

Can't remember what year, but what I do remember is that the late models of that time were recognizable by make, model and year at quick glance. If the feature starting lineup was made up of 24 cars you could easily and instantly identify the make, model and year of every car on the track.

The late models of that time weren't anywhere near as fast as the generic late models of today but they were more fun in their own way. There were always discussions throughout the grandstands as to which brand was going to be the fastest that night.

There were some pretty good fights on the track and in the pits back then, too. LOL!

[calverton]

no kidding mister obvious they were glorified street stocks the only difference back in the days was the size of the tires and maybe the size of the motor

[parocket]

Windber Speedway, 1987 was there for a semi late class which was outstanding back then, late models were a bonus. Been racing ever since..

[Pennsboro23]

Wish I could remember. Had to have been either Tyler County, Pennsboro, or WVMS around 1993-1994.

[birky time]

I also grew up in big block modified country where at the time,late models to me,were a support class. I think the first time I ever saw the late models race was at Hagerstown and Lincoln running with the 410 sprint cars in the 90's. That all changed in August 2015 when I saw my first WoO race at Delaware International Speedway and I was hooked. I have since become almost obsessed.During the last 14 months I found 4M, subscribed to both DoD and Late Model magazine have attended many late model shows since........ My goal in 2017 is to attend a crown jewel event.
what crown jewel you thinking?

[BTExpress]

I would like to attend a race at Eldora (been there for the sprint cars) or the Hillbilly 100 since my mother in law lives in WV.

[birky time]

I would like to attend a race at Eldora (been there for the sprint cars) or the Hillbilly 100 since my mother in law lives in WV.

tyler county ive been there once and watched the show stopper win I think it was in 2011 or 12 they also ran big block modifies that night... the track produces good racing but Eldora is a must for a late model race

[BTExpress]

The problem for DLM fans in the Mid-Atlantic region ( I live in Eastern Pa ) is that we are not really close to any crown jewel events, unlike following 410 sprint cars or big block modifieds.......

[birky time]

The problem for DLM fans in the Mid-Atlantic region ( I live in Eastern Pa ) is that we are not really close to any crown jewel events, unlike following 410 sprint cars or big block modifieds.......

yea that makes it tough...I am very fortunate I live in the racing belt and live close to 5 "crown jewels"

[Josh Bayko]

The problem for DLM fans in the Mid-Atlantic region ( I live in Eastern Pa ) is that we are not really close to any crown jewel events, unlike following 410 sprint cars or big block modifieds.......

Firecracker and Pittsburgher aren't particularly far from you (4-5 hours, depending on how far east you are) but being multiple day shows they'd probably require hotel rooms.

[Bubstr]

That has truly been ages ago. The first races I went to where flathead or six cylinder mods back in the 50s. If you put fenders on them, they became stock cars. Around 1960 they started running OHV in Chevys and fords even Pontiac and Olds and called them Late Models Davenport Iowa Fairgrounds.

[dirt crow]

11 years old at the old Gadsden Raceway in Glencoe Alabama. Only 5 late models, and 3 were lapped, but I was hooked. Race won by Darrell Dunn.

[nuff said]

The first races were the mid to late 60's at Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa on asphalt.The first late models on dirt were when they opened East Bay,first dirt races period were sprints at the old Fairgrounds in Tampa.

[tsand]

My family always owned a racecar. My dad worked two jobs then came home and worked on the car my mom would send me to the shop to wake up my dad in the morning because he would fall asleep on the creeper while working on the car. We ran the old concord racetrack so the latemodels I watched was driven by Ralph Earnhardt speedy Thompson stick Elliott and some of the best drivers to wheel a dirt car

[allWIS1]

After seeing lots of asphalt Late Model racing growing up, first big Dirt Late Model race was 1980 at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, IA the Miller 100.

[PITTSBURGH]

Motordrome Speedway back in the 70,s

[7512]

May 6th, 1995. STARS race at Eldora won by Donnie Moran. I'm pretty sure I had been to a couple weekly shows at Florence, but this is the first one I remember. It was also my first time at Eldora.

[rickybrown1952]

Oh man several years ago mine was at i-55 Raceway in 1992 sure was some great racing back then

[a25rjr]

First dirt race at New Smyrna.......haha...what a catastrophe! late 60's

[calverton]

Oh man several years ago mine was at i-55 Raceway in 1992 sure was some great racing back thennot to bad now just different

[PennDirt]

1964 Clearfield Driving Park USAC 100 lap race was supported by 'Sedans' since our local area had many in the area. It's the earliest recollection I have of a late model race. It was won by local Sprint Car Hall of Famer, Al Hamilton before he became a Pa. legendary car owner.

First out-of state Late Model race was the 1982 Hillbilly 100.

First 50K race was at Hagerstown NDRA 1983.

[Centeroff]

Remember my ole man coming in from work, jumping in the shower and us heading straight to the track. We would meet my uncles and my dads cousins and they would bet 5$ every single class and race of the night. The entry fee was 5$ back then and the stands were packed. In the late model division at our local track was "smokin" Joe Meadows who took 4th in the world 100 the year Bloomer won his first one. "Chargin" Charley Swartz hall of famer, Harold Redman, Delmas Conley most Friday nights, Gene Mcneely, (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)ie Bartustiac, and a fast local Eslie Bills. Man those were the days! Was a class called v8 hobbies which was dominated by Porkey Shores. I remember being at school and crying on a Friday because I thought the races were gonna get rained out. Alotta good times with my old man that I wouldn't change for anything. People don't understand how many kids the ole dirt track kept outa trouble. I would suggest to any young parent to take their kids to the track and spend as much time with the youngens as possible. Alotta fun.

[johnqpublic]

I'm another who grew up in Big Block modified country, every Saturday night at Fonda Speedway. Latemodels were a support division and more of a limited LM I guess. In or about 1982 they were combined with 320ci sportsman modifieds and the lates died a fairly quick death.

So, my first super LM race would have been 95 or 96 when the STARS visited the Syracuse Mile. I wasn't really all that impressed, but it was Syracuse after all. Then in 1998 I moved to the southwest corner of NY...still went north and east as I was helping out one of my buddys with his Modified, but one week I had a free Saturday night and I ventured over to Stateline Speedway. I remember the first green flag dropping and thinking to myself, "holy shizz, these things are faster than modifieds"! Matt Urban was the feature winner that night. Since then, I'll drive right past a mod race to see late models!

[Stede Bonnet]

It was 1977 or 1978, Lavonia Speedway, I was 7 or 8 at the time. NDRA style camaro's everywhere and D!ck Mills was in the house. Lady got burned in the concession stand and we had to wait for ambulance to come back from taking her to hospital. Loved it, but didn't get to go again til 1985 and that was Senoia Speedway just before it went asphalt, which it has now switched back. 1986 starting helping a classmate with his bomber nova and his fathers Custom chassis DLM, Leon Sells was the driver most of the time(Dixie & Rome). Thus began my love affair with all things DLM.

[nlhenry55]

Mine was at Swainsboro Ga Raceway, sometime in the mid 80s, Can not remember who all was there but i do remember Ed Basey & Ronnie Johnson& Basey won . Heck of a race

[nc mudcat]

Early 1970s, 311 speedway, seems like there was a black #6 there, probably in victory lane.

[JDZ]

1992 Outlaw Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway. The name was changed to USA Nationals a few years later.

[kd1]

It had to be mid-60's probably at 411 Speedway... too early for me to remember as I was a toddler back then.

[Mantis]

Mid-70's at Brownstown Speedway. Way to young to remember the exact first race but growing up a stones throw from the track and both parents working there every weekend, I'm sure I was there at a very early age.

[Trax53]

I was born in 1991, and I am pretty sure my diaper was changed at the Blue Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC multiple times. But the first race that really stands out to me that I still remember was the Hav A Tampa race at Metrolina Speedway (Charlotte, NC) in 1995, Freddy Smith won!

[fastford]

my first race was at Talladega Short track , I was 14 and davey allison , who was 16 , won the race and red farmer run second. It was 1977.

[wfofan]

Early 80's...
Best track ever...
BARREN COUNTY SPEEDWAY!!!!

[Crashmagnet]

2 weeks old, Chargin Charlie Swartz won at Southern Ohio Speedway 1979

[Clayton_Wetter]

Early 80's...
Best track ever...
BARREN COUNTY SPEEDWAY!!!!

Hey, BARREN COUNTY was the best!!!!

[Necrosis]

Pretty sure nobody would believe me if I told when/where my first dirt race was... It's almost embarrassing in a sense.

[calverton]

Hey, BARREN COUNTY was the best!!!! http://randylewis.org/barren-county-speedway/

[25 Jay 53]

I cant remember the first one it was probably a local show when I was about 6 years old, I guess the first touring race I seen was at Hohenwald, TN about 1990, a Hav-A-Tampa show won by Rex Richey. The first Crown Jewel race I seen was the 1996 Topless 100 won by Bill Frye.

[slideiton]

I would guess my first true Super Late race was late 90's at Sunset Speedway in Omaha, Ne. Probably my first late model race was again late 90's but probably at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Ne.

[RW57]

At Rome Speedway around 1975 or 1976 .They were having twin late model features I want to say 100 laps each I think. Bud Lunsford won the first one in the second they offered a bonus if he chose to start last and could win it he did collected the bonus. This was in the black and gold Chevy Nova .I once heard him say that was the best car he ever had it worked every where he took it without changing anything.There is no telling how many races that car won later on with Buck Simmons (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Mills driving it among others l would bet the numbers are in the hundreds.

[John Boy]

My first LM race was in 1989. We were heading to Lawrenceburg for sprints, but the fair was going on, so we headed to Florence Speedway for the first time. Randy Boggs won. I've loved that place ever since. I wouldn't cross the street to see Sprint cars now.

[latemodelman]

I want to thank everyone for keeping this thread civilized. I just find it nice to reminisce with fellow fans and see what truly brings us together. Also with everything going on right now with the election its nice to have a civilized conversation. Even though I am a Democrat and some of you are Republican we can still get along. May we all have a good off season and spend time with the loved ones and hopefully we can all meet up at Eldora or another track.

[TUTY]

Mid 70's at Nobles County Speedway, Turkey shootout. My how the cars have changed.

[Josh Bayko]

Pretty sure nobody would believe me if I told when/where my first dirt race was... It's almost embarrassing in a sense.

I'll take a crack at it. I'll say Bulls Gap in 2007.

[badacefaist19]

I believe it was in 2000, regular show at North Georgia Speedway, Leon Brindle picked up the late model win, I was 13. First big race I remember going to was also at North Georgia May 1, 2004...WoO and Shane Clanton won it!

[TackyTracker]

sometime during the 84 or 85 season at Kankakee..

been hooked ever since

[Necrosis]

I'll take a crack at it. I'll say Bulls Gap in 2007.Nope. 2014 World 100, working with some dude from TN with long hair, you probably never heard of him... He did pretty good!

[XRACER1993]

The late 50's.. Mazon Speed Bowl Mazon, Ill.

[Josh Bayko]

Nope. 2014 World 100, working with some dude from TN with long hair, you probably never heard of him... He did pretty good!

Better late than never.

[3 wide]

Atomic speedway in tn 1971 winner H E vineyard

[MUD MAESTRO]

First race I can remember and I can remember it well. Had the best seat in the house on my mothers lap, circa 1954.
Still can smell the burning oil from those ole jalopies at the original Quad City Speedway near Coal Valley Il. Jump ahead 10 years and I became a fixture at Davenport Speedway located at the beautiful Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds where a ton of Hall of Farmers excited the fans.

[calverton]

you old fart lol

[Cardirt0]

First race I can remember and I can remember it well. Had the best seat in the house on my mothers lap, circa 1954.
Still can smell the burning oil from those ole jalopies at the original Quad City Speedway near Coal Valley Il. Jump ahead 10 years and I became a fixture at Davenport Speedway located at the beautiful Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds where a ton of Hall of Farmers excited the fans.

I was 2 years old then .. I got my mom too go with me too a race in 1970 and she loved it...She went with me a lot after that i miss them days....
frist dirt race was Champaign fair grounds for a Big Sprint and arca Late model race 1969.. Be for that was on a UADA Funny car team for 5 years

[95rayburn]

Mine was early 90's. Merritt speedway, Michigan