Florence Speedway
Fast Facts 35th annual North-South 100
By Robert Holman
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: Aug. 8-11 (one $12,000-to-win program on Wednesday and one $10,000-to-win program on Thursday followed by Saturday’s $50,000-to-win finale)
Track: Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., (4/10-mile high-banked clay oval)
Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Purse: $50,000-to-win, $2,000-to-start ($12,000-to-win, $1,000 to start on Wednesday; $10,000-to-win, $800 to start on Thursday)
Tickets: Adult general admission is $25 Thursday, $25 Friday and $40 Saturday; see below for discounts for children and more information.
On the web: florencespeedway.com or lucasdirt.com
Track phone: (859) 493-0034
Last year’s winner: Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who won the event for the first time
Notes: The 2018 North-South 100 marks the 35th running of the crown-jewel event that began in 1983. The race was rained out in 2001. … The event is sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. … North-South 100 week gets an early start this year as Florence hosts the rescheduled Ralph Latham Memorial on Wednesday. The 32nd annual event paying $12,000 to win was originally set for May 5, but rained out. … Action continues on Thursday with the $10,000-to-win North-South Shootout, along with a complete program for modifieds. … The North-South 100 two-day format features two sets of heat races on Friday, with heat lineups determined by pill draw. Each driver’s finish in their two heat races, along with passing points factored in, will be used to determine lineups for Saturday’s feature, dashes and consolations. … There’s also a 20-car non-qualifiers race that pays $2,000 to win and $400 to start on Saturday. … There have been 23 different North-South 100 winners since its inception in 1983. … There have been five different winners in the last five events. … Nine drivers have multiple North-South wins, led by Jimmy Owens and the late Jack Boggs with three victories each. Seven others have won the event twice. … Only three drivers managed to win the race in back-to-back seasons. Pat Patrick (’83-’84), Owens (’10-’11), and Don O’Neal (’12-’13) have each successfully defended their North-South title once. … Along with his two North-South 100 wins, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., has seven runner-up finishes, including three straight from 2014-16. Bloomquist has four third-place finishes in the event as well. … Bobby Pierce (’16) and his father Bob (’99) are the only father-son duo to win the event. … Five times in the history of the race, a driver repeated his first victory two years after his inaugural North-South triumph: Jeff Purvis (’87 and ’89), Jack Boggs (’92 and 94), John Gill (’93 and ’95), Donnie Moran (’96 and ’98) and Steve Shaver (’04 and ’06). … The North-South 100 has averaged 69.5 cars over the last decade, including a high of 95 in 2008. … Devin Gilpin of Columbus, Ind., won the 42nd annual Spring 50 in April.
(Complete North-South 100 coverage)
North-South 100 Winners
Year: Winner, hometown
1983: Pat Patrick, Sayler Park, Ohio
1984: Pat Patrick, Sayler Park, Ohio
1985: John Mason, Millersburg, Ohio
1986: Jack Boggs, Webbville, Ky.
1987: Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
1988: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
1989: Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
1990: Mike Head, Ellenwood, Ga.
1991: Rodney Combs, Lost Creek, W.Va.
1992: Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1993: John Gill, Mitchell, Ind.
1994: Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1995: John Gill, Mitchell, Ind.
1996: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
1997: Rick Aukland, Fargo, N.D.
1998: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
1999: Bob Pierce, Danville, Ill.
2000: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2001: Rained out
2002: Chub Frank, Bear Lake, Pa.
2003: Dan Schlieper, Sullivan, Wis.
2004: Steve Shaver, Vienna, W.Va.
2005: Bart Hartman, Zanesville, Ohio
2006: Steve Shaver, Vienna, W.Va.
2007: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2008: Darren Miller, Milledgeville, Ill.
2009: Jimmy Mars, Menomonie, Wis.
2010: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2011: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2012: Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2013: Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2014: Eddie Carrier Jr., Salt Rock, W.Va.
2015: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2016: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2017: Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
(Complete race history)
Weekend purses
Wednesday feature
1. $12,000
2. $5,500
3. $3,500
4. $2,750
5. $2,250
6. $1,800
7. $1,500
8. $1,300
9. $1,200
10. $1,100
11. $1,075
12. $1,050
13. $1,025
14-24. $1,000
Thursday feature
1. $10,000
2. $5,500
3. $3,500
4. $2,750
5. $2,250
6. $1,800
7. $1,500
8. $1,300
9. $1,200
10. $1,100
11. $1,075
12. $1,050
13. $1,025
14. $1,000
15. $950
16. $925
17. $900
18. $875
19. $850
20. $825
21-24. $800
Saturday feature
1. $50,000
2. $20,000
3. $10,000
4. $9,000
5. $8,000
6. $7,000
7. $6,000
8. $5,000
9. $4,500
10. $4,000
11. $3,500
12. $3,250
13. $3,000
14. $2,750
15. $2,500
16. $2,400
17. $2,300
18. $2,250
19. $2,200
20. $2,150
21. $2,100
22. $2,075
23. $2,050
24. $2,025
25. $2,000
Event schedule
Wednesday
3 p.m. - Pit gates open
5:30 p.m. - Main gates open
6 p.m. - Hot laps
7:30 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model time trails
- Modified heats
- Late Model heats
- Modified consolations
- Late Model consolations
- Ralph Latham Memorial (50 laps)
- Modified feature
Thursday
3 p.m. - Pit gates open
5:30 p.m. - Main gates opens
6 p.m. - Hot laps
7:30 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model time trails
- Modified heats
- Late Model heats
- Modified consolations
- Late Model consolations
- North-South Shootout (50 laps)
- Modified feature
Friday
3 p.m. - Pit gates open
5:30 p.m. - Main and back gates open
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7:30 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model heats (first set)
- Modified heats
- Late Model heats (second set)
- Modified consolation
- Fan/racer appreciation party
Saturday
1 p.m. - Hall of Fame auction
3 p.m. - Pit gates open
3 p.m. - Main and back gates open
4:30 p.m. - Hall of Fame induction ceremony
7:30 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model consolations
- Modified feature
- North-South 100
- Late Model non-qualifiers' race (30 laps)
Tickets
Wednesday
General admission (12-and-up): $30
Children (6-11): $5 (children 5-and-under free)
Pit pass: $40
Thursday
General admission (12-and-up): $25
Children (6-11): $5 (children 5-and-under free)
Three-day pass (Thursday-Saturday): $85 general admission/$15 children
Pit pass: $40
Three-day pass (Thursday-Saturday): $120 pit gate
Friday
General admission (12-and-up): $25
Children (6-11): $5 (children 5-and-under free)
Three-day pass (Thursday-Saturday): $85 general admission/$15 children
Two-day pass: $60 general admission/$10 children
Pit pass: $40
Three-day pass (Thursday-Saturday): $120 pit gate
Two-day pass: $80 pit gate
Saturday
General admission (12-and-up): $40
Children (6-11): $8 (children 5-and-under free)
Three-day pass (Thursday-Saturday): $85 general admission/$15 children
Two-day pass: $60 general admission/$10 children
Pit pass: $45
Three-day pass (Thursday-Saturday): $120 pit gate
Two-day pass: $80 pit gate
Camping
Call (859) 493-0034
