Florence Speedway
Fast Facts: 37th annual North-South 100
By Robert Holman
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
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Dates: Aug. 8-10 (one $10,000-to-win program on Thursday followed by Saturday’s $50,000-to-win finale)
Track: Florence Speedway in Union, Ky., (half-mile high-banked clay oval)
Sanction: Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Purse: $50,000-to-win, $2,000-to-start ($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: Ricky Weiss of Headingley, Manitoba, who won the event for the first time
Notes: The 2019 North-South 100 marks the 36th 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 started 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, which was introduced in 2014, 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 24 different North-South 100 winners since its inception in 1983. … There have been six winners in the last six 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. … Boggs is the only Kentucky-based driver to win the race (Kentucky native Eddie Carrier Jr. won while racing out of West Virginia). … Tennesseans have win the event seven times, more than any other state. … 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). … 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 65.6 cars over the last decade, including a high of 78 in 2009. … Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., outran Kent Robinson of Bloomington, Ind., to win the 43rd annual Spring 50 in March. … Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., won the track’s $5,000-to-win special on May 25, topping Zack Dohm in a flag-to-flag victory.
(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.
2018: Ricky Weiss, Headingley, Manitoba
(Complete race history)
Weekend purses
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
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
Saturday
1:30 p.m. - Hall of Fame induction ceremony at patio annex
3 p.m. - Hall of Fame auction
3 p.m. - Pit gates open
3 p.m. - Main and back gates open
3:30 p.m. - Dirt Racing Outreach program
6-6:45 p.m. - Driver autograph session
7:30 p.m. - Competition begins
- Late Model consolations (20 laps)
- Modified feature
- North-South 100
- Late Model non-qualifiers' race (30 laps)
Tickets
Thursday
General admission (12-and-up): $25
Children (6-11): $5 (children 5-and-under free)
Three-day pass (Thur.-Sat.): $85 general admission/$15 children
Pit pass: $40
Three-day pass (Thur.-Sat.): $120 pit gate
Friday
General admission (12-and-up): $25
Children (6-11): $5 (children 5-and-under free)
Three-day pass (Thur.-Sat.): $85 general admission/$15 children
Two-day pass: $60 general admission/$10 children
Pit pass: $40
Three-day pass (Thur.-Sat.): $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 (Thur.-Sat.): $85 general admission/$15 children
Two-day pass: $60 general admission/$10 children
Pit pass: $45
Three-day pass (Thur.-Sat.): $120 pit gate
Two-day pass: $80 pit gate
Camping
Call (859) 493-0034
