Cherokee Speedway
Cherokee set to host WoO's Duvall Memorial
By Gene Murphy
DirtonDirt.com contributor
The Duvall family at the announcement. (Gene Murphy)
GAFFNEY, S.C. — Two names that were spoken synonymously for decades, Mike Duvall and Cherokee Speedway, are again linked together.
In a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Cherokee County History and Arts Museum, the inaugural Mike Duvall Memorial race was announced. The inaugural event will be held at Cherokee Speedway, Duvall’s hometown track where he won many races during his 43-year driving career.
The event is scheduled for Oct. 4-5 with the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series headlining the Oct. 4 program with the $10,000-to-win memorial race.
The WoO stop at Cherokee is sandwiched by Oct. 3 and 5 events at Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway and 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn.
The event will mark the second time the national tour has visited Cherokee in 2019. Regional hot-shoe Ross Bailes won WoO’s May 3 visit with his first series victory.
The racetrack decided to combine its Tribal Nationals event — with many divisions in action — on the same weekend to make it one of the largest in the track’s fabled history.
“If there has been a larger overall purse at Cherokee, I can’t remember it”, said Tony Adair, who along with Scott Childress promotes the speedway. “There will be $110,000 in total purse money on the line, along with special Mike Duvall Memorial trophies and pro wrestling-style belts for each division winner.”
The bearded and black-hat wearing Duvall, the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer who died two years ago, famously drove the bright yellow Flintstone Flyer and was a fan favorite at Cherokee and beyond. His career included more than 700 feature victories and his 1982 season was highlighted by a World 100 victory and National Dirt Racing Association touring championship.
As his grandson, Dillon Duvall, eloquently put it, his grandfather’s legacy is strongly tied to, and will be forever associated with Cherokee Speedway and this event would be a fitting way to honor his memory.
The younger Duvall spoke of his grandfather’s giving nature and the pride he took in being able to help folks in need. To that point, he pointed out that a portion of proceeds from the event’s T-shirt sales would be earmarked for a special family.
Billy Elder, the preacher of nearby Silica Springs Baptist Church, recently lost his wife, Kimberly, to cancer. He will be the recipient of a donation by the Duvall family following this year’s event. Duvall said that the family hopes to continue this tradition every year for a local family in need.
Among others speaking at the press conference was Adair, event spokesman Duane Goins and Chris Dolack, WoO’s director of marketing.
Besides the WoO’s Super Late Model division, there will be two days of action for Crate Late Models (604 and 602) divisions along with limited sportsman, crate sportsman, modifieds and thunder bombers. For more information, visit cherokeespeedwaysc.com and the track's Facebook page.
