EASTABOGA, Ala. — The season-opening Crate Racin’ USA Winter Shootout Series event scheduled Jan. 1, 2022, as part of the traditional Hangover at 411 Motor Speedway has been canceled in a mutual decision between series director Adam Stewart and track promoter Mitch McCarter.
A dismal weather forecast has placed the track’s management into scramble mode, and McCarter has revised the schedule and moved the entire event to a one-day show on Friday, Dec., 31, 2021, in hopes of beating the weather forecast. A practice session will still be held Thursday, Dec. 30 (1 p.m. until 6 p.m.), and the Super Late Model portion of the program (Friday) will still pay $5,000 to win.
Also included on the card will be Open Wheel Modifieds ($1,000 to win), 604 Late Models ($1,500 to win), 602 Late Models ($700 to win) Front-Wheel Drive (VVT/VTEC rules paying $500 to win), while the Front Wheel Drive (411 rules) will pay $500 to win.
The $2,500-to-win Crate Racin’ USA-sanctioned portion of the show, which was to have marked a long-awaited return to the facility, was originally slated to be held Jan. 1, 2022, and has now been scratched from the weekend’s schedule.
“Adam [Stewart] and I both agreed that with the bad weather possibly coming this weekend, it wouldn’t be fair to the drivers coming a long distance who plan to run for points on the Winter Shootout Series,” said McCarter, whose son Pierce McCarter actually won that points championship during the 2020 racing season. “We were looking forward to having them back, but we also don’t want to hurt their points race for that miniseries. We do hope to work closely with them for another race later in the 2022 season.”
The announcement erases the first event of the eight dates that were scheduled for the 2022 Winter Shootout Series, reducing the current slate to seven races. Last year, Dylan Knowles of Lanett, Ala., was the miniseries champion, competing in seven completed events from an original slate of nine races. Two were canceled by rain.
“It’s disappointing to start the season with the loss of this event because we were looking forward to our return to 411 Motor Speedway with much anticipation,” Stewart said. “At the same time, it’s a risk to many of our traveling teams to make this trip on a weekend where the weather forecast already isn’t the best. Mitch [McCarter] understands and agrees with that decision, and he and his staff will do their best to get the Super Late Model portion of the show completed on Friday. We’ll continue to work closely with them, and hopefully make a return to their excellent facility at a later date in the season.”
The cancellation leaves the 31st annual Ice Bowl at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., scheduled Jan. 6-8, 2022, at the third-mile oval, as the opening event in the Winter Shootout Series.
The traditional event will pay $3,000 to the race winner, and the highly-anticipated Winter Shootout Series offers $2,500 to its overall series champion.
2022 Winter Shootout Series Schedule (updated)
Jan. 1: 411 Motor Speedway, Seymour, Tenn. (canceled)
Jan. 6-8: Talladega Short Track, Eastaboga, Ala.
Jan. 20: Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Jan. 21: Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Jan. 22: Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 3: East Bay Raceway Park, Gibsonton, Fla.
Feb. 4: East Bay Raceway Park, Gibsonton, Fla.
Feb. 5: East Bay Raceway Park, Gibsonton, Fla.