“If you build it, they will come.”
The famous line from the movie “Field of Dreams” can describe the 602 Late Model division at Magnolia Motor Speedway, only in reverse; drivers hope if they show up consistently, the track will add the division on a full-time basis.
Magnolia has played host to the 602 Late Models on four of its nine race nights this season. The division has averaged nearly 17 cars per race, including 21 last week at the Governor’s Cup.
Track promoter Johnny Stokes said earlier this year he’d consider adding the division only after seeing turnout in a small number of races. The track currently features Super Late Models, NeSmith Crate Late Models, Street Stocks, and Factory Stocks at each show, including large-scale shows that feature touring series and sprint cars.
The response by area drivers isn’t a fluke. Once Columbus Speedway, which played host to 602 races at each show, closed indefinitely at the end of last season, Golden Triangle racers lost roughly 12 races a year, as Magnolia didn’t carry the division.
Tony Shelton, driver of the No. 3 B&S Auto and Salvage car, has been working diligently to get drivers from and outside the Golden Triangle to make the 602 races at Magnolia this season.
“Johnny, being a NeSmith man, wants 602 engines only,” Shelton said. “In this class, you can have a built engine, which is a little more horsepower than the 602, but if Johnny is to add the class, he’d want the 602 motor only. And I’ve talked to all the guys, and they’ve agreed they’d change to the 602 motors.”
Shelton has won all four 602 races at Magnolia this season. He also has raced at Moulton, Alabama, Corinth, and Meridian this season, but the 602 division isn’t offered at most tracks. He thinks creating uniformity with motors will encourage promoters at Magnolia and other tracks to add the division.
“All the places I race, you have the option to use a sealed 602 engine or build an engine with a certain amount of specs,” Shelton said. “Of course, a lot of guys go overboard and cheat, so the main thing, if you just went to the sealed engine, everyone would be equal.”
Jonathan Pridmore, driver of the No. 34 MRCM Fabrication-Mckleroy Motorsports car, has only raced twice this season as he continues to upgrade his car with a new chassis, suspension parts, and motor. One of those races was a third-place finish at Magnolia. He said the collective push to show up to Magnolia is an example of drivers’ teamwork in the divisions since the early days of its formation.
“We’re not in each other’s shops, but if someone needs help or a part, the enthusiasm to help is always there,” Pridmore said. “This class started out small, with 10 drivers and cars at Corinth, and from that has progressed into what we see today.
“You have to give a big shoutout to Tony because he’s the big deal in trying to get this class into the Mag and working with the other drivers to get the car counts high. It’s amazing how this class and the drivers do toward each other, and also bringing new drivers in.”
Shelton and Pridmore expect the division to continue to grow, as the cost of racing in NeSmith Crate Late Models and Super Late Models continues to increase. A sealed 602 Crate motor costs about $3,500, while 604 (NeSmith Crate) and Super Late Model motors can cost nearly $6,000 and more than $30,000, respectively.
“Guys are looking at trying to have fun instead of spending money to try and have fun,” Pridmore said. “There are a lot of experienced guys dropping down to this division.”
Shelton said that some drivers said they wouldn’t race at Magnolia this season because it’s a difficult track to master, and that the surface can be hard on tires. Slowly, though, they’re starting to come back to the division as Magnolia considers adding it to the full-time slate.
“Crate engines that GM has come out with have made it more economical for people to race,” Shelton said. “I think they’re slowly coming back because it’s the only place to race here, and it’s expensive to go out of town and race.”
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