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The 2023 race season is set to begin at the 2nd oldest continually operating speedway in the country. Engines will roar to life this Saturday night, April 1st, in Music City Nashville, TN and the stage is Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway as it opens for its historic 119th season of racing.
On tap for the season opener will be 7 local divisions showcasing some of the best local drivers the area has to offer. The feature racing action will, as always, kick off with the stars of the 1/4-mile having hopes of getting their 2023 season started off strong. Last year’s 1/4-mile champions such as United States Air Force Legends pro champion Oliver Cordell and semi-pro champion Mchael Crafton and Limited Late Model champion Kevin Rollins will be the ones to look out for on opening night, as they try to pull off one of the hardest feats in all of sports, repeating their championship run. Even more challenging, Kevin Rollings will look to make this season three in a row, as he has won the limited late model division championship the last two seasons. Will Jonathan Dishman break his streak again as in 2020?
Once the smoke clears from celebratory burnouts of opening night wins on the 1/4, the night will end with 119-lap Pro Late Model feature on the 5/8 mile high banks to honor the 119 years of auto racing at the fairgrounds. The 119 laps run by the Pro Late Models will be in honor of the 119 years of auto racing at the historic track.
Coming off his 2nd pro late model championship in 3 years, last year’s Pro Late Model champion, Dylan Fetcho will be one of the top competitors returning for the 2023 season. The road to a repeat championship will not be an easy one though, as Fetcho will have to face full fields of talented local drivers as well as from around the country making their way to to Music City to test their skills at “America’s Favorite Short Track”.
Thrilling 2023 Season Ahead
After the April 1st opener, Fairgrounds Speedway has an amazing schedule in place for the remainder of 2023. The US Legends Spring Nationals Championship will come to town on Friday and Saturday, April 14th and 15th. Featuring United States Air Force Legends, Bandoleros, Pro Late Models, & Trucks.
May 12th and 13th will be a double-header weekend of racing action, with a local 1/4-mile show on the 12th, followed by the return of the ARCA Menards Series East for the ARCA Music City 200 on the 13th. Also racing on May 13th will be the Pro Late Models and CRA Street Stocks.
June sees the return of the Music City Triple 50’s. Featuring Pro Late Models, Modifieds of Mayhem Tour, Trucks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stock, Pest Doctor Front Runners, USAF Legends, and Bandoleros.
July will be the halfway point of the year with the North/South Super Late Model Challenge. Which will see the ASA Southern Super Series and ASA CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, Pro Late Models, Trucks, USAF Legends, and Bandoleros battling it out around both the 1/4 and 5/8-mile tracks. This will be the first of two shows this year that feature the Super Late Model division.
July will also see the return of non-winged asphalt Sprint Cars with the newly formed 500 Sprint Car Series. This will be the first time in 19 years that non-winged Sprint Cars will bring their high-speed action to Nashville. Joining the 500 Sprint Car Series will be the JEGS/CRA Pro Late Models, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stock, Pest Doctor Front Runners, United States Air Force Legends, and Bandoleros.
August will see the return of Bass Tire Family Night on Saturday, August 12th. Last year’s family night was filled with backpacks, collectables, bicycles, and TV giveaways. Accompanied by fantastic racing action and one of the best finishes of the year in the Pro Late Model division. Bass Tire Family Night will see more of the same this year with Pro Late Models, Outlaw Late Models, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Pest Doctor Front Runners, USAF Legends, and Bandoleros returning for one of the can’t miss nights on the 2023 schedule.
October will see local racing return on Friday, October 6th with all 8 local divisions getting their final reps in before the end of the season. This will include Pro Late Models, Trucks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Pest Doctor Front Runners, USAF Legends, and Bandoleros.
The final 3-days of the 2023 season will culminate in the All American 400 triple-header of racing action. Festivities kick off on Friday, November 3rd with the local 1/4-mile championship featuring Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Pest Doctor Front Runners, USAF Legends, and Bandoleros chasing a 2023 track championship. Racing action continues Saturday, November 4th with pole qualifying for the ASA STARS National Tour Super Late Models and a full racing program with CRA Street Stocks and Vores Compact Touring Series.
Then on Sunday, November 5th the 39th running of the All American 400 will have some extra flair as it will now be under the umbrella of the newly formed ASA STARS National Tour. This will be the championship event for the 10-race national touring series and see some of the best Super Late Model drivers from around the country compete for a chance at grassroots racing history. Also joining the Super Late Models will be the JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour and local Pro Late Models. The Pro Late Model event will crown a new 2023 Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway track champion.
