Photo Journal - Sunny South Raceway Test Day - January 5, 2019

Driver Andrue Nolen drives a truck version of the Pro Challenge class early in the day at Sunny South on January 5, 2019. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

GRAND BAY, Alabama (January 9, 2019) -- Sunny South Raceway held it's first pre-season test on January 5th as teams prepare for the upcoming 2019 season. The raceway was open to all classes. Sunny South Raceway is geared toward youth, and provides a prime location for young drivers to get their first ever laps on a race track. Champ Karts, Bandoleros, Pro Challenge, Legends and Mini Stocks all took turns running hot laps throughout the day. 

Father Jay Jay Day and Grandfather Jimmy Day push Brantley Day's kart to staging area just before the youngster made his first laps on the race track. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

The Day Racing Team were the first to hit the pavement, with Brantley Day making his debut behind the wheel of a Champ Kart.

Veteran Jay Jay Day leads son Brantley around the track during the young Day's first day on the race track. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

After a few laps following his Dad in a golf kart, Brantley Day then took some laps following his Dad in another kart. The new driver from Theodore, Alabama had the support of a full crew from Day Racing Team and Preslar Brothers Motorsports. Dad Jay Jay also took several laps testing the Gravel Motorsports number 99 Champ Kart throughout the day.

Rookie driver Brantley Day was focused while following his father around the track. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

The focus of the day, however, was on the youth in the pit area. Today was the day that many of these drivers will hold in their memories for the rest of their lives; first day on the race track.

Kart racer Bentley Stewart goes over a checklist prior to hitting the race track. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

Teams took this day to knock the cob webs off of their machines, or in some cases, put the finishing touches on new (or at least new to them) karts and cars.

Young Jaxon Goff puts on his driving gloves in preparation of making some laps. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

Part of the process that goes along with the "first day" is getting some of the finer details dialed in. Pedal placement, seat adjustments, new suits, new helmets... its all part of the game during this pre-season test.

Son of Pure Stock driver Jerry Goff, Jaxson makes his debut on the track. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

Jaxon Goff, son of Pure Stock driver Jerry Goff, was another of the many first timers during the day. Goff took laps early, and often, getting as much on track time as possible. By day's end, Goff found himself on the raceway running alongside fellow kart rookie, Brantely Day.

The crew of Nicholas "Cole Trickle" Denton... himself, Mom and Dad. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

Many of these newly minted race car drivers got their rides via "Santa Claus". Nicholas Denton got a brand new Bandolero for Christmas. While Denton's car was all white for this test, expect the familar "Cole Trickle" paint scheme to adorn the ride come the start of the season.

Bandolero driver Kyler Bean rolls through turn two at Sunny South Raceway. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

There were a number of Bandoleros on the grounds during the day, including Kyler Bean from Pascagoula, Mississippi behind the wheel of the number 14 Bean Racing machine.

Legends car driver Timothy Watson at speed under an unmarked car during the test. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

The Legends cars are Sunny South's premiere division. Timothy Watson, Jay Jay Day, Drue Scott, and Caleb Sanford were some of the Legends drivers participating. 

Driver Timothy Watson rolls a tire in his pit area while taking the opportunity to make adjustments after a run on track. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

The Pro Challenge cars were represented by Dalton Chipley and Andrue Nolen during this test. While the numbers of the Pro Challenge class are smaller, the battles between drivers is always fierce. The track even had a driver or two turn some laps in the "house" car formerly driven by Connor Okrzesik.

Pro Challenge driver Dalton Chipley at speed around the tight, yet fast, Sunny South Raceway. (Daniel Vining/PixelatedSPEED)

Track owner, and promoter, Wayne Okrzesik said that this would be the first of several tests held prior to the start of the regular season. 

Check out the Gallery on the PixelatedSPEED Facebook Page with even more photos from this test.

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedSPEED is a part of the Gravel Network. Copyright - 2018, 2019

Raceday: 2019 Red Eye 50/50 - Everything You Need to Know

Seen here during the March 2012 Miller Lite Series weekend in Mobile, Alabama, New Smyrna regular Anthony Sergi has entered the Red Eye 50/50 in a Super Late Model. (Jamie Williams/Finish Line Photography)

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida (January 5, 2019) -- Racing gets back underway early in Florida as New Smyrna Speedway plays host to a packed Saturday of action headlined by the 33rd Running of the Red Eye 50/50.

Traditionally a 100 lap, Super Late Model event, this year’s running of the Red Eye will feature double-header Pro Late Model and Super Late Model 50 lap races. This is in an effort to better showcase the Pro Late Models and hopefully bring fans to the edge of their seats with a short sprint rather than the longer format, which favored tire saving over pure speed.

Also included on the racing schedule is a full slate of local division features for Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Mod Minis, and Bombers.

RELATED: New Smyrna Speedway Kicks Off Massive 2019 Schedule with Red Eye 50/50 and World Series

In last year’s Red Eye 100, West Palm Beach, Florida’s Jeff Choquette led 99 of the 100 laps en-route to a dominating victory. The 32nd running of the Red Eye produced only one caution, for an accident involving Dustin Smith in turn two. Choquette bested Hudson, New Hampshire driver Derek Griffith, North Carolina’s Gus Dean, Maine’s Ryan Moore, and Florida’s David Rogers.

The half-mile speedway, located just minutes from Daytona, and the beach, will have a strong crop of talent to comprise the field. Pre-entries include local standouts Brad May, David Rogers, Anthony Sergi, and Travis Cope.

This race draws in competitors from all across the country. Also entered in the Red Eye 50/50 are Todd Stone from Vermont, Brad Kossow from Wisconsin and Ryan Moore from Maine.

NASCAR Truck Series Champion Mike Skinner returns behind the wheel of a Pro Late Model.

Although not yet listed on the entry list, expect a host of additional drivers, such as the duo 2018 race winner Jeff Choquette and contender Stephen Nasse from Jett Motorsports among others.

Entry List (as of January 3, 2019)

Super Late Models:
1 Todd Stone
2 Brad Bowman
7 Doug Elliott
9M Brad May
11 David Rogers
12 Brad Kossow
17 Tanner Gray
20 Anthony Sergi
21 Trey Bayne
32 Harold Crooms
40 Tovia Grynewicz
54 Drew Dollar
57 Travis Cope
59X Becca Monopoli
62 John Gerstner
67 Colin Allmän
74 Ryan Moore

Pro Late Models:
0 Josh Todd
1 Todd Stone
3 Andrew Franzone
5 Mike Skinner
9M Brad May
22 Drew Dollar
24 Chance Jewels
32 Harold Crooms
43 Daniel Dye
54 Zach Harris
81 Sammy Smith
117 Phillip Bessette

A complete listing of local division entries can be found on the New Smyrna website

33rd Annual Red Eye 50/50 Schedule

(Times in Eastern)
11:00 AM -- Pit Gate/Tech/Fuel/Tires/Registration Opens
2:00 PM  -- Driver’s Meeting
2:30 PM -- Super Late Model Practice (45 mins)
3:20 PM -- Pro Late Model Practice (45 mins)
4:10 PM -- Local Division Practices
6:30 PM -- Super Late Model and Pro Late Model Qualifying
7:15 PM -- Pre-Race Ceremonies
7:30 PM -- RACING BEGINS

Modifieds: 25 laps
Super Stock: 25 laps
PRO LATE MODELS: 50 laps
***Intermission***
Sportsman: 25 laps
Mod Mini: 25 laps
SUPER LATE MODELS: 50 laps
Bombers: 20 laps
Ground Pounders: 20 laps

Complete event details, ticket prices, and more can be found at the New Smyrna Speedway website, http://newsmyrnaspeedway.org

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedSPEED is a part of the Gravel Network. Copyright - 2018, 2019

iRacing’s Elite to Battle in NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series for $100K in 2019

Driver Ray Alfalla clinched a spot into the championship race after a 12th place run at Dover in October 2018. He would go on to win his fourth NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series championship. (Slip Angle Motorsports Image)

BEDFORD, Massachusetts (January 4, 2019) -- Celebrating 10 seasons of competition, the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series, or NPAS, is set to roll in 2019 with an 18 race schedule that will have 40 of sim-racing’s most elite racers vying for a chance to dethrone four-time Champion Ray Alfalla, and take home the lion’s share of an unprecedented prize purse.

Representing the iRacing Motorsports Simulation platform’s Driver’s World Championship for Class-A oval racing, the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series is official sanctioned by NASCAR, and is the highest level of esports competition for the 70 year old sanctioning body. Drivers will compete in simulated versions of the Chevy, Ford and Toyota Gen-6 cars being raced on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit.

The season starts on February 12, 2019 at Daytona International Speedway, and runs through November at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The series will visit a complete sampling of the venues that the real life NASCAR series has to offer, and will include a four race playoff comprised of events at Darlington Raceway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Charlotte ROVAL, and Homestead-Miami Speedway, to decide the 2019 Champion.

Drivers are racing for an unprecedented $100,000 in prize money, as part of an increase in purses across the top levels of the iRacing platform.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be able to increase the prize pool to $100,000,” said Anthony Gardner, President, iRacing.com. “Working closely with NASCAR, as well as a great partner like PEAK Antifreeze, we have been able to elevate the series to a whole new level.”

Over the course of ten years of NASCAR involvement, what is now known as NPAS has seen tremendous growth, adding legitimacy to esports genre with drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. participating. Sim-racing teams are made up of an entire crew of individuals working together to produce advanced setups that could rival some of their real life counterparts. The continued rise of the genre has resulted in the berth of the NASCAR Ignite Series, a Legends Car series focused on young drivers, and the NASCAR Heat Pro League, based on the NASCAR Heat console game.

In 2014, Old World Industries PEAK Antifreeze signed on as the title sponsor of the series, and has continued to increase its involvement over the years.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to celebrate the 10th season of the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series with our partners at NASCAR and iRacing,” said Bryan Emrich, Chief Marketing Officer for Old World Industries. “We have a storied history in motorsports and over the past five years as title sponsor we have authentically engaged and connected with racing enthusiasts competing at the highest level of sim-racing.”
All 18 rounds of the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series will be broadcast live on the iRacing eSports Network (www.youtube.com/iracing-esports-network) as well as on www.iRacing.com and www.nascar.com.

PixelatedSPEED.com will be providing NPAS related content throughout the season as part of the PixelatedSPEED commitment to sim-racing.

iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, headquartered in Bedford, MA, was founded in September of 2004 by David Kaemmer, co-founder of Papyrus Racing Games, and John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox. iRacing.com’s mission is to create the world’s leading and most authentic PC-based racing simulation and grow a new branch of motorsport through real-time, online competition – otherwise known as simracing.  iRacing now has over 70,000 members and growing every day.

2019 NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series powered by iRacing Schedule:

February 12 -- Daytona International Speedway
February 26 -- Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 12 -- Auto Club Speedway
March 26 -- Texas Motor Speedway
April 9 -- Richmond Raceway
April 23 -- Talladega Superspeedway
May 7 -- Kansas Speedway
May 21 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway
June 11 -- Sonoma Raceway
June 25 -- Chicagoland Speedway
July 9 -- Kentucky Speedway
July 23 -- Pocono Raceway
August 6 -- Michigan International Speedway
August 20 -- Bristol Motor Speedway

Playoffs:

August 27 -- Darlington Raceway
September 10 -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway
September 24 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL
October 8 -- Homestead-Miami Speedway

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedSPEED is a part of the Gravel Network. Copyright - 2018, 2019

New Smyrna Speedway Kicks Off Massive 2019 Schedule with Red Eye 50/50 and World Series

Driver David Rogers, a regular at New Smyrna Speedway, practices for the 51st Snowball Derby in Pensacola in December 2018. (PixelatedSPEED Photo)

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida (January 2, 2019) -- New Smyrna Speedway, just five miles from New Smyrna Beach and only minutes away from Daytona International Speedway, will play host to over 40 nights of racing in 2019… the bulk as a part of the NASCAR Whelen All American Series weekly racing program. The schedule begins this weekend, January 5th, with the Red Eye 50/50 and stretches through to November 9th with the Florida Governor’s Cup 200.

The first race of this monstrous schedule is the Red Eye 50/50 on January 5, 2019. Traditionally a 100 lap Super Late Model event, this year’s edition will feature a new format. Two 50 lap features, one for Super Late Models and the other for Pro Late Models, will headline a weekend of racing that will also include races for The American Auto Sportsman, Super Stocks, Mod Minis, Florida Modifieds, Bombers, and Ground Pounders.

Track Manager Rusty Marcus said this is an attempt to provide more exposure for the growing Pro Late Model class, and spotlight the home track divisions as well.

“We got some up and coming Pro Lates,” said Marcus. “The Pro Late Model class has been bigger than what it’s been the last few years, they expressed interest in wanting to be a part of it.”

“It upsets me at times when we have a big show at our race track,” he added. “I consider the track the home of our drivers and I don’t like when somebody invites you to their home but you are not allowed to come. So we’ve invited all of our regular divisions to be a part of the Red Eye, which I think will be more exciting for the fans.”

Following the Red Eye 50/50, NNS ramps up for Speedweeks 2019 and the traditional World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing during the month of February. Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Trucks and more will compete over the course of nine nights of racing.

A myriad of specials will be held during the week in various classes. The World Series will once again play host to the season opening event for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with a 175 lap contest on night three, February 10th. The night will also feature the Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series. The John Blewett III Memorial will headline night six with a 76 lap race for the Tour-Type Modifieds on February 13th. Night eight, February 15th, will include the Richie Evans Memorial Tour Modified 100 and the Zack Donatti Memorial Pro Late Model 100. The week will close on night nine with the Orange Blossom 100 for the Super Late Models.

After the extensive World Series has concluded, New Smyrna shifts gears and ventures into the heart of their racing season with over 20 weeks of racing under the NASCAR Whelen All American Series racing program. Most weeks will feature a combination of Late Models, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Bombers, Trucks, and Mod Minis.

The season wraps up in November with the 54th Annual Florida Governor’s Cup 200 for the Super Late Models. Full details of that weekend have not yet been finalized.

For full details on all of these events, ticket information and more, hit up the New Smyrna Speedway website, http://www.newsmyrnaspeedway.org, and follow the speedway on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NewSmyrnaSpeedway.

Editor’s Note: Normally I like to include the track’s schedule as a part of the post, however, New Smyrna Speedway’s 2019 schedule is so massive, I don’t feel as those I can adequately present it here on PixelatedSPEED at this time, or at least in this post. With that said, I refer you all to the New Smyrna Speedway schedule announcement post on the track’s website. Thank you.

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedSPEED is a part of the Gravel Network. Copyright - 2018, 2019

Welcome to PixelatedSPEED - A Look at 2019 Coverage

Driver Kason Plott pilots a Super Late Model during practice for the 51st Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida on December 1, 2018. (PixelatedSPEED Photo)

PENSACOLA, Florida (January 1, 2019) -- With 2018 in the books, it’s time to focus on the new year and all the racing ahead. Using the success of last year as a foundation, in 2019 PixelatedSPEED is hoping to continue to build by providing informative, entertaining content to the reader and viewer. This will be achieved by mandating a mission statement, providing consistency, developing new content, and continuing to improve in all areas. There is a lot to be done, so let’s get to work!

The primary mission of PixelatedSPEED is to provide unique and entertaining content in a consistent manner while upholding the highest journalism practices and standards.

As Editor-in-Chief of PixelatedSPEED, I pledge to provide accurate, informative stories and information in a timely manner. While getting the “scoop” is nice, doing so much be done while upholding journalistic standards. It’s not worth getting first, unless I’m getting it right.

I’m setting a goal of having at least one post, photo, or video published per week. The ultimate goal is to have content published daily, but you must crawl before you can walk; walk before you can run.

What can you expect to see on PixelatedSPEED in 2019? Plenty. Articles focused on providing the basic who, what, when, where, why, and how will make up the bulk of what can be found here. Photo journals and videos will also find and increasing presence throughout the season, while one-on-one interviews will continue to highlight the people that drive the sport each week.

PixelatedSPEED will be on location at several events throughout 2019 in the Deep South region. While Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida is “homebase” for PixelatedSPEED, look for coverage from Mobile International Speedway, Montgomery Motor Speedway, South Alabama Speedway and more. There are plans to attend events ranging from the weekly shows here locally to kart races, dirt races, and maybe even a drag race or two.

Additionally, various columns and features will continue or debut on PixelatedSPEED in 2019.

The “PixelatedPICK” will continue this season. This column, planned for Friday’s, is where I pick the winner of a specific event. Also included will be a tally of the wins and loses of these picks. This will be a standard part of PixelatedSPEED’s NASCAR coverage, but will be seen throughout many series and events this season. I encourage the readers to get involved, sharing who they think will win, and why, in the comments.

I’m bringing back a feature from the old days of The Speedzine called “Stickin’ With”. As part of NASCAR coverage, Stickin’ With follows along with a driver that hasn’t won, either in sometime or ever. This will be presented in either a pre or post race format, and will stick with the featured driver until they reach victory lane before moving on to the next driver.
In a brand new feature, PixelatedSPEED will spend “A Day With” a driver or team and chronicle the day’s events, as seen from their perspective. This will be presented in either a photo journal or video format with an accompanying article.

PixelatedSPEED will also be developing various side projects in 2019. Namely, an official Facebook group called “Pixelated Speed Digest” and a website dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of our sport called “Speed Historian.”

Finally, PixelatedSPEED will always be on the lookout for opportunities to branch out and cover some of the genres that would be considered “outside the wheelhouse,” yet still firmly cemented in the concept of going fast. Examples of this include air shows, car shows, monster truck events, drag racing, and more.

I’m really excited about the journey ahead here at PixelatedSPEED in 2019 and invite you all to tag along with me. Follow along by bookmarking this website in your browser, liking on Facebook, following on Twitter and interacting in the comments of all these platforms.

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedSPEED is a part of the Gravel Network. Copyright - 2018, 2019