ATLANTA — The United Sprint Car Series returns after an 18-year absence to Volusia (Fla.) Speedway Park as headliners of the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout, January 26-28.
The event kicks off the USCS season, and the 27th anniversary season at the famed half-mile clay oval known for some of the biggest dirt racing events in the world.
The Germfree Southern Sprint Car Shootout boasts more than a $60,000 purse for the USCS winged warriors, who will compete for $3,000-to-win on Jan. 27, and then $5,000-to-win in the weekend finale on Jan. 28.
The two-night event is also the 2023 season opener for the United Sprint Car Series Outlaw Thunder Tour National title chase. The two nights also double as rounds one and two of the 6th annual fourteen-race USCS Winter Heat mini-series.
“We are looking forward to opening the USCS 2023 and 27th anniversary season at Volusia Speedway Park with the Germfree Southern Sprint Car Showdown, I think it ia going to be a great show,” USCS Founder and President Pete Walton said. “We’ve always liked Volusia Speedway Park and Winter racing. Over the past five seasons we have developed a series for these Winter events called the USCS Winter Heat Series.
“We have had a lot of guys that time of the year from Canada, the Midwest and the Northeast in addition to drivers based in the Southeastern United States. They come down South to enter our Winter Heat events because they’re sick of the snow and cold weather and really, just ready to kick their season off early,” Walton continued. “We already have a good number of entries including Florida drivers, plus everyone that runs with USCS regularly and many drivers and teams from across the USA, Canada and even England.”
The Southern Sprint Car Shootout at Volusia will mark the series’ 10th and 11th races at the Florida track, and the first since 2005.
The USCS’ inaugural visit came in 2001 where former World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series driver Terry McCarl scored the win. The USCS drivers were also a part of Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals in 2004 with the inaugural World of Outlaws Late Model Series event.
The full list of former USCS winners at Volusia includes:
Terry McCarl (2001)
Sport Allen (2001)
Two-time series champion Kenny Adams (2003 (twice), 2004, 2005)
Joey Saldana (2004)
Chad Kemenah (2004)
14-time and defending USCS National Champion Terry Gray (2004)
Joining the USCS during the Southern Sprint Car Shootout weekend will be street stocks and thunder stocks, with both competing for $1,000 paydays.