Although the off-season has officially commenced, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 officials has been preparing the 2021 Series schedule, set to kick off, officially, with six nights of non-point competition stretched across Georgia and Florida in late January and early February.
The series is owned by Columbus’ Tony Stewart.
The entire 2021 All Star Circuit of Champions schedule is nearing completion and will be unveiled this month.
Chasing a total winner’s share equaling $42,000, the traveling All Stars will launch their 2021 campaign Jan. 29 through Feb. 4, igniting their annual southern invasion with a two-day pit stop at the Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Georgia, Jan. 29-30.
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The two-day spectacle, featuring the All Stars at Screven for the first time since 2012, will be the richest two days of the southern swing awarding a total winner’s share equaling $18,000: $8,000 on Friday and $10,000 on Saturday.
After a designated travel day the All Stars will resume the visit East Bay Raceway Park just south of Tampa, Feb. 1-2. Right in the heart of its annual Winternationals schedule, the East Bay doubleheader will award back-to-back $6,000 top prizes.
The Series will continue its Florida stretch, Feb. 3-4 at Volusia Speedway Park. Continuing a longstanding tradition of All Star-action opening the five-day sprint car segment of Volusia’s DIRTcar Nationals, the midweek appearance will award another pair of $6,000 top prizes.
East Bay and Volusia were each visited by the traveling All Stars in 2020 with now-three-time Series champion, Aaron Reutzel, winning two of the four contested main events. The Clute, Texas-native scored a pair of $5,000 triumphs at Volusia.
Brad Sweet, who is chasing a second consecutive World of Outlaws title in 2020, opened the All Star season with a victory at Volusia Speedway Park in February.
Kyle Larson, the leading All Star winner during the most recent season with 14 Series victories, capped East Bay action last February with a win.
FloRacing, the official media partner and live broadcast provider of the All Star Circuit of Champions, will broadcast it at www.floracing.com.
New owners at Salem Speedway
Bill and Ashlee Kniesly have purchased Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery from longtime owners Owen and Beverly Thompson (Thompson Promotions). The Thompsons owned the property from 1995 to 2020 and served as the speedway’s longest standing ownership group since the track’s inception in 1947. Bill is also the owner of Island Construction and Black Dog Events.
Black Dog Events encompasses ownership of the 54-acre Salem Speedway property and West End Drags. Ashlee is a Purdue University graduate in mechanical engineering.
Nolen Racing searching for new driver
Nolen Racing, one of the premier teams of the USAC Silver Crown series, is evaluating options for the 2021 USAC Silver Crown series after its lead driver, Kody Swanson, informed team owner Greg Nolen of his decision to focus on asphalt Silver Crown, sprint car races and other forms of racing next year with another team.
Swanson won the series driver championship driving for Nolen Racing in 2019 and finished second this year. The Whiteland-based team has finished in the top five in the USAC Silver Crown series for the last six years.
The USAC Silver Crown series is contested on both asphalt and dirt tracks. Nolen Racing has fielded cars in the USAC Silver Crown division for nearly 40 years under the direction of team founder Gene Nolen, who passed away April 8. His son Greg Nolen continues to operate the team.
Swanson earned his fifth title in 2019 and is the winningest driver in series history.
Swanson drove the famous yellow Nolen Racing No. 20 to second place in the driver championship this season in a year that abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rain. Only five of the original 12 events were held in the series’ 50th anniversary season, which saw an unprecedented 10 drivers eligible to win the championship going into the final race of the year.
Swanson recorded his fifth consecutive win in the Joe James-Pat O’Connor Memorial at Salem Speedway in August, a record for that event. It was his 30th USAC Silver Crown victory, also a record.
“We know that Kody wants to concentrate on the asphalt Silver Crown races next year," Nolen said, "and Doran Racing will provide a pathway for Kody to get to the next level in his racing career.
"The entire Nolen racing team wishes him the best. I can’t thank him enough for winning the Little 500 and a Silver Crown championship for my dad. We’re happy for Kody. Doran Racing is a great team. Kevin [Doran] is getting an awesome driver and a great person. His whole family is great. We will alwaysconsider the Swansons as part of the Nolen Racing family.”
Swanson praised the relationship, as well.
"My family and I have really enjoyed the time we’ve raced with Gene, and his son Greg, who led the team this year in his honor,” said Swanson. “I’m thankful for everyone who has been part of the Nolen Racing team these past few years. They are all great people and graciously welcomed us into their racing
"I’m grateful for the time we’ve all spent together, for the friendships we’ve made, and for all of their effort."