Jukasa Ready for Inaugural Canadian Short Track Nationals This Weekend

HAGERSVILLE, ON – Late Model fans across North America have waited close to a year for Jukasa Motor Speedway’s Canadian Short Track Nationals and – on September 1st and 2nd – the much-talked-about event featuring a $50,000-to-win race will finally become a reality.

Promoter Alex Nagy and his staff have worked tirelessly to spread the word of the unsanctioned 200-lap Pro Late Model event, with a whopping $50,000 prize promised to the winner.

“We’re all beyond excited to host the first Canadian Short Track Nationals,” says Nagy. “This event has really taken on a life of its own over the course of the last year. The excitement is contagious. We’ve had interest from clear across Canada and the United States in ways that I just could never have imagined when putting pen to paper for this idea. I’m counting down the minutes until we can kick things off.”

Race entries have poured in from Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario as well as the Northeastern, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. The eclectic mix of talent, coupled with the race’s mammoth purse has made the event something that fans across North America are guaranteed to be talking about for years to come.

“The goal was to give our fans and racers something to get excited about,” explains Nagy. “But I feel like we’ve been able to create something truly special. It would never have been possible without our marketing partners, staff, fans and racers – and I can’t possibly thank everyone enough”

“This is going to be something we all remember for a long time. I’m just hoping we can absolutely pack the place this weekend because I know that these divisions are going to put on a show that no fan is going to want to miss”

One of the most prolific Late Model contenders set to make the trip to Jukasa will be perennial Southeastern United States Contender Bubba Pollard. The third-generation star’s resume of Crown Jewel event triumphs is too lengthy to even begin listing – but includes wins in 5 Flags Speedway’s Snowflake 100, Kern County Raceway Park’s Winter Showdown, Fairgrounds Speedway (Nashville)’s All American 400, Evergreen Speedway’s Summer Showdown and Slinger Super Speedway’s Slinger Nationals among dozens of others.

“Man, I couldn’t even tell you how excited I am to get to Canada,” says Pollard. “I’m not the guy that just wants to hang out on the porch his whole life and race an hour from home. These last few years we’ve been to California, we’ve been to Wisconsin, we’ve been to Washington – and they’ve all been awesome experiences. I know that Canada is going to be the same”

“It looks like they have a great facility up there,” adds the Georgia heavyweight fresh off his Oxford 250 win. “The entry list has a few names that I know really well and a lot that I don’t recognize. So, we’re looking forward to getting up there and see what we have to do to outrun the rest of these guys”

In addition to Pollard, well-respected Michigan standout Brian Campbell has also filed entry, as he readies to make his first career Jukasa appearance in search of another addition to his always-expanding resume.

“I think the staff and promoter should be really proud of the job they’ve done leading up to this event,” notes Campbell. “The calibre of competition they’ve attracted is top-notch. It’s not often you can unload at a place and find yourself racing against some of the top guys from Canada, top guys from the Southeast and fast cars from the Midwest”

“Anytime you have a promoter that’s willing to take a chance like this and offer up a bigtime purse – you owe it to them as a racer to go and support the show,” continues the longtime Michigan standout. “Short Track Racing – as a whole – needs racers like this. It’s an honour to have the opportunity to be there and be a part of the first event for these guys. Hopefully, we can be standing in victory lane when it’s all said and done”

And, while the American entries are understandably excited to make their Canadian debuts, the hometown crowd of competitors is just as excited to defend what they deem to be their home turf against some of the biggest names in Late Model racing.

“If your name is on this entry list and you aren’t excited for this deal – you need to check to make sure you have a pulse,” jokes Ontario-based entrant Jason Hathaway. “You hear guys in this sport constantly trying to tell you, one way or the other, that they think their team is the best around. Well – here’s the chance to prove it”

“This is gigantic for Canadian racing,” continues the multi-time NASCAR Pinty’s Series winner. “Just listen to the buzz that’s been generated for this race. It’s putting Canadian racing back on the map in a way that we haven’t seen in a long, long time. The pits are going to be jammed and I’m sure the stands will be too. There’s no one in this industry that wants to miss out on being a part of this race”

In addition to Sunday’s headlining 200-lap Pro Late Model event, Saturday’s undercard will feature the all-important penultimate race on the APC United Late Model Series’ 2018 schedule as well as the always entertaining Ontario Outlaw Super Late Model Series.

“I can say with complete confidence that this weekend has something for everyone,” insists Nagy. “It really has been a labour of love setting all of this up. A lot of work, a lot of effort and more hours than I could ever fully keep track of – but it’s been worth it”

“You can’t go anywhere else in North America and see a show like this crammed into two days. I know that we’re going to have a lot of first-time visitors in the grandstands and I’m positive that the show we’re getting ready to put on for them will keep them coming back again and again.”

Check Jukasamotorspeedway.com  for ticket sales and event information.

If you can’t attend this event you can watch it on Speed51.com as a Pay Per View.

Written by- Dan Cabral for Jukasa Motor Speedway