By Joe Chandler
Director, Public Relations
South Boston Speedway
SOUTH BOSTON, VA (February, 4, 2025) – Over $75,000 in season-end bonuses will be awarded to competitors at South Boston Speedway this season through a new lucrative Championship Loyalty Bonus program sponsored by Hitachi Energy and EMPOWER Broadband.
Under the Hitachi Energy sponsorship, a $20,000 award will go to the top eligible driver in the Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division with payouts of $15,000, $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 respectively going to the rest of the eligible top five drivers. All eligible drivers from sixth place back will receive $2,000 each.
“Hitachi Energy is thrilled to partner with South Boston Speedway to invest in our local racing community and ensure that top-tier drivers continue to choose South Boston Speedway as their home track,” said Hitachi Energy Community Relations and Engagement Manager Ryland Clark. “This partnership not only strengthens grassroots motorsports but also enhances the experience for our employees, who will enjoy exclusive perks as part of our commitment to community engagement. We believe in powering progress – on and off the track – and this collaboration is another step in driving success for both our region and the sport.”
Hitachi Energy’s facility in South Boston, Va., is a key manufacturing hub specializing in the production of both distribution and power transformers. These transformers play a crucial role in adjusting and stabilizing voltage to ensure an efficient and reliable power supply across the region.
Serving the nation’s power grid, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and railway applications, the South Boston factory spans approximately 607,000 square feet and employs about 670 individuals.
EMPOWER Broadband is sponsoring awards for the eligible drivers in the Limited Sportsman, Pure Stock and Hornets Divisions.
A $3,000 award will go to the top eligible driver in the Limited Sportsman Division with the next four eligible drivers receiving $2,000, $1,000, $750 and $500 respectively. The sixth eligible driver and all remaining eligible drivers will each receive a $250 award.
The top eligible driver in the Pure Stock Division will receive a $1,000 award. Payouts to the second through fourth eligible drivers are $750, $500 and $250 respectively. The fifth eligible driver and all other eligible drivers will each receive a $100 award.
A $500 award will be given to the top finishing eligible driver in the Hornets Division with the second through fifth eligible drivers receiving $250, $100, and $75 respectively. The fifth eligible driver and all eligible drivers that follow will each receive $50.
“We are pleased to partner with South Boston Speedway for the 2025-2026 racing seasons. EMPOWER Broadband proudly supports our local communities and businesses and are excited to have the EMPOWER brand associated with the wholesome, family-oriented entertainment that short-track racing brings to the fans at the speedway,” said EMPOWER President and CEO Casey Logan. “South Boston Speedway is an iconic racing destination that has drawn loyal fans from all over Southside Virginia and beyond for more than 60 years. EMPOWER is committed to providing the best internet experience and empowering our local communities and businesses. It’s a winning partnership and we can’t wait to see what the next two years bring.”
EMPOWER Broadband, Inc., a subsidiary of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, provides middle-mile capacity, retail high-speed internet service, as well as voice over IP telephone, and high-speed data services to over 7,000 accounts across Southside Virginia and northern North Carolina. With over 2,060 miles of fiber line currently deployed, EMPOWER is positioned to continue its growth to further serve our rural communities. For more information on EMPOWER, you can visit EMPOWERmec.net.
The new South Boston Speedway Championship Loyalty Bonus Program powered by Hitachi Energy and EMPOWER Broadband is contracted for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
“When we say we’re going to take care of our drivers and put on a show for our fans, we mean it,” said South Boston Speedway General Manager Brandon Brown. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am to Hitachi Energy and EMPOWER Broadband for putting their confidence in South Boston Speedway and supporting this monumental effort. This is a special place, and our drivers deserve a special championship program like this. We want the best-of-the-best to race here, and our fans are in for an incredible season of action because of the absolutely stacked fields this program will produce. Although this is a driver/team focused bonus, fans will immediately see benefits from even more top-notch competition at SOBO each-and-every week. We are not done yet, there will be another announcement coming soon that will also make the 2025 Championship battle at SOBO one for the ages.”
Track officials noted that award payouts will be based on season-end driver track points. The Championship Loyalty Bonus is designed to handsomely reward those who attempt to compete in every event at South Boston Speedway. Program eligibility stipulations will allow one race night waiver per each eligible driver should it be needed. This waiver will be good for missing one night of racing, even if that is a twin-race night. No points will be awarded to a driver for the night they’ve chosen or are forced to use a waiver, but they will remain eligible for the loyalty bonus.
A second ‘emergency’ waiver will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be granted only if there is any unforeseen hardship that impacts a driver’s attendance such as, but not limited to, tragedy, injury, emergency illness, or a mechanical issue or crash during race day practice/qualifying.
Two race night absences with no ‘emergency waiver’ will void eligibility for the loyalty bonus.
Two-time NASCAR national champion and seven-time South Boston Speedway NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division champion Peyton Sellers of Danville, Virginia applauds the new South Boston Speedway Championship Loyalty Bonus program.
“This is another step in the right direction for South Boston Speedway in taking care of those who support them,” Sellers pointed out. “With so much emphasis being put on touring series, this is an opportunity for grassroots racers to compete at their local track and be rewarded for it. This is definitely aimed at the weekly racer who works a 9-to-5 job and gives them an opportunity to run for a championship and be well compensated for it.”
Landon Pembelton of Amelia, Virginia, who is setting his sights on the 2025 South Boston Speedway Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division title after having won 11 races and a track championship last season, is excited about the new loyalty bonus program.
“This program is going to be a great program for the racers,” Pembelton remarked. “I’m personally looking forward to it. This gives you something to really go after. Of course, you want to go after a track championship, but having this program on top of it is going to be good for the racers and everyone involved.
“I see this as a great thing for the future,” he added. “It’s going to be good for short track racing. I hope this program is something we can have for years to come.”
South Boston Speedway will kick off its 2025 season on Saturday afternoon, March 22 with the SMART Modified Tour’s King of the Modifieds event. That event will feature powerful 600-horsepower open-wheel tour-type Modifieds in a 125-lap race.
South Boston Speedway’s Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division will open its 2025 season that afternoon as well. Twin-50-lap races, each paying $2,500 to win will be the co-feature event of the day. Other series or divisions will be announced later.
Advance tickets for the season-opening March 22 SMART Modified Tour King of the Modifieds event are priced at $20. Tickets at the gate on race day will be $25 for those events.
Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets at the advance ticket price in advance and at the gate on the day of the event.
VIP Suite tickets for the March 22 SMART Modified Tour King of the Modifieds event are $45 each whether purchased in advance or at the gate on race day.
Advance tickets for all of South Boston Speedway’s 2025 events may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.
The latest news and updates from South Boston Speedway can be found on the speedway’s website and the track’s social media channels. Information may also be obtained by phoning the speedway during regular business hours.
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