Mason-Dixon Meltdown Promoters Tackle Modified Rumors Head On

With only a few days before the pit gates open for the inaugural Mason-Dixon Meltdown at South Boston Speedway (VA), preparations for the event are in high gear. Super Late Model entries have come in from Maine to Florida and from Texas to Michigan. A healthy field of Modifieds for the race is shaping up as well.

However, a rumor has been making the rounds in the Modified community that the race might have some last minute problems. That rumor could not be any further from the truth.

“Rumors are the root of all evil,” said Mason-Dixon Meltdown co-promoter Bob Dillner. “There are some rumors that the race won’t happen and that is absolutely not the case. The Mason-Dixon Meltdown is on track to go on just as it was planned from the start. We have not wavered one bit since we decided to put this show together. There was never any doubt what so ever in the 250-lap contests for the Modifieds or the Super Late Models. In fact, we have already booked the show for next year at South Boston Speedway.”

“I’ve always done big money shows throughout the year,” said Tom Mayberry, event co-promoter and president of the Pro All Stars Series. “And we’ve never had a problem paying out bills. Remember, we were the ones who put $100,000 on the line for the winner in a big PASS race a couple years ago. We are doing this event because we believe in it, and we love short track racing. I don’t know why people start rumors such as this when they are not true.”

How these things get started, nobody knows, but the fact remains that the event is going to be a major addition to the short track world.

“We had some interest from a few SK Modified teams about coming down to the Meltdown,” said Dillner. “We looked at the rules and came up with a package that would allow them to be included in this historic race. All through the year, PASS South has tried to work with teams by letting Super Late Models, NASCAR Elite Series cars and ASA Late Models to come together and race on equal footing. It’s worked out very well, and we wanted to extend that same courtesy to the entire Modified community. If a team wants to race at the Mason-Dixon Meltdown, we want to be able to give them that opportunity if possible.”

Unfortunately, with a calendar full of races up and down the East Coast, there are bound to be some scheduling conflicts. On the same weekend as the Mason-Dixon Meltdown, Wall Township Raceway (NJ) will host their annual Turkey Derby for Modifieds. While the two share a date, Dillner believes that any negative impact that the two events will have on each other will be minimal.

“There are a lot of things that go into planning an event this large, and we’ve been working on making this happen since March,” said Dillner. “Yes, the Mason-Dixon Meltdown is on the same weekend as the Turkey Derby, but I think that both races can be successful. I went to the Turkey Derby as a kid, and I appreciate the history of that race. If I wasn’t going to the Mason-Dixon Meltdown, I might end up at the Turkey Derby myself. But with 600 miles between the two races and plenty of racecars to go around, I think that both places can have an excellent show and that is what it is all about – the Modifieds putting on a great race at a short track. Both races will help grow the popularity of Modifieds as a whole and we have some great things planned for the future for this event.”

The Tour-Type Modified portion of the “Mason-Dixon Meltdown” features a 250-lap main event on Saturday, November 25th. The PASS South Super Late Models also have a 250-lap event that day and both premier divisions will be racing for a $12,500 paycheck for the winner, plus lap money and other bonuses to be announced soon. Just starting the event pays $1,000 to the competitor. Also competing during the “Mason-Dixon Meltdown” weekend are the Legends Cars (Friday only) and the Pro Challenge Series (Saturday only).