Historic event coming to Brasstown's Tri-County Racetrack

(Photo by Travis Dockery) "Big Sexy" Brandon Overton could win his third Tarheel 50 in a row on Thursday, Oct. 6.

On Thursday, Oct. 6, history will be made in Clay County, NC when Tri-County Racetrack hosts a record-breaking $22,022 to-win race. The track's feature event of the season is known as the Tarheel 50. The event began in 2004 and has happened every year minus two rainouts.

One of the rainouts came last year, which was supposed to be the Tarheel 50 debut as part of the Castrol / FloRacing Night in America Series. Fortunately, the partnership remains and all parties involved are excited to turn the bright national spotlight on the track known as the "Tiger Pit."

"We are going to have the stoutest field ever to turn laps on our track," said track promoter Ray Cook. Cook, who has been the Tarheel 50 promoter even before he was the Tri-County promoter, knows the magnitude of the upcoming event for the quarter-mile, high banked clay oval.

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Fans planning on coming to Brasstown can expect to see superstars from national touring dirt Late Model series. Drivers competing in the Castrol / FloRacing Night in America Series tour so far this season include series points leader Brandon Sheppard, "The smooth operator" Bobby Pierce, "Terbo" Tyler Erb, Mike Marlar, Devin Moran, Hudson O'neal, Brandon Overton and many more.

A win for Overton would be a delayed three in a row for the driver known as "Big Sexy." The Evans, GA driver took the checkered flag in 2019 and 2020 and is always a threat to win when he visits the Tiger Pit.

The return of "Superman" Jonathan Davenport to his home track has created a lot of buzz among dirt racing fans. The Blairsville, GA native got his start at Tri-County driving a Ford Pinto and has since gone on to be a three-time Lucas Oil Late Model National Champion, win the 2022 Eldora Million, collect 5 World 100 trophies and many more crown jewel victories in what will no doubt be a Hall of Fame career.

When you mix the nation's top touring drivers with the local wheelmen like David Payne, Jamie Oliver and former Tarheel 50 winner Shawn Chastain who know Tri-County Racetrack better than anyone, then throw in $20k, the result is a high-speed night of ground pounding entertainment.

Along with the Super Late Model main event, four other divisions will also be in action for the final points night of the 2022 season. The Interstate Welding 602 Late Models will battle for $600, Street Stock drivers have $400 on the line, the Open Wheel Modified division will have the top prize of $400 and the Front Wheel Drive brigade will battle for $300.

Pit gates will open at 3 p.m. with grandstands opening to the public at 4 p.m. A drivers meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. with cars hitting the track at 6:15 p.m.

Those unable to attend the night's festivities in person can catch the entire event on FloRacing.

For more information, visit www.tricountyracetrack.net