All dirt roads lead to Charlotte this fall as The Dirt Track at Charlotte gears up for adrenaline-charged back-to-back weekends of wheel-to-wheel action. The eighth annual World Short Track Championship fires off Oct. 30–Nov. 1, setting the tone for the World of Outlaws World Finals, Nov. 5–8 — when the sport’s biggest stars chase championship glory under the lights at dirt racing’s grandest stage.
Ahead of the dirt doubleheader, several drivers hit the track, sharing their excitement about racing on Charlotte’s famed red clay and what makes this event a can’t-miss on the dirt calendar:
Nick Hoffman: The Thrill From Mooresville
Mooresville, N.C., racer Nick Hoffman calls The Dirt Track at Charlotte his home turf — and this year, he’s chasing more than a win. After five victories this season, Hoffman sits second in World of Outlaws Late Model points and has his eyes on a championship.
“Charlotte’s just a great place with all three of the top divisions for DIRTcar coming into town, we never get to race with the Sprint Cars. It’s just a really cool event that brings together three different fan bases from different divisions and the best drivers from across the country. It’s a spectacle to see, especially on Friday night when all three divisions go four-wide. It’s really cool to be a part of.”
“This place is super special to me. I’ve been fortunate to win here in a Modified at the World Short Track Championship. In a Late Model, I haven’t gotten my first one this year, but we’ve had great runs, so we’ve got a lot of momentum coming into Charlotte. A lot of family and friends who don’t get to see me race throughout the year can come down the road to watch, and the crowd here is always packed on Friday and Saturday night. It’s become a crown jewel race, especially tying the championship into it.”
“You’ve got the best in the country here, all fighting for the same thing — and Charlotte, obviously the birthplace of motorsports. This is Race City USA. It’s right down the road from where I live, and it’s just a very cool event that brings together all different forms of motorsports collide here in Charlotte.”
Ricky Thornton Jr.: Double the Action
No stranger to Victory Lane at The Dirt Track, Ricky Thornton Jr. returns looking to add more hardware to his Charlotte résumé. A fan-favorite, Thornton is expected to run double duty, competing in both the NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the Real American Beer Late Model division during this year’s World of Outlaws World Finals.
“It’s probably the biggest place you go to, that’s red dirt, it’s so different, and you don’t get to race here very often.”
“Anytime you can come out and run with the World of Outlaws, it’s definitely special — big horsepower, extreme speed, especially here at Charlotte. I’m looking forward to it.”
“The biggest reason anyone needs to come out to The Dirt Track at Charlotte is because you’ve got three different divisions — Big Block Mods, Late Models and Sprint Cars. There’s so many different things going on not only at the race track. If you’re looking for a good time, a lot of speed and a little dirt in the air, you might as well come out.”
Wyatt Coffey: From the Frontstretch to The Dirt Track
Former Summer Shootout driver and Bandolero National Champion Wyatt Coffey is no stranger to Charlotte, having cut his teeth on the frontstretch quarter-mile be fore diving into dirt racing. Now set to compete in this year’s World Short Track Championship, Coffey is ready to take on another quest at America’s Home for Racing.
“U.S. Legend Cars really helped me develop in racing. Bandoleros and Legends really help you get better on dirt — going from asphalt to dirt is one of those things you learn over time, and you just keep getting better.”
“I can’t thank everyone enough for the opportunities I’ve had to get here. It means a lot for people to see what I’ve accomplished, coming from the oval side and working my way over here. It’s cool for everyone to see me get better and better as I’ve gone along.”
Carson Ferguson: Hometown Hopeful
Charlotte-area standout Carson Ferguson — 2019 Summer Shootout and 2011 Bandolero National Champion — has deep roots on Charlotte tracks and is now carving out a name in the dirt ranks. After stacking wins across the Southeast, Ferguson heads into the season finale hungry for his first World of Outlaws Late Model victory and a shot at MD3 Rookie of the Year honors.
“This is the closest we get to home — and all the big names are here. If you can win here, you can win anywhere. Everybody looks at this as one of the crown jewels. You get to watch the best Sprint Cars, Big Blocks and Late Models and we can all duke it out.”
“It’d be awesome (to win here.) I grew up sitting across the street and even ran go-karts in the infield on the road course when I was really young. This is the next stepping stone over here — and hopefully we can cross this off the list and one day, I’ll make it back across the street on the NASCAR side.”
“The facility and the aura around this event is really prestigious. You get people from all over the country, and it’s as much about the experience as the racing. You get to see so many fans and be on home turf. I wish I could say we have a home-field advantage, but since we only race here once a year, that kind of cancels out.”
Kolbe Kimbrew: Bucket-List Battle at The Dirt Track
West Virginia’s Kolbe Kimbrew, set to compete in the Crate Late Model division during the World Short Track Championship, says racing at Charlotte is the ultimate measuring stick.
“It’s one of those bucket list items — if you’re going to be one of the baddest dudes here, you come to Charlotte to do it. There’ll probably be 60, 70, maybe 80 of us, and about 10 classes racing. Three full nights starting Thursday. There are a lot of bad dudes in the pits, and it’s definitely something worth coming out to watch.”
Two weekends, one legendary track, endless action. The Dirt Track at Charlotte is set to deliver a spectacular close to the dirt racing season, bringing fans and drivers together for one final showdown under the lights — where every lap, slide job and roar of the engine matters.
TICKETS:
World of Outlaw single-day tickets start at $45. Fans can catch all of the action on track with a four-day ticket, starting at just $139. Tickets are available online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.
KEEP TRACK:
Keep up with every World Short Track Championship and World of Outlaw World Finals lap by connecting with The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on X, Facebook and Instagram.
