Event Preview: Drivers gear up for Triple Crown Throwdown
MANY, Louisiana (May 23, 2024) — Race fans in the state of Louisiana have reason to get excited this Memorial Day weekend, as promoters at three popular tracks get set to host the annual Triple Crown Throwdown, slated for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at Sabine, Ark-La-Tex and Boothill.
Factory Stock and Limited Modified teams will be in the Spotlight, as they compete for $1,000-to-win each night and a significant overall points fund for the three-race mini-series. The Triple Crown represents a collaboration between promoters that should serve as an example for others in the future.
Ethan Bailes is one of the prerace favorites in Limited Modifieds. The Elizabeth, Louisiana based racer already has five wins in 11 starts this year, and says he’s ready to give the Triple Crown another whirl.
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“We ran this event last year, and it was a fun deal,” Bailes said via telephone Wednesday night. “It’s pretty much my favorite event of the year now. I think I finished third or fourth overall, and it paid pretty well. Plus the actual race purses are strong, along with that mini-series point fund.
“We’re off to the best start I’ve had in my career. I got my first win at Boothill, and it was during the Ronny Adams Memorial. There were close to 40 Limiteds there, so it was tough. To win even a weekly show at Boothill is hard, but during a special event is quite a deal. I was pretty pumped up about it.”
Bailes says that first career win at ‘The Hill’ provided just the lift his team needed to get things rolling.
“Since then, we’ve rattled off four more wins,” he added. “Tracy Denby Jr. has been helping out with our program. We found a little speed, but here lately, we’re going to have to find about a half-second in order to keep up with Derick Grigsby. He got off to a slow start, but he’s the guy you have to beat.”
Grigsby, of Marshall, Texas, also has five wins and eight top-five finishes in 12 starts this year. It’s a safe bet that if he doesn’t get caught up in an altercation, he’ll be a threat for the overall victory.
“I think this is a pretty neat deal the local tracks have put together,” Grigsby said. “It’s nice to see them work together so we can get all the cars together at all the tracks. Rollo, Bubba, and Shane Hebert at Sabine view things from a racer’s perspective. I’m 40, and have raced with those guys for a long time.
“I really don’t know why we’re on fire this year. We got this car from Jason at IRP about halfway through the season last year, and it was fast right out of the box. We haven’t changed much on it, and we’re working with Robbie Crabtree at Dark Horse Racing Shocks. It’s handling real well, so we’re just trying to keep all four corners aired up and our nose clean. We’re hoping to keep up this pace.”
Aaron Roy is another of the heavy-hitters in Limited Modifieds, and plans to run two of three nights.
“I would love to run the entire Triple Crown,” Roy said. “But 67 Speedway isn’t part of it this year, and it’s hard to drive past it when it’s 20 miles from the house. To race at Sabine is almost a four-hour run, but I will be at Ark-La-Tex and Boothill, as long as luck is on our side.”
Hot Laps for Night 1 of the Triple Crown Throwdown at Sabine Speedway get under way at 7 p.m., with racing to follow at 7:30. Also on the card Friday evening are the CRUSA Gulf Coast Crate Late Models, Sportsters and FWD divisions. Fans will enjoy non-stop action in Many to get things rolling.
At Ark-La-Tex on Saturday night, Factory Stocks and Limited Modifieds will be joined by the ground-pounding USRA Modifieds, USRA Tuners, Pro Mods and Sportsters. Boothill runs the same classes, with each one loaded with talent. While two classes get the spotlight, every one will put on a show.
If you can’t make it out to one of these three tracks this weekend, you can catch every lap of the annual Triple Crown Throwdown with a Membership at RaceON.com. With over 450 Live events on tap for 2024, it’s home to some of the biggest variety of short track racing coverage available anywhere online.
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RaceON.com Staff Writer
