by Thursday marks the start of the third season of the Camping World Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) with the six-race start at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Connecticut at 9 p.m.
Created in the summer of 2020 before debuting in 2021, the SRX is the brainchild of former NASCAR champion and Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart, former crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham, as well as NASCAR executive George Pyne and sports agent Sandy Montag.
The idea was simple: put the world’s best drivers from multiple series in equal cars and let them lose on some of America’s best short circuits with both dirt and tarmac surfaces. Think of IROC on a more basic level.
Here’s everything you need to know as the SRX takes off.
DEEGAN RETURNS: Hailie Deegan back in Tony Stewart’s SRX series, but this time racing full-time
What is the format for SRX races?
Each SRX event includes two heat races and a main event. Each heat race lasts 12 minutes and the final lap starts when the timer hits zero. The lineup for the first heat race is determined by random draw with the second set by reversing the order of finish of the first.
The main event is set to 100 laps on paved roads and 50 laps on dirt roads.
Unlimited attempts at a green-white-checker finish are allowed.
How are points awarded in SRX?
Points are awarded in both heat races and the main event with drivers finishing 1st through 12the earn points.
A win in either heat race is worth 12 points, while winning the main event is worth 25 points. Points drop by one with each position in heat races, while 22 points are awarded for second place in the main event, then by two for each position.
Here’s a look at how points are awarded:
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
7th |
8th |
9th |
10th |
11th |
12th |
|
|
Heat |
12 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Main event |
25 |
22 |
20 |
18 |
16 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
Hailie Deegan, Brad Keselowski among full-time 2023 SRX drivers
Currently there are nine drivers who will race all six SRX races this year. That includes current NASCAR Cup Series owner/driver Brad Keselowski and Truck Series competitor Hailie Deegan.
Rounding out the list are Stewart, reigning champion Marco Andretti, former IndyCar Series and Indy 500 champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2000 Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte, 2008 Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman, former Cup Series driver Ken Schrader and former IndyCar driver Paul Tracy.
Also scheduled to appear at least once this season are: Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Ron Capps, Helio Castroneves, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Tony Kanaan, Matt Kenseth, Josef Newgarden, Daniel Suarez , Kenny Wallace and Ernie Francis Jr.
The SRX race schedule includes Motor Mile Speedway, Berlin Raceway
All six races will be run on consecutive Thursdays at 9 p.m., starting with this week’s event at Stafford.
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July 13: Stafford Motor Speedway
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July 20: Thunder Road Speedbowl
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July 27: Motor Mile Speedway
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August 3: Berlin Raceway
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August 10: Eldora Speedway
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August 17: Lucas Oil Speedway
What channel is SRX Racing on?
All six events will be broadcast on ESPN.
How do I get SRX tickets?
Tickets for each event can be found on the respective track’s website, all six of which can be found at www.srxracing.com/schedule. Both the Thursday race in Stafford and the race in Berlin on August 3 are sold out.
This article originally appeared in The Daytona Beach News-Journal: SRX race schedule, TV assignments and drivers for Thursday’s opener
