(Photo: SRX/ESPN)
By Aaron Bearden
Entering its third year, the Camping World SRX Series is ready to shake things up.
The tour’s concept of one-night entertainment at short tracks remains similar. But this season the series is taking cues from both the International Race of Champions (IROC) and the old Thursday Night Thunder program on ESPN.
Here’s your guide to the next six weeks of short track racing.
The Field
Inaugural champion and series co-founder Tony Stewart will be back for a third year with the series. He’ll add SRX to a year that’s seen him compete primarily in the NHRA’s Top Alcohol division. Last year’s champion, former full-time IndyCar driver Marco Andretti, is also returning to defend his crown.
RFK Racing owner-driver and 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski is chasing an SRX title, as is Craftsman Truck Series regular Hailie Deegan. They’ll compete for the crown with veteran NASCAR drivers Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman and Ken Schrader, along with former IndyCar ace Paul Tracy. Ryan Hunter-Reay was initially signed on to join the group, but pulled out to focus on his new full-time opportunity with Ed Carpenter Racing in the NTT IndyCar Series.
If you’ve checked the SRX entry list for Stafford, you’ve probably noticed that Ryan Hunter-Reay isn’t on it.
He was initially planning to run the full SRX schedule, but has pulled out to focus on his IndyCar opportunity with Ed Carpenter Racing. https://t.co/DXKXXcRytF
— Aaron Bearden (@aaronbearden93) July 12, 2023
The 12-car field will see numerous others cycle in and out for partial schedules over the six-week stretch. NASCAR regulars Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Daniel Suarez will contest races. IndyCar’s Helio Castroneves and Josef Newgarden will make appearances, as will Indy NXT regular and former full-timer Ernie Francis Jr. Ron Capps will leap over from the NHRA to compete. Ex-NASCAR stars Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Kenny Wallace and Matt Kenseth will all swing by. Now-retired IndyCar competitor and 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan will be seen as well.
Coverage
All six races will take place on Thursday nights, showcased on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET after moving over from CBS. They can also be streamed on ESPN+. The midweek structure opens the event up to more active drivers, with numerous NASCAR Cup Series stars planning to compete in one or more races.
Canadian fans will be able to view the races on REV TV Canada.
Allen Bestwick is moving over from CBS and will remain the lead analyst. He’ll be joined by a rotating list of guest color commentators including two-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano (Stafford, Berlin, Eldora), Conor Daly (Pulaski County, Lucas Oil) and Darrell Waltrip (Thunder Road).
The Schedule
As expected, short tracks will again fill the SRX schedule. Each of the six tracks are at or under a half-mile in length, allowing the tour to continue its close-quarters, contact-filled racing.
Stafford Motor Speedway will kick the series off today (July 13), continuing on as the only track with a spot on all three series schedules to date.
From there come a trio of races on paced tracks – Thunder Road International Speedbowl (July 20), Pulaski County Motorsports Park (July 24) and Berlin Raceway) Aug. 3). The series will be wrapped up on dirt, with races at season one venue Eldora Speedway (Aug. 10) and Missouri’s Lucas Oil Speedway (Aug. 17).
Schedule/Field Breakdown
Stafford Motor Speedway (Stafford Sprints, Ct.)
July 13, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Drivers
Full-Time:
Marco Andretti
Hailie Keegan
Brad Keselowski
Bobby Labonte
Ryan Newman
Ken Schrader
Tony Stewart
Paul Tracy
Part-Time:
Clint Bowyer
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Tony Kanaan
Thunder Road International Speedbowl (Barre, Vt.)
July 20, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Drivers
Full-Time:
Marco Andretti
Hailie Deegan
Brad Keselowski
Bobby Labonte
Ryan Newman
Ken Schrader
Tony Stewart
Paul Tracy
Part-Time:
Daniel Suarez
Greg Biffle
Kenny Wallace
Tony Kanaan
Pulaski County Motorsports Park (Fairlawn, Va.)
July 27, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Drivers
Full-Time:
Marco Andretti
Hailie Deegan
Brad Keselowski
Bobby Labonte
Ryan Newman
Ken Schrader
Tony Stewart
Paul Tracy
Part-Time:
Clint Bowyer
Helio Castroneves
Josef Newgarden
Kyle Busch
Berlin Raceway (Marne, Mi.)
Aug. 3, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Drivers
Full-Time:
Marco Andretti
Hailie Deegan
Brad Keselowski
Bobby Labonte
Ryan Newman
Ken Schrader
Tony Stewart
Paul Tracy
Part-Time:
Helio Castroneves
Kasey Kahne
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, Oh.)
Aug. 10, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Drivers
Full-Time:
Marco Andretti
Hailie Deegan
Brad Keselowski
Bobby Labonte
Ryan Newman
Ken Schrader
Tony Stewart
Paul Tracy
Part-Time:
Austin Dillon
Matt Kenseth
Ron Capps
Tony Kanaan
Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, Mo.)
Aug. 17, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Drivers
Full-Time:
Marco Andretti
Hailie Deegan
Brad Keselowski
Bobby Labonte
Ryan Newman
Ken Schrader
Tony Stewart
Paul Tracy
Part-Time:
Clint Bowyer
Ernie Francis Jr.
Helio Castroneves
Kenny Wallace
How to Follow
Live Timing: Race Monitor
Instagram: @srxracingofficial
Threads: @srxracingofficial
Twitter: Twitter List of SRX Affiliated Accounts
