Southern Vintage Racecar Nationals

Major Announcement!!!!
Howdy Vintage racers and fans! Hope 2026 is looking to be a great year for you all. This is just an announcement to officially let you folks know there will be no 16th Annual Southern Vintage Race Car Nationals event in March 2026. This event has been held Typically in mid March at Dillon Motor Speedway the last 13 or so years. It was a decision made by Mack Tatum and His wife Pam to not do this event in 2026. This is not to say it may not pick up again in the future! After a long time of reflection and consideration, It was just a good time to not hold the event for 2026. The entire Barfield family has been nothing but a dream to work with and this is no reflection on Dillon Motor Speedway in any way shape or form. There will still be vintage racing at Dillon with the local groups to that area. Our relationship with Ron and his family and staff at the track are top notch! It is just time to take a break. I will still be running my vintage cars with the Southern Ground Pounders and other vintage organizations in the future but, Myself and My wife have some other things we wish to do. After 28 years of being 1000% in on vintage racing we will be taking a step back. Support your local vintage organizations and most importantly remember there is most likely one or two people sacrificing a tremendous amount to provide the vintage racer the ability to have a place to run a vintage racecar! Remember you do it for fun! Support your local short track as much as you can! We look forward to seeing the hundreds of friends we have made at the race track. Please stop by and see us at a track!

Full Event Recap!
The 2025 edition of the Southern Vintage Race Car Nationals took place on Friday and Saturday March 14 and 15 2025 at Dillon Motor Speedway! Mother Nature was nice to the event with Friday Fun-Day practice being GORGOUS! The Friday Fun-Day practice saw 2 dozen vintage cars along with several local division cars practicing for Saturday. We even had one dirt car take some laps! The day started at 12:30pm and would go till 6pm. Charli Ball, SGP tech Man, would do all the flagging for this day and would flag almost all of the events on Saturday! We would take a break around 2:30 and a free hot dog and drink lunch was provided by the SVRCN and Dillon Staff for all those participating in Friday Fun-Day! What a cool Bonus! The day went super smooth and looked like a couple minor mechanical issues and a simple 1 car spin was going to be the only issues all day. But alas, the best was yet to come! We controlled practice and never let more than 4 cars on track at a time. Practice is run your car and shake it down. There is no reason to put a car in harm’s way during practice. Very late in the day Friday, two cars owned by the same folks got together in practice. Both cars were damaged heavily and neither would be able to continue to the Saturday event. Practice day saw cars on track all day right till the end. Most cars covered up or were put in trailers and the crowd headed to campers, motels, and places to eat!
Saturday dawned to a heavy fog and a slight chance of a shower. The fog would burn away but it took a bit. The track opened at 9am to a huge line of folks chomping at the bit to get into the track! The SVRCN staff of ladies got the whole bunch through the pit window before 10am. This included all vintage drivers filling out info forms and drawing a pill to set the lineups for the vintage races! Practices would begin at 11am-ish and we rolled with the same rotation as Friday and it worked great! Vintage Modifieds, Vintage Sportsman, Flathead Fords, Super Trucks, Legends, and Bandoleros! Two complete rounds of practice for everyone and then a break before group qualifying for the local classes. All the vintage cars in attendance were courtesy inspected by the SVRCN Tech Staff. Just a second set of eyes looking things over! The lineups for the vintage races would be determined by the 1-100 pill draw. Each clubs’ participants would start lowest draw up front then highest to the rear. In the two National vintage races we used the drawn number, highest starting at the front the lower numbers in the back. The open divisions in the nationals started in front of the limited division cars to help make those guys race within their groups and not have to race through the limited cars. Made for good racing in the end! By doing the draw for positions this way for all the vintage races, it made the organizational side much easier than having to go get lineups from all the clubs in attendance. A much smoother operation! A couple little issues, but all in all, way easy!
The first race of the day would be a 20 lap Bandolero event. All club vintage races would run 25 laps. The Southern Ground Pounders Sportsman cars would start the vintage events off. The line up as follows
1. Lindsey Pond 55 Chevy
2. Bobby Wallace #35 67 Chevelle
3. Bobby Griffin #12 65 Chevelle
4. Allan Rowe #32 55 Chevy
5. Kevin Floars #1 57 Chevy
6. Josh Roberts #21 67 Chevelle
The race saw Charlie Ball SGP drop the green and off they went. The race saw Lindsey Pond in the Charlie Spencer owned black lead a few laps before a couple faster cars got the race lined out. It did not take long for Floars #1 and Roberts #21, to begin working to the front. Bobby Griffin would spin on lap 10 and ding the front of his Copper #12 Chevelle and end his day. A quick yellow and restart would see the field go to the 25-lap checkered flag! Kevin Floars, in his steel Gray #1 57 chevy, would lead Roberts’ beautiful blue #21 Chevelle to the end. The final finish order was as follows:
1. Floars #1
2. Roberts #21
3. Wallace #35
4. Pond
5. Rowe #32
6. Griffin #12
The next Vintage race would see the Southern Ground Pounder Modifieds Lineup to race. The lineup was as follows:
1. Dennis Werner #4 67 Mustang
2. Laurie Bonaparte #11 47 Plymouth Coupe
3. Shayne Lockhart #95 68 Camaro
4. Barry Dalton #05 38 Chevy coupe
5. Bubba Farmer #7 63 Falcon
6. Steve Mendenhall 67 Camaro
7. Henrey Stampfl #0 39 Plymouth Coupe
The green flew and the modifieds of Werner in the orange #4 Mustang and the red #95 Camaro of Lockhart took the lead! Mendenhall in his blue #2 Camaro was working through the field taking a few laps to get around the white #7 of Bubba Farmer. Laurie Bonaparte from Cape Coral Florida, in her black #11 Plymouth Coupe, was fading to the rear but holding her own! On about lap 9, Henry Stampfl, in his green #0 coupe, would bring out the yellow with a spin off 4. The spin was caused by a broken fuel pump issue and leak. He limped in. This ended the day for the Boston Mass racer! The race would continue and Lockhart’s Camero would get to the front and start to pull away. Werner began to fade and a slipping clutch would end the #4 car’s day. Mendenhall would move to second place. The most competitive race on the track would be between Bubba Farmers #7 Falcon and Barry Daltons Chevy Coupe #05. Farmer would hold him off! The checkard flag would wave at 25 laps and Shayne Lockhart would collect his First SGP Modified win in his inaugural event. The final order was as follows.
1. Lockhart #95
2. Mendenhall #2
3. Farmer #7
4. Dalton #05
5. Bonaparte #11
6. Werner #4
7. Stampfl #0
The next event was a 25 Lap Legends event!
The East Coast Ford Flatheads would lineup for the green in the next Vintage event. The Lineup would be as follows:
1. Mike Houghtaling #7 47 Ford Coupe
2. Donovan Freeman #6 37 Ford Sedan
3. Kerri Wikle #14 40 Ford Coupe
4. Johnny Johnson #99 37 Ford Coupe
5. Dennis Andrews #4 39 Ford Coupe
6. Wayne Lawson #45 38 Ford Sedan
The green dropped and the race was coming from the rear of the field. Wayne Lawson in the black and white #45 was headed to the front. He had to race through the field and get around the #6 of Donavan Freeman. The race would go totally caution free and the #45 would collect the win overall in the sportsman class and the light blue #7 of Mike Houghtaling would collect the modified division win. Hats off to the whole gang of flathead racers as they almost always run Caution Free! The Final finish was as Follows:
1. Lawson #45 Sportsman Winner
2. Houghtaling #7 Modified Winner
3. Freeman #6
4. Andrews #4
5. Wikle #14
6. Johnson #99
The next race would be a 50 Lap Super Truck Race
The Bell and Bell club would run the next Vintage event on the schedule. The lineup would be as follows:
1. WC Bell #39 39 Pontiac Coupe
2. Bert Ramsey #41 90ish Monte Carlo
3. Steve Bush #20 69 Chevelle
4. Allen Rowe #32 55 Chevy
5. Sherman Garris #38 38 Ford
6. Dennis Drummond #99 99 cup car
7. Craig Jordan #37 37 Oldsmobile
This race would go green and see the #20 of Steve Bush take the lead. Allen Rowe in his primered patina #32 was hot on his tail. The rest of the field would get single file and run nose to tail the entire race. This also would be a caution free event. The top two cars would be the show. The #32 of Rowe would look hard under the #20 of Bush almost every lap. Lap traffic separated them for a few laps, but Rowe pushed the throttle and ran the Chevelle of Bush back down. The #20 of Bush went totally defensive and Rowe hounded him hard the last few laps but he just couldn’t get position on him. Meanwhile, the #37 of Craig Jordan, had methodically worked his way to third and would be leading the Modified contingency of the Bell and Bell cars. The race ended with a nose to tail finish of Bush and Rowe! Great run for Allen Rowe doing double duty having just raced in the SGP sportsman race! The final finish Order was as follows:
1. Bush #20 Sportsman Winner
2. Rowe #32
3. Jordan #37 Modified Winner
4. Ramsey #41
5. Drummond #99
6. Garris #38
7. Bell #39
The Virginia Vintage folks would be the next Vintage club Race. The Starting Order would be as follows. Note here a few other club racers would do double duty in this event, one attempting triple duty:
1. Jay Dee Callahan #11 74 Camaro
2. Josh Weston #95 67 Fairlane
3. Allan Rowe #32 55 Chevy
4. Tom Demarmels #0 62 Chevy II
5. Susan Kimel #67 78 Fairmont
6. Barry Dalton #05 38 Chevy Coupe
The green would fall and instantly the blue and red Ford Fairlane of Josh Weston #95 would advance to the lead. The Orange #11 of Callihan was chasing in second. The Patina #0 chevy II of Demermels was closing the gap to the front. Susan Kimel and the green #67 Fairmont was battling with Barry Dalton’s #05 coupe. Allen Rowe in his third race of the day… the trooper of the day racing would overheat his car and to be safe he pulled off the track. Weston’s Ford was pulling ahead but the Chevy II of Demarmels would close the gap to a car length. The race for the win was on! About 5 laps from the end, the Chevy II would lose some ground and fall off the pace but would hang on for a podium finish. The checkered would wave and Weston would put the Ford Fairlane in victory lane. Demarmel would hang on for second. A couple spots back, Barry Dalton would collect the Modified win. The final Rundown was as follows:
1. Weston #96 Sportsman winner
2. Demarmels #0
3. Kimel #67
4. Callahan #11
5. Dalton #05 Modified winner
6. Rowe #32

The Southern Vintage Racecar Nationals - Modified National Championship would be the next race for 30 laps. Two divisions would run together. The open and limited division. Open was run what you brung; Limited cars were older cars. The opens would start up front! The starting lineup for 30 lap national championship was as follows:
1. John Lozyniak Pinto Open
2. Shayne Lockhart #95 Camaro Open
3. Barry Dalton #05 Chevy coupe Open
4. Steve Mendenhall #2 Camaro Limited
5. Laurie Bonaparte #11 Ply Coupe Limited
6. Bubba Farmer #7 Falcon Limited
7. Dennis Werner #4 Mustang Limited DNS
8. Jay Dunham #33 Super mod Open DNS
9. Henry Stampfl #0 Ply Coupe Open DNS
A couple cars could not make the call due to previous issues in club races. The green flew and the open cars of Lozyniak and Lockhart took off. They would run one, two the whole race with Lockhart very close in pursuit. The X9 pinto would pull about ten cars out during the race, but towards the end, the red 95 of Lochart ran the pinto back down but couldn’t seal the deal. Mendenhall ran third in his blue #2 Camaro the entire race. Dalton and Farmer had a repeat battle from an earlier race, but this time, the big tires the #05 of Dalton had on for a previous race made a little difference and he held off the #7 Falcon of Farmer. The 30-lap finishing order with the winners is as follows:
1. Lozyniak Open Winner
2. #95 Lockhart Open
3. 2m Mendenhall Limited Winner
4. #05 Dalton Open
5. Farmer Limited
6. #11 Bonaparte Limited
7. #4 Werner Limited DNS
8. #33 Dunham Open DNS
9. #0 Stampfl Open DNS

The Southern Vintage Race Car Nationals - Sportsman National Championship would be next, and the last vintage race of the day. Just like the Modified National there would be an open division and a limited division. The open cars would start up front. The starting order would be as follows:
1. Josh Weston #98 67 Mustang Open
2. Tom Demarmels #0 62 Chevy II Open
3. Susan Kimel #67 78 Fairmount Open
4. Josh Roberts #21 67 Chevelle Limited
5. Lindsey Pond 55 chevy Limited
6. Jay Dee Callahan #11 74 Camaro Limited
7. Steve Bush #20 69 Chevelle Limited
8. Bobby Wallace #35 67 Chevelle Limited
9. Bert Ramsey #41 Monte Carlo Limited
The race went caution free and at the drop of the green, the open sportsman cars were gone! Weston leading in the Ford Mustang this time, not the Fairlane, and the #0 of Demarmels giving chase with Kimel not far back in the green #67. Josh Roberts was the first Limited car with Bobby Wallace hot on his heels. The rest of the field was getting stretched out behind the leaders. Up front, the race was pretty tight until about 5 left to go when the brakes gave up on the #0 of Demarmels. Roberts’ Chevelle was starting to smoke, but he would hang on as the leader in Limited till the end. The checkered Flag would fall with Josh Weston and the #98 ,73 Mustang collecting the Open win. The limited sportsman would see Josh Roberts collect that win. The final finish would be as follows:
1. Weston #98 Open Sportsman Winner
2. Demarmels #0 Open
3. Kimmel #67 Open
4. Roberts #21 Limited Sportsman Winner
5. Wallace #35 Limited
6. Pond Limited
7. Callahan #11 Limited
8. Bush #20 Limited
9. Ramsey #41 Limited
These would conclude the vintage events on the night, but there would be one more non race winner’s legend event.
The night would end at 5:30 pm and we did not have to cut the lights on! That was a bonus!
Congratulations to all our Vintage Club race winners and the National Championship Vintage race winners! We had no car win more than one event, even though one driver won twice in two different cars. We had only two minor incidents to bring out a yellow and no blown engines during the event! That’s great news for all our competitors.
We did give out a couple Hard Luck awards to folks who had issues. Bobby Griffin got one, Henry Stampfl got one, and Jay Dunham got one. Nobody wants those, but we always have a little bad luck that prompts folks to receive one!
We always have best appearing Sportsman and Modified awards to give out. This year the Sportsman car of Kevin Floars, Gunmetal silver #1 1957 Chevy bodied car received the sportsman award. The modified best appearing award went to the #33 of Jay Dunham. His car was an original restored Super modified. Congratulations to these folks!
Here is where we thank all the folks for this event happening. First from myself, Mack Tatum and my Wife Pam Tatum, we would like to thank the vintage competitors who came and supported the event and were proud to be a part of it. There were a lot of cars, some close by and some far away who choose not to come support the only Pavement National Event for Vintage racing put on solely for the vintage racers and clubs. It was their loss if they did not come. Maybe next year they will choose to come eat free hotdog lunch and practice a whole day and have their own race events. Thanks again to all those vintage racers who came. Next year we hope some of those who choose not to come realize we put this event on for EVERY vintage racer to come have fun and great fellowship.
The next group that needs thanking are the Owners of Dillon Motor Speedway. The entire Barfield family and the track staff at the speedway! Ron Sr Ron Jr and Bill Flynn! All the Vintage competitors are indebted to them for allowing this event to take place at their facility. The staff of The Southern Vintage Race Car Nationals were exhausted after Friday and Saturday. Thanks to Pam Tatum, Ruby Baird, Cindy and Jerry Jeffries for office and Line scoring every vintage race! Mrs. Dee, Mandy Weatherford Carlton Sharpe Tech, Dennis Bond Tech, Mike Eggleston tech, Charlie Ball for Flagging both days and Tech, Michelle Spencer, and Wendy Pond for running Victory Lane and making sure folks got the right trophies. Jimmy Dimsdale for taking Photos, Off Duty Graphics for the winners’ hats. The 2025 SVRCN event is in the books, Now, on to the regular 2025 racing season. We will look to another successful event in 2026!

Pictures are the 2024 winners!
2025 Southern Vintage Race Car Nationals Format
This event is put on by vintage racers for vintage racers! The #1 goal is to have fun! Yes, we want the fastest cars to win but not at the expense of your fellow competitor. This is NO CONTACT GENTLEMANLY RACING! Use your bumper to advance a position you get black flagged. Race hard and clean. If you are faster than the guy you are behind, and he does not screw up and you cannot get around him cleanly well you should finish behind him. Like a gentleman!
• Friday practice March 14 will be $50 a car unlimited people. Practice will run noon until 6ish
• Saturday March 15driver in free. Everyone else buys pit passes! A quick round of practices and then feature events. There will be A Few Dillon regular divisions (to be determined) running as well as the vintage divisions.
• Club Races. No alcohol fueled cars allowed. Races will be 20-25 laps depending on number of classes. All clubs that have a contingency of Cars will receive their own event. A winners Award will be provided to overall winner in each club race. If you have multiple divisions within your club, the club will be responsible for the other club division winners.
• If you are a visitor with no regular club to race with, and your car fits closely to one of the clubs rules in attendance, we will try to get you in a club race! But if your car is radically not rule compliant, rest assured you will get a chance to run in the Open national division, Modified or Sportsman, that you fall into!
• National championship formats. 35 Laps. No alcohol fueled cars allowed. Open modified and Limited Modified will run together. Winner of each division will receive National Championship Award 35 laps There will be an open winner and a limited winner. Modified open and limited cars will race together. The biggest difference in open and limited will be, limited modifieds will run ten-inch tires, no F15 tires and wet sump motors and older original style chassis. The rest are open modifieds run what you brung!! Big tires dry sumps ECT! The Sportsman Open and Limited Sportsman cars will race together in the sportsman National. Open sportsman will be run what you brung! Any tires, any wheels, Dry sumps and Fabricated clips no weight limit. The Limited Sportsman cars will be Perimeter Chassis wet sumps ten-inch tires, no F-15 tires, small block engines and suggested stock clips. Minimum of 3000 lbs.
• Organizers reserve the right to assign cars as open or limited divisions. This will be done in the spirit of competition and a good show. Some drivers are not 100% on win and are here for fun
• Best Appearing car awards
• All starting positions will be determined by a blind draw of pills. Numbers 1-100. Club races start straight up, lower the draw closer to the front you start. The national starting positions will be based on a reverse of the numbers drawn so the higher the number drawn the closer to thee front. In national events, we will start the open cars in front of the limited cars in the interest of fairer competition within the divisions.
If you have any questions, please call Mack Tatum at 804-338-9065. No question is silly, please reach out!
Please make plans to attend if you have questions. We look forward to seeing you at the SVRCN event! the