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Speed51.com

Change is a good thing. The staff at New Smyrna Speedway knew after 46 years that the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing needed a change. The format of nine nights of racing in sprint-race feature formats is a thing of yesteryear. Today very few tracks run weekly in the divisions that make up the card at World Series each February.

The plan for 2013 will see some changes to the schedule that will give fans an opportunity to see extra distance races on Sunday and Monday and then Wednesday through the final Saturday. The addition of 100 lap races for Pros and Supers will be added during the week in addition to extra laps for the Modifieds.

"Track Owner Robert (Hart) and I have talked about how the World Series needed some changes because the program was getting stale," said track General Manager Terry Roberts. "We knew we had to do something and when Daytona made their announcement (of the UNOH Battle at the Beach in 2013) it basically gave us the opportunity to put our plan into action."

Daytona International Speedway  will hold special events for Late Models, K&N Pro Series cars, and NASCAR Modifieds on the Monday and Tuesday after the Bud Shootout on the big track as a park of their Battle at the Beach. Many thought this would be a big take-away from New Smyrna, but Roberts looks to benefit from NASCAR's plan.

"We will come in on Friday and Saturday night and run our Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, Tour Type Modifieds, and Florida Modifieds. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will be off days for the Tour-Type Modifieds."

This first step will allow for teams to run both Daytona and New Smyrna, perhaps with the same car.

"On Sunday night we will have a 100-lap Late Model race. On Monday we will have another 100-lap Late Model race," added Roberts. “We are not sure which will be the Pro Late Model race and which will be the Super Late Model race."

From here on out the schedule turns into a short tracker’s dream with big races every night leading up to the final night.

"Wednesday we will have a 76-lap NASCAR Tour-Type Modified race," in honor of John Blewett III explained Roberts. "On Thursday we will have a 100 lap Pro Late Model race and a 50-lap Tour-Type Modified event. Friday, of course, will be the Richie Evans Memorial 100. Saturday will be the Bright House Challenge 100 and 50 laps for the Pro Late Models."

The New Smyrna Speedway front office is also working on purse increases in addition to the schedule changes.

"The racers that are pulling down here want to race. I think the races needed to be extended to 50 or 100 laps. I think the Modified guys who are coming to Daytona will see these extended lap races and want to keep on racing that week. I think we will be able to keep a number of those people down here."

There will be some other changes with the Modifieds as well. The engine packages will be NASCAR Tour-legal only and the SK Modifieds will be dropped unless considerable interest can be acquired. Ricky Brooks will also take over the Modified tech portion and his staff will expand to keep things running smoothly.

There are also some plans to work with area hotels to help set up affordable accommodations for teams, fans and families.

Roberts has said his door is open and he wants feedback about the changes or other areas that can be improved. The World Series just came off a very successful year and it can have an even bigger year with promotion beginning with this announcement.

"We love to talk with people," said Roberts. "Good bad or indifferent. We need to know."