The largest dirt track racing event in the Southeast returns to The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Oct. 29–31, featuring two new divisions and another pursuit of a record-breaking car count for the 11th edition of the World Short Track Championship.
But what is the World Short Track Championship, and who’s racing in it?
First held in 2016, the annual World Short Track Championship was born from an idea to give weekly racers a chance to compete for big money on a big stage. Drivers from several different car classifications — commonly found in the weekly racing programs at local dirt tracks across the country — make the trip out to the 4/10-mile, red clay-covered oval on the grounds of Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC, every October to compete for a slice of over $200,000 in prize money and bragging rights as a winner of one of the Southeast’s most prestigious dirt motorsports events.
Three consecutive days of on-track competition commence with an evening of practice laps and two invitational races on Thursday, followed by Qualifying and Heat Races for most divisions on Friday before the lower mains and Championship Features on Saturday.
To date, 13 different car types have competed in 10 years of event history. From open-wheel Sprint Cars to full-bodied Late Models and Modifieds, to Street Stocks and four-cylinder engine cars, the World Short Track Championship has welcomed several different sanctioning bodies over the years to mandate rules, including Crate Racin’ USA, Mid-East Racing Association, Monster Mini Stock / Thunder Bomber Association, South Eastern Hornet Association, and more.
While many local racing heroes have collected the biggest wins of their careers at Charlotte, multiple national dirt track superstars have appeared in World Short Track Championship Victory Lane as well, including five-time World 100 winner Jonathan Davenport (604 Late Models, 2017), World of Outlaws Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision full-timer Nick Hoffman (UMP Modifieds, 2018-2019, 2021), four-time DIRTcar Nationals Gator Championship Feature winner Kyle Strickler (UMP Modifieds, 2016-2017, 2020, 2024), and Skagit Speedway Dirt Cup winner Trey Starks (360 Sprint Cars, 2016).
With the event’s growing popularity over the last decade, car counts have eclipsed 450 in each of the last three years, topping out at well over 500 in 2024 and setting a new record for driver attendance. After coming in at 489 last year, the event will get another chance at an attendance record in 2026 with a shakeup in car classes.
For 2026, 10 unique car classes are scheduled to compete in the event — two of which are brand-new to Charlotte’s red clay. From the Northeast weekly racing scene, DIRTcar 358 Modifieds – getting their name from the 358 c.i. engines that power them – will make the long haul from New York, Pennsylvania and multiple Canadian provinces to race for a $5,000 grand prize. The other full-fendered division added to the card for their World Short Track debut are 525 Late Models. A popular alternative to its GM 604 or 602 Crate engine brethren, the 525 Late Model also utilizes sealed Chevrolet Performance power under the hood with a standard dirt Late Model car construction and the option to race with or without a roof.
The other eight classes on the card have seen the banks of The Dirt Track in the past, which include Crate Racin’ USA 604 Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, Mid-East 602 Late Models, Mid-East Crate Modifieds, Mid-East Street Stocks, MMSA Mini Stocks, MTBA Thunder Bombers, and SEHA Sport Compacts.
For all event information, including ticket sales, gate times and pricing, driver registration, rules and procedures, and a complete schedule of events click the link below. Drivers who pre-enter by October 12 will automatically receive two (2) free grandstand tickets for the Saturday program.
WORLD SHORT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP INFO
If you can’t be at the track to watch in person, stream every lap live with wall-to-wall coverage of all three days live on DIRTVision.
