Bigley Memorial Celebrates 10th Annual Running This Saturday

Entering its 10th running, the Bill Bigley, Sr. Memorial 128 continues to grow as one of the biggest pavement Super Late Model events each year.

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More than 50 competitors will descend upon the Freedom Factory this weekend for the UARA National season finale, paying $30,000 to the winner. In just 10 years, the Bigley Memorial has grown from a showcase of Florida's top Late Model talents to a marquee event drawing national recognition.

This year marks the 10th Annual Bill Bigley, Sr. Memorial 128. The event started in 2016 at Freedom Factory, then known as DeSoto Speedway, with Jesse Dutilly winning the inaugural running against a field of 26 cars.

The event moved to the re-opened 4-17 Southern Speedway in Punta Gorda, Florida in 2017, with Steve Dorer scoring the victory after taking the lead from Dutilly with 15 laps to go. Anthony Sergi won in 2018, while Dutilly earned his second Bigley Memorial win in 2019 and Sergi joined him as a two-time winner in 2020.

Michael Atwell joined Sergi and Dutilly as two-time winners of the event when he became the first back-to-back Bigley winner in 2021 and 2022. In the 2021 victory, Atwell led just the final three laps, moving to the top spot after Dorer and Nick Neri clashed in the closing laps.

Ty Majeski crossed the finish line first in 2022, but was disqualified in post-race technical inspection. That turned the victory over to Atwell for his second-straight victory in the event. Atwell's 2022 win marked the last Bigley Memorial at 4-17 Southern Speedway. However, 4-17 Southern Speedway closed again in 2022.

Atwell's pair of victories coincided with a rising tide in the stature of the Bigley Memorial. The 2021 event saw 42 entries battling for 28 spots in the starting lineup. Just like after the inaugural Bigley Memorial, one door closing coincided with another door opening. YouTube personality Cleetus McFarland purchased the shuttered DeSoto Speedway property in the summer of 2020, extensively renovating the facility and renaming it "Freedom Factory."

The Freedom Factory hosted its first public event in February 2021. Since then, the once-famed Florida short track has found new life, hosting everything from burnout competitions, circle-track racing, drift events, and much more. Earlier this month, McFarland teamed up with NASCAR Cup Series competitor Carson Hocevar to win the 2.4 Hours of LeMullets for Crown Vics at the track.

When 4-17 Southern Speedway closed, the Bigley Memorial found its new home under the growing spotlight of the Freedom Factory. Jett Noland won the first Bill Bigley, Sr. Memorial 128 at Freedom Factory in 2023, while Ty Majeski scored the victory in 2024 to lead a Wisconsin sweep of the podium.

The Bigley Memorial's stature has only increased with the move to the Freedom Factory. 37 cars entered the 2023 edition of the event, and more than 50 cars are entered for this year's battle for $30,000.

Hocevar and Majeski will be part of this year's field, along with former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Johnny Sauter. They'll do battle against top Late Model competitors from across the country.

Fans can watch the 10th Annual Bill Bigley, Sr. Memorial 128 live on RacingAmerica.TV. Click here to subscribe today and tune in to the Bigley Memorial on Saturday, November 29.

-Photo credit: Will Bellamy/Racing America