SpeedFest Celebrates 21st Running as One of Short Track Racing’s True Season-Opening Traditions

For more than two decades, SpeedFest has stood as one of the most respected and anticipated events in pavement short track racing, earning its reputation as the unofficial start of the racing season for drivers and fans across the country.

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First contested in 2005, SpeedFest was originally promoted by CRA founders R.J. Scott and Glenn Luckett and held at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida. The event quickly gained momentum, serving as an early proving ground for rising stars and established veterans alike. SpeedFest was held at USA International Speedway for four seasons before the facility was sold and permanently closed.

Following the closure, SpeedFest moved north to Lanier National Speedway, where it was contested for three seasons beginning in 2009. During that time, the event’s stature continued to grow, producing winners such as Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott, further cementing SpeedFest’s place on the national racing calendar.

In January 2012, just days before the event was scheduled to be run at Lanier, SpeedFest made a dramatic last-minute move to Cordele Motor Speedway. Despite the abrupt relocation, fans packed the grandstands and competitors embraced the fast 3/8-mile facility, marking the beginning of what has become a long and successful partnership between SpeedFest and Cordele Motor Speedway.

Now promoted by Track Enterprises in conjunction with the ASA Southern Super Series, SpeedFest has flourished in its Cordele home. The 2026 edition marks the 21st running of SpeedFest, with the event having been contested every year except 2021, when it was not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s event is also part of the lucrative Super Fest schedule held at Cordele Motor Speedway, Saturday, January 24^th.

A Winner’s List That Reads Like a Who’s Who

Over the years, SpeedFest victory lane has welcomed many of the sport’s biggest names—drivers who would go on to NASCAR success, national touring championships, and legendary short track careers.

SpeedFest Super Late Model winners include:

• Kyle Busch (three-time winner)
• Chase Elliott (three-time winner)
• Bubba Pollard (five-time winner, including the last four consecutive events)
• Corey Heim
• Harrison Burton
• Chandler Smith
• Connor Okrzesik
• Jeff Choquette
• Charlie Menard
• Mike Fritts
• Eddie Hoffman

The Pro Late Model division, added as SpeedFest grew, has produced its own list of elite winners:

• Chase Elliott
• John Hunter Nemechek
• Greg Simpson
• Stephen Nasse
• Casey Roderick
• Bubba Pollard
• Michael Hinde
• Augie Grill
• Ben Maier

Many of these drivers used SpeedFest as a launching pad—proof that the event is more than just a race, but a measuring stick for success.

The Start of the Racing Season

SpeedFest has long been viewed by teams as the race that officially begins the new year. With warm winter weather for some years, strong car counts, and national attention through Racing America, the event provides an early-season showcase that blends competition, preparation, and prestige.

This year’s SpeedFest weekend features a complete racing program, including:

• ASA Southern Super Series Super Late Models (150-lap feature)
• Southern Pro Series Pro Late Models (100-lap feature)
• INEX Legends
• INEX Bandoleros

The combination of seasoned veterans, NASCAR-affiliated drivers, rising stars, and grassroots competitors continues to define what SpeedFest is all about.

Looking Ahead to the 21st Running

The 21st SpeedFest will once again bring the spotlight to Cordele Motor Speedway, continuing a tradition that began more than 20 years ago and has evolved into one of pavement racing’s cornerstone events.

As the winner list continues to grow and new chapters are written each January, SpeedFest remains what it has always been: a proving ground, a tradition, and the place where the racing season begins.

More information on SpeedFest 2026, including tickets, schedules, and driver announcements, is available now at www.cordelemotorspeedway.com and on social media www.facebook.com/CordeleMotorSpeedway

-Cordele Motor Speedway Release
-Photo credit: Nuttleman Photo