Arizona hotshoe R.C. Whitwell will his have guns loaded for the Short Track Shootout.

Whitwell, from Tucson, started racing here years ago and is familiar with the high-banked, high-excitement 3/8-mile short track.

Driving for Gressel Racing, Whitwell will be wheeling both a Super Late Model and USRA Modified at the inaugural Short Track Shootout and is sure to keep you fans on the edge of their seats.

Learn more about Gressel Racing at www.gresselracing.com.

The biggest names in dirt track racing will descend on the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, N.M., for the inaugural Short Track Shootout, Jan. 19-22.

Featuring Super Late Models, USRA Modifieds, Sun Valley Hardware USRA Stock Cars, Jack Key Auto Group X-Mods and Casa Nissan Legends Cars, the event will hand out more than $75,000 in prize money over the three days.

In addition to Whitwell, some of the biggest names in the sport have thrown their hat in the ring.

Among the standouts set to invade the high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval is Billy Moyer—the winningest Super Late Model driver in history. “Mr. Smooth” will look to pad his unmatched racing résumé of more than 800 career victories with three more at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in January.

Winner of the 1997 Dirt Late Model Dream at the Eldora Speedway, Wisconsin wheelman Jimmy Mars brings his 30-plus years of racing experience to the Short Track Shootout along with four-time MARS DIRTcar Series and 2013 Lucas Oil MLRA Champion Tony Jackson Jr. plus a swarm of other early entrants including Clay Daly, Chase Junghans, 2016 SWDRA Champion Dana Fite, Jon Mitchell, Justin Asplin, Nick O'Neil and many more.

Two-time USMTS National Champion Ryan Gustin was the last driver to stand in Southern New Mexico Speedway's victory lane after winning the 17th Annual USRA Modified Fall Nationals this past October. He’ll return in January with the goal of returning to the winner's circle behind the wheel of a Super Late Model owned by former track champion Fito Gallardo.

Gallardo, along with his son, Jake, will both be pulling double-duty in both the Super Late Models and USRA Modifieds. Other two-class competitors on the entry list for the inaugural Short Track Shootout include Ricky Thornton Jr., Christy Georges-Barnett and another two-time USMTS National Champion, Rodney Sanders.

WISSOTA 100 winner Scott Ward will travel from Watertown, S.D., to compete in his Super Late Model while daughter Morgan will bring her USRA Modified to the Short Track Shootout.

Other USRA Modified racers expected for the Short Track Shootout include Cade Dillard, Philip Houston, Johnny and Stormy Scott, Joe Duvall, Donovan Flores, Jimmy Ray, Royal Jones and dozens more.

Presented by Barnett Harley-Davidson, G3 Fitness, Mesilla Valley Transportation, S&S Fishing & Rental and Shaw Trucking, the week’s trio of colossal events will see Super Late Models battling for $5,000 to win each night while USRA Modifieds have a $2,000 top prize Friday and Saturday, and $3,000 to win Sunday.

Sun Valley Hardware USRA Stock Cars, Jack Key Auto Group X-Mods and Casa Nissan Legends Cars will also be in action all three days. Friday and Saturday’s feature winners get $500 each and a visit to victory lane on Sunday is worth $1,000 to the winner in each class.

An open practice will be held on Thursday, January 19, with gates opening at 5 p.m. and practice from 6 to 10. Pit passes are $20 and admission to the grandstands is free.

Gates open at 5:30 Friday with qualifying beginning at 7 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, spectator gates open at 10 a.m. with the green flag being unfurled at 12 noon.

General admission is $12 Friday. Tickets are just $15 Saturday and Sunday. Kids ages 10 and under get in for free every day. Pit passes are $35 each day.

The track is currently offering a special three-day Super Fan Pass for just $50 and includes general admission tickets for all three days plus a bonus pit pass for Sunday's finale (a $35 value). The Super Fan Pass is available through December 31, by calling (575) 524-7913 or online at www.snmspeedway.com. After the New Year’s Eve deadline, tickets will be available at the track on race day only.

For those unable to attend the inaugural Short Track Shootout, all three nights will be carried live via pay-per-view at www.DirtonDirt.com.

The Southern New Mexico Speedway is a high-banked 3/8-mile clay oval located 11 miles west of Las Cruces at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Take exit 132, go left and take the frontage road south of I-10 heading west.

For more information call 575-524-7913 or 505-524-7913 or visit www.SNMSpeedway.com online. You can also check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SouthernNewMexicoSpeedway and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SNMSpeedway.