The Tyler County Speedway will play host to the tri-state area’s fastest Super Late Models, as ‘the Bullring’ hosts the 14th ‘Topless 50’ on Saturday. The nations second oldest Topless Late Model event is a must see for the true Late Model fan, with the outcome seldom decided before the checkered flag falls.

Past winners of the event read like a “who’s who” in West Virginia Late Model racing. Steve Steele scored the biggest win of his career, while providing a sample of what would become the norm for this early season spectacular, as his last lap, last turn pass for the lead hi-lighted the inaugural 1995 event. Steele’s thrilling ‘come from behind’ upset win sowed the seeds for a race that quickly grew into a new Mountain State racing classic.

Butch McGill became the first two-time winner, as he took top honors in 1996 and 1999. Underdogs Kenny Johnson, 1997, and Sonny Conley, 2006, scored popular wins with late race passes, and in between Chuck Harper and Paul Wilmoth Jr joined McGill as two-time victors. Doug Horton,2000; Mike Benedum , 2004; and Robbie Scott , 2005, all have wins in what has become ‘the race’ every Super Late driver wants to add to his resume.

Fans love the ability to peer down into the driver’s compartment to watch their hero’s at work, while the drivers gain a new viewing perspective. An open tire rule will be in effect for the 14th ‘Topless 50’, as ‘Mad Mark’ Banal, the only non Mountain State resident winning driver in the event’s history, is expected to defend his title against drivers from a four-state region.

Gates open at 4 p.m., with hotlaps at 6:30 and racing set to roll off at 7.

The Tyler County Speedway is a quarter-mile high banked dirt track located four miles south of Middlebourne,on state Route 18 at the Tyler County fairgrounds.

Race Day phone is (304) 758-2660, and the Web site is tylercountyspeedway.net.