Coming off one of the best seasons of racing under the NASCAR banner, if not one of the best seasons in the track’s history, East Carolina Motor Speedway (ECMS) is looking to carry that momentum into the 2017 season. With one of the largest schedules we have seen, ECMS ran from April through September on alternating nights for the most part with neighboring 4/10th-mile oval, Southern National. With an impressive ten division schedule, East Carolina crowned first-time champions in seven of those ten divisions. Brenden Queen, 19-year old driver out of Chesapeake, Virginia, not only won his first race in a Late Model at East Carolina but also dethroned veteran Jeff Shiflett to grab his first ever Late Model Stock track title. ECMS also crowned a new champ

ECMS also crowned a new champion in the INEX Legend division with Dillion Spain, Sammy Gaita in the Super Streets, Chris Flowers in the Grandstocks, Trevor Battoia in the Super Trucks, Justin Fuller in the Pro Six, and Richard Quinn for the ever popular Bomber division. A few drivers found their way back to the top of the points standing when the season came to capture another track championship. Blaise Brinkly put on a clinic once again to take the ECMS championship along with Duane Walker in the UCAR division. Jesse Council had a trying year and overcome a ton to grab another Street Stock title.

East Carolina will look to retain all but one division – INEX Legends – when racing continues in 2017. Including those divisions who were displaced when Hampton, Virginia’s Langley Speedway closed its doors in 2015. It is too early to tell but ECMS schedule is built to host a few special events if they were to come up during the winter months. There as also been talks throughout a few social media groups that the Wing Champ karts are looking to make their debut at East Carolina along with three other tracks in the southeast.

The green flag is set to fly Saturday, April 1st – nope that’s not a joke – with a packed night for fans to enjoy. It has also been confirmed via the schedule the track released on their website that every event will be twins for the NASCAR Late Models. In addition, the date for the annual Ronnie Barnett Memorial has not been set just yet, I will tell you this, you may want to stay tuned to The Weekly Racer to learn what night that will be run. Speaking with track owner Mr. Perry and his son Chris Perry at this year’s awards banquet they are looking to make this a show for those to remember.

A full list can be found below with dates and divisions. Lap counts for each class have yet to be announced and as always, this schedule is subject to change at any time.

April 01: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Super Streets, Trucks, Bombers

April 15: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Trucks, Pro Six, Bombers

May 06: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Super Street, Trucks, Bombers

May 20: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Trucks, Pro Six, Bombers

June 03: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Super Streets, Trucks, Bombers

June 17: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Trucks, Pro Six, Bombers

July 01: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Super Streets, Trucks, Bombers

July 15: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Trucks, Pro Six, Bombers

August 05: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Super Streets, Trucks, Bombers

August 19: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Trucks, Pro Six, Bombers

September 02: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Super Streets, Trucks, Bombers

September 16: LMSC, Street Stock, UCAR, Bando, Trucks, Pro Six, Bombers