Written by Chris Moore
CANANDAIGUA, NY – Next in line.
One of the sport’s top young talents – Alex Payne – is headed to All-Tech Raceway in Lake City, Fla., for the ‘Sunshine Swing’ presented by Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches.
Payne and team will travel south for the second consecutive year with the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco.
A Friday night regular at Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, N.Y., Payne travels to the half-mile oval with plenty of experience on slick, fast tracks that require throttle control.
Payne tamed Utica-Rome in ’23, becoming the youngest Modified winner in the speedway’s history.
Now, he sets his sights on an STSS victory in the Sunshine State after a podium run in the ’23 ‘Sunshine Swing’ opener.
“I felt like we could do it,” Payne reasoned. “I don’t know if I would say I expected to finish that well though.
“I think we came from 13th and when it took rubber I went through the middle on a restart and got some spots and then got by Corey (Cormier) on the last lap.”
The ’23 edition of the ‘Sunshine Swing’ was Payne’s first trip to All-Tech and an opportunity to learn what many already experienced about the tricky oval.
“It was very different,” he recalled. “It’s very interesting how easily you can lose the nose from the entry to the center of the corner. That’s the biggest thing I remember.”
Payne said All-Tech is a venue completely unique to other tracks in the Empire State.
“I guess you could when it gets slick there’s similarities (to New York State venues),” he explained. “The dirt is just so much different down there and we run a harder tire in Florida so I wouldn’t say it’s similar.”
Payne heads into All-Tech in search of his first career STSS victory. He came within half a lap of doing so in ’23 at Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, N.Y.
“No matter what we do, that race is always going to be there,” he proclaimed. “I think I’ve watched it enough times to know what I did wrong though.
“I definitely think I’ve learned from it, and we’ve been able to turn it into a positive.”
Florida won’t be Payne’s only opportunity to claim his first STSS win, as the team plans to follow most, if not all, of the series.
“We’re going to hit almost all of the (River Valley Builders) North Region, if not, we’ll be at all of them,” he said. “We’re planning on a lot of the (NJ Quality Drywall) South Region, too.
“We’re going to race a lot this year.”
Payne will do so with a brand new 440 cubic inch open small block built by New Generations in Fenwick, Ont.
“It’s the first open small block I’ve ever had,” he explained. They’ve been really awesome to work with.
“I’m really excited.”
To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook, @ShortTrack_SS on Twitter or @ShortTrackSS on Instagram.
The Short Track Super Series is presented by Bob Hilbert Sportswear, FloRacing, American Racer, Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, BDR Speed, NJ Quality Drywall, River Valley Builders, Ollie’s, Penske Racing Shocks, Saint Lawrence Radiology, Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches, Bicknell Racing Products, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Madsen Overhead Doors, Belmont’s Garage, Wegner Automotive, DIG Race Products, ATL, Dirt Draft, Swagger Factory Apparel, F.X. Caprara Car Companies, Algonkin Motel LLC, Beyea Custom Headers, Design for Vision, Sunglass Central, Dirt Track Digest TV, DKM Fabrication, EIBACH, Fastline Performance, Flach Performance Products, Henry’s Headers & Exhaust Systems, JK Signworks, JLR Technologies, Dave Prime Jr. MAC Tools, Schultz Racing Fuel Cells, Superior Remodeling, TV 12 Racing Products, VAHLCO Wheels & Wilwood Disc Brakes.