Super Late Model racing returns to Union County Speedway on Friday.

Southern All Stars East Racing Series presents a topless Super Late Model event. The 30-lap race will pay $3,000 to win.

Stars of the series include: Jonathan Davenport (Blairsville, Ga.), two-time champ Dennis “Rambo” Franklin (Gaffney), Ethan Hunter (Tiger, Ga.), two-time defending champ Casey Roberts (Toccoa, Ga.) and Monk Gulledge (Batesburg).

Zach Cox (Lumberton, N.C.), John Pursley (Clover), Colby Cannon (Greenwood), Johnny Pursley (Clover), Ross Bailes (Clover), Bruce Bullard (Greenwood), Travis Blackwell (Lyman) and Zack Mitchell (Enoree) have expressed interest in being on hand. Petey Ivey of Union is a possible entrant.

It’s been several years since the former Buffalo Speedway held a super late model race. Why now?

“Ray Storay and his guys have done a great job with building the track up into a very nice facility,” said Southern All Star Racing Series general manager Kelley Carlton. “They have done major improvements and continue to do so. They have been having excellent weekly racing with strong car and fan counts. The track surface has been in really good shape and they were looking to have an event that will ‘put them on the map.’ We feel like this is going to be it.

“We have had a great response and we are really looking forward to being there. There are some great race fans in Union County, but we will also draw fans from Spartanburg, Cherokee, Laurens and some other surrounding counties. This event also will be a little boost for the local economy, as there will be a sizable crowd coming into town that will need food, lodging and gas.”

Another big draw is that the race will be run topless.

“This will allow the fans to better see down into the cockpits and watch the drivers as they work,” said Carlton. “This is easily the biggest event ever at UCS in its long history.”

Cost for the event is $20 for the grandstands, with children under 10 admitted free. A pit pass is $30.

Support classes include Super Stock 4, Street Stock 4 and Renegade, each paying $500 to win. A Front Wheel Drive division will pay $200 to win.

A companion event will be held Saturday at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney. It also will be topless and pay $4,000 to win.

Union County Speedway is a 1/4-mile dirt oval, located at 2429 Buffalo-West Springs Highway in Buffalo.