Drag Illustrated Issue 189, July / August 2024 | Page 48

Dirt

Folk Promotions to Debut Mini Million Florida 40 ’ s at Gainesville

By Jessica Hicks Spears

Folk Promotions is adding a second event for the 2024 season by announcing the Mini Million Florida 40 ’ s scheduled for November 21-24 at Gainesville Raceway . The Mini Million Florida 40 ’ s will certainly entice a wide range of racers from Southern locals and snowbirds to traveling check chasers and big-money bracket race enthusiasts . This inaugural race feels like a full-circle moment for the Folk family as they combine years of competition in Florida with their elite experience promoting the Million Dollar Drag Race .

“ My dad [ Randy ] was a 25-year veteran of the Dick Moroso Memorial Race , so even though I was born and raised in Illinois , my family never missed the winter series ,” says Jennifer Folk with Folk Promotions . “ Now that I live in Florida , I realize how few races there are for us here and how important it is to keep that tradition alive . Those thoughts turned into finding a way for us to bring a race back to the South , and now we are proud to add our Mini Million Florida 40 ’ s this year .”
Attendees will be spoiled with the milliondollar treatment the Folks are known for , but at a more affordable price point . Mini Million perks include no gate fee for spectators or crew , complimentary daily coffee and donuts , staging lanes snacks and drinks , Million Kids Zone , and a Racer Appreciation Party with an open bar . Racers will be in the capable hands of Dave Connolly as race director while enjoying the numerous friendly faces involved with Folk Promotions events .
Gainesville Raceway is certainly worthy of hosting the Mini Million as the national event facility boasts an all-concrete quarter-mile racing surface and a state-of-the-art control tower . Average November temperatures in Gainesville reach a comfortable 76 degrees with lows around 53 degrees . Interested families could turn the event into a race-cation with several popular vacation destinations within a two- or threehour drive .
The Mini Million Florida 40 ’ s will be a capped event with 425 Top Bulb entries and 32 No Box entries available . Weekend entry is only $ 699 for the Friday , Saturday , and Sunday $ 40,000-to-win races , but the action kicks off on Thursday with a $ 15,000-to-win warm-up race . This event will be live streamed on MotorManiaTV and racers will have a chance to win numerous prizes . Assorted awards include best losing package prizes each round , recognizing the last female standing , best appearing car , perfect light and trip zip prizes , long distance award , and more .
Pre-entry for the Mini Million Florida 40 ’ s opens on September 1 at TheMillionOnline . com . DI
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