OPINION • KOTS 2025
Above: Fans get their bets in as Isaac Preston does his burnout in the Frankenstein Corvette. Right: More than 5,000 spectators packed into Shadyside on Saturday, forcing the fire marshal to close the gates.
in the dispensers. The hand dryer didn’ t work, but that was merely a minor inconvenience.
Meanwhile, the food lines were always long – again, it’ d be impossible for them not to be – but while I can’ t speak on the various food trucks on the property, I was amazed at how quickly the track’ s concession stand line moved, and how polite everyone waiting in line were to each other.
Some may think these are small items in the grand scheme of things, but anyone who has been to as many tracks as I have can attest that those small items make a huge difference.
As for the racing( I mean, that’ s what everyone came to see, right?), it was spectacular. You had drivers from all aspects of racing, from radials to no prep, converging in one spot for $ 75,000. Names like Ryan Martin, Kye Kelley, Lyle Barnett, Brad Edwards, and event winner Larry Larson, just to list a few.
King of the South promoter Corey Stamper found the perfect sweet spot, prepping the track so drivers could make good, clean passes, while not going so far overboard that fans were stuck watching tractors more than the cars. Although the track crew dealt with one major oildown and a few wrecks over the course of the weekend, Sunday’ s final eliminations ran smoothly – which is just how Stamper had drawn it up when he first presented the idea.
“ It was at a point where radials had gotten big, no prep had gotten big … but there was no in-between,” Stamper says.“ It’ s something we talked about for a while – what does the future need to be? This is what the in-between is. You’ ve got the radial guys on slicks, and you’ ve got the no-prep guys on prep. And honestly, both sides love it. I think a lot of people are enjoying the action they’ re seeing. We’ ve merged worlds of fans that never would have been together. This is the biggest race I’ ve ever been a part of in my life. I love it.”
The fans – myself included – definitely enjoyed the action, and were treated to an amazing final round Sunday night between Larson and Barnett, where Larson took the $ 75,000 win by just four-thousandths of a second. It was the perfect end to a nearly perfect weekend.
While the 2026 edition of King of the South is still a year away, I’ m already counting the days until I can head back to Shadyside, and I’ d recommend to anyone that missed out this year to join the“ family.” Just remember to get there early before the facility fills up to capacity, as it undoubtedly will, or you’ ll be stuck missing it again. DI
126 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 195