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Justin Towler’s goal for the 2024 season is to have significantly better results than last season. Heading into the 50-lap Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division race that will be part of South Boston Speedway’s Oak River Realty Race Night event on Saturday night, June 8, Towler’s season is slowly tracking in the right direction.

Towler won Rookie of the Year honors in the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division last season, finishing 10th in the final division point standings with a trio of Top-10 finishes in 10 starts.

At this point in the 2024 season, Towler stands 11th in the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division standings, just two points out of 10th place, and he already has a pair of Top-10 finishes, just one shy of his total in that category a season ago.

While Towler’s season is tracking on a path that should take him to a better record than a season ago, the first half of the season has been tough for the 22-year-old Chatham resident. Towler bought a new car during the off-season and now is in the process of learning what chassis setups are needed to produce the speed he wants and needs.

“We sold my old car and bought a new car,” Towler explained. “This car was just a chassis sitting on the floor with the front suspension on it. We bought everything else and put it together. The motor, transmission, rear end – everything is different from the old car. The other car was outdated, and this car is quite a bit more updated than the car I had. I’m really excited about this car.”

While Towler is excited about his new car, he is experiencing growing pains learning the chassis setups the car needs.

“It’s just a big learning experience for me,” Towler pointed out. “I’m just trying to get this new car dialed in. We’re trying to find what will work and trying to find some speed here and there. We feel like one minute we’re going well in one direction and one minute we’re not. Some days I’m better than the car, and some days the car is better than I am. It’s just a process.”

Towler has finished 10th, 13th, and 10th in his last three starts. Those finishes are not what he had hoped for, but the two Top-10 finishes are indicators there is a little ray of light on the horizon.

“It’s getting a little bit better,” Towler remarked. “I feel like we’re starting to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. I turned the fastest lap I’ve ever turned down here at South Boston in this new car. We’ve got the car rotating a little better, but we’ve still got some more work to do here and there.”

Towler is optimistic that the second half of the season will be much better than the first half of the season has been.

“I feel like the car will come to life in the second half of the season,” he said. “I want to try to get up front with the top boys with this car. We’re working towards that. I feel like we’re getting close. It just takes a little time.”

Breaking down race night

Six races are slated for the June 8 Oak River Realty Race Night event at South Boston Speedway. Double 75-lap races for the Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division will headline the night’s racing action. The 50-lap Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division race, a 25-lap race for the Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division and double 15-lap races for the Virginia State Police Heat Hornets Division will round out the night’s six-race card.

The event schedule for the Oak River Realty Race Night event has registration and pit gates opening at 2 p.m. Practice will run from 3:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Frontstretch spectator gates will open at 3:30 p.m. Qualifying is set for 6 p.m., pre-race ceremonies are scheduled for 6:45 p.m. and the first race of the night will start at 7 p.m.

Advance tickets may be purchased online for $12 each on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947.

Tickets at the gate will be $15 each. Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets for $12 each at the gate on race day.