New Smyrna Speedway is set to kick off its 2024 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing season on Saturday, Feb. 3 with the running of the Red Eye 50/50.
Established in 1984 to celebrate New Smyrna's tradition of racing on every weekend of the year, the Red Eye 50/50 started as a 100-lap Super Late Model event that featured several accompanying support divisions. The first event was held on New Year’s Day, with Jack Cook taking home his first of five checkered flags in the race.
The Red Eye 50/50 has become a centerpiece of New Smyrna's racing culture that has gradually evolved over the ensuing decades. The most significant change took place in 2019, when the 100-lap Super Late Model race was replaced by two 50-lap events, one for Supers and the other for Pro Late Models.
Many notable names have started their respective seasons by claiming a victory in the Red Eye 50/50 at New Smyrna. Part-time NASCAR Cup Series driver B.J. McLeod was victorious in 2004, while other short-track mainstays like Bubba Pollard, Stephen Nasse and Jeff Choquette have amassed multiple Red Eye 50/50 wins in their careers.
A competitive group of Super and Pro Late Models are set to make the trip to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, for an opportunity to build some early momentum for 2024 and add their names to the long list of Red Eye 50/50 winners.
Below is everything to know ahead of the Red Eye 50/50 on Feb. 3.
[caption id="attachment_416642" align="alignnone" width="1300"]Red Eye 50/50 race-day schedule
On-track action for the Red Eye 50/50 at New Smyrna Speedway will comprise of five different divisions, with the Sportsman, 602 Mods and Bomber A classes supporting the Super and Pro Late Models.Practice for each class will rotate in race order, meaning the Pro Late Models will go out first with Super Late Models being third in line.
Super Late Models, Pro Late Models and the Bomber A class will each have a qualifying session to determine the starting lineup before the first green flag waves at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Below is the full Saturday schedule for the Red Eye 50/50.
Saturday, Feb. 3
(All times ET)
| Time | Event |
| 2 p.m. | Pit Gate/Tech/Fuel/Tires/Registration Opens |
| 3:30-5 p.m. | Rotating Practice in Race Order (see below) |
| 5:15 p.m. | SLM Pre-Qualifying Tech (Outside wall) |
| 5:45 p.m. | PLM Pre-Qualifying Tech (Inside wall) |
| 6:15 p.m. | Qualifying (SLM, PLM, Bomber A) |
| 7 p.m. | Driver's Meeting |
| 7:15 p.m. | Pre-Race/National Anthem |
| 7:30 p.m. | Racing Begins (Pro Late Model, 50 laps ... Sportsman, 25 laps ... Super Late Model, 50 laps ... Bomber A, 30 laps ... 602 Mods, 20 laps) |
Entry list
A handful of competitors have already filed their entry lists for the Red Eye 50/50. Among them are multi-time track champion Brad May, Bobby Good and Brandon Turbush in the Super Late Model class. Brandon Lopez, E.J. Tamayo and Jimmy Renfrew are among the names who have filed entries in the Pro Late Model class. The complete entry lists for both divisions can be found here.Past winners
- Super Late Model
| Year | Winner |
| 1984 | Jack Cook |
| 1985 | Leroy Porter |
| 1986 | Daniel Keene |
| 1987 | Jack Cook |
| 1988 | David Rogers |
| 1989 | Not held |
| 1990 | Bruce Lawrence |
| 1991 | Dick Anderson |
| 1992 | Dick Anderson |
| 1993 | Randy Weaver |
| 1994 | Jack Cook |
| 1995 | Jack Cook |
| 1996 | David Russell |
| 1997 | Ronnie Burkett |
| 1998 | David Russell |
| 1999 | Jack Cook |
| 2000 | Wayne Anderson |
| 2001 | David Rogers |
| 2002 | Justin Drawdy |
| 2003 | Mike Good |
| 2004 | B.J. McLeod |
| 2005 | Jeff Choquette |
| 2006 | Mike Fritts |
| 2007 | Not held |
| 2008 | Not held |
| 2009 | Tim Russell |
| 2010 | Rich Clouser |
| 2011 | Stephen Nasse |
| 2012 | Tim Russell |
| 2013 | Stephen Nasse |
| 2014 | Travis Cope |
| 2015 | Bubba Pollard |
| 2016 | Cole Anderson |
| 2017 | Bubba Pollard |
| 2018 | Jeff Choquette |
| 2019 | Ryan Moore |
| 2020 | Brad May |
| 2021 | Jeff Scofield |
| 2022 | Bubba Pollard |
| 2023 | Casey Roderick |
- Pro Late Model
| Year | Winner |
| 2015 | Spencer Davis |
| 2016 | Mike Skinner |
| 2017 | Casey Roderick |
| 2018 | Not held |
| 2019 | Mike Skinner |
| 2020 | Jett Noland |
| 2021 | Brad May |
| 2022 | Brad May |
| 2023 | Michael Hinde |