Kenly’s Michael Sliger Eyes Championship Crown In Southern National Spring Finale

Champions to be crowned in five divisions at Southern National Motorsports Park on June 6

LUCAMA, N.C. – Michael Sliger could be just 20 laps away from championship glory at Southern National Motorsports Park.

A pair of runner-up finishes propelled the 38-year-old from Kenly, North Carolina, to the points lead on May 16. Sliger overtook his FabLab Performance teammate James Barbour, and now, a racing career that began just two years ago could culminate with a championship in the spring finale at Southern National Motorsports Park on Saturday, June 6.

“I started this racing thing at 36 years old, and from where we started to where we’re at now is night and day,” Sliger said. “We worked hard and we raced with our friends out here. They helped us and it would mean everything, especially at Southern National, to win this championship.”

Sliger, who works for the Town of Smithfield as a Public Works Superintendent, said, “I was into old cars in my early 30s and I needed to borrow a trailer to pick up a car in Virginia and we ended up borrowing Chip and Spence’s trailer, they used to race Charger out here, and they wouldn’t let me pay them. They just asked me and my buddy Greg to help them and we fell in love with it the first race. We helped him the rest of the year, bought our own car, and started racing.”

After finishing second to FabLab Performance teammate Andrew Watson on May 16, Sliger is hopeful he can clinch the championship in Saturday night’s 20-lap feature.

“If the car runs as well as it did [last race], I think we have a good chance to clinch it,” Sliger said. “I think we went ahead by two points after that last race and, you know, we’re excited. We’re gonna wrench on this car a little bit and see if we can get any faster.”

James Barbour, who scored a win on Saturday night at Coastal Plains Raceway, thinks trying to retake the lead to win the championship will be a tall task.

“It’s a long shot,” Barbour said. “But, we’re going to send it. FabLab Performance racing for the championship.”

Barbour won the division championship at Wake County Speedway in 2024.

Daniels on cusp of first Southern National championship

Rusty Daniels took control of the points lead in KONI Charger division with a pair of runner-up finishes on May 16. However, his lead over Justin Mitchell sits at a narrow two-point margin as both drivers, as well as third place driver Aiden McConnaughey, look ahead to a 75-lap duel under the lights.

Daniels has won championships at Carteret County Speedway, Coastal Plains Raceway, and the now-defunct East Carolina Motor Speedway. A championship on Saturday night would put him in a very exclusive club as a champion at all four North Carolina tracks east of I-95. Mitchell, meanwhile, is a former Legends champion at Southern National.

Saturday night’s Charger showdown will pay $2,000 to the winner of the race.

Levi Canup leads the Legends standings by 48 points over Aaron Crumpler. Two vintage champions will be crowned, with Billy Ray Lucas, Joe Seeger and Kevin Floars all in title contention across the two divisions.

Saturday night’s 30 lap Legends race will also serve as an INEX National Qualifier while the Virginia Vintage Series will also be in action for 30 laps alongside the Southern National Vintage Series.

Championship Saturday at Southern National will commence at 7:00pm.