“You always have to keep thinking outside of the box,” Lake Erie Speedway General Manager A.J. Moore said, “You have to keep things fresh.” On July 11, 2026, Lake Erie will host the Grape Belt Triple Crown. It features ISMA supermodifieds, Race of Champions sportsman modifieds and dirt late models from the Dirt Rich TV American All-Star Series Presented by PPM Racing Products.
“New opportunities,” American All-Star Series promoter Joseph Rush said on why he’s bringing the series to the pavement of Lake Erie Speedway. “It gets the series into a new area, which helps us grow.”
It’s no coincidence that the event will showcase three very different types of race cars.
“A lot of the divisions are starting to look the same,” Moore said. “Your non-hardcore fan doesn’t know the difference. Having three totally different divisions gets you all the fans across the board.”
The event marks the first time the track will host dirt late models on its 3/8-mile paved oval. Both Moore and Rush believe dirt late models on pavement is more than doable. The Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series has done it successfully for two years in a row at Anderson Motor Speedway in South Carolina.
[“Skip Arp: What’s It Like to Race a Dirt Late Model on Pavement”]
Working with series promoter and American Racer South retailer Ray Cook, they say they have a tire that will hold up for the entire day at Lake Erie.
The dirt late models will have a handsome payout, too, with $5,000 to win and $1,000 to take the green, thanks in part to sponsorship from Close Racing Supply.
Furthermore, Moore added that nearby Stateline Speedway will give its pro late models the night off. And, for those traveling from afar, there will be several dirt tracks to hit up along the way on Friday and possibly on the way back on Sunday.
Outside Groove Note of Transparency: Outside Groove is a sponsor of the American All-Star Series. The American All-Star Series paid for the production of this article. The content is not subject to the approval of the American All-Star Series.
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
