Column: Max Blair Previews OH / PA Swing, Lays Out Roadmap To Success In WoO Late Model Return

Column By: SPENCE SMITHBACK / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – CONCORD, NC – A weekend in the northeast is next up on the itinerary for the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision, and no member of this year’s roster knows their way around the tracks in the area quite like Max Blair.

The Centerville, PA native finds himself 13 races into his second season as a full-time Outlaw, three years removed from his 2022 rookie campaign that saw him earn two wins and a third-place finish in the standings. Blair’s comeback to the World of Outlaws trail got off to a similarly hot start with four top 10s in five starts at Volusia Speedway Park between DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.

His pace slowed down once the tour left Florida though, as a ninth-place run at Farmer City Raceway is his lone top 10 in the eight races since Volusia. That trend would leave many teams searching for answers, but the Centerline Motorsports squad knows exactly where they’ve been lacking and what needs to improve.

“We suck. We ran really good in Florida, but man, we’ve been terrible since,” Blair said. “Got to qualify better. You can’t start in the back half of the field every night and think you’re going to run well against these guys.”

Luckily for Blair, the next four nights of the schedule take place at tracks he’s become very familiar with throughout his two-decade Late Model career, which he believes could go a long way in putting the No. 111 at the top of the board right out of the box.

First up is the Great Lake Showdown at Raceway 7 on Thursday, May 15, where Blair won three-straight FASTRAK Late Model track championships from 2010 to 2012. Track position is typically at a premium around the fast 7/16-mile oval, making it even more crucial that Blair makes gains in his single-lap speed.

“Same deal, you better qualify well,” Blair said. “Nowadays, I think that’s just the biggest part almost no matter where you’re at. We’re trying, we’ll see if we can’t get better and hopefully put on a good show when we get back around the house there.”

Once the checkers fall on Thursday night, the Series will load up and make the 2.5-hour drive south to Marion Center Raceway for the Connor Bobik Memorial on Friday and Saturday, May 16-17. One of the region’s biggest Late Model races will reach new heights in 2025 as it becomes a two-day event for the first time, pays a record $30,000 to Saturday’s winner and is one of nine events making up the inaugural Coltman Farms Racing Cup.

As a two-time United Late Model Series winner at Marion Center, Blair knows how to find speed around the 1/4-mile. Some misfortune in his first two World of Outlaws starts at the track prevented him from putting that on full display on the national stage, but he’s optimistic that the third time will be the charm.

“Need some stuff to fall our way,” Blair said. “One year we were pretty good, good enough to run well inside the top five when we ended up getting wrecked and going to the back. We came back and I think we ran ninth that time, so we’ll just see what happens.”

The OH-PA swing wraps up with the first Sunday night showdown of the season, the Billy Winn Classic at Bedford Speedway on May 18. As one of the largest tracks in Late Model racing, the 5/8-mile requires a unique skill set – one that Blair plans on putting to good use as he chases his first World of Outlaws win in three years.

“That place is definitely different,” Blair said. “It’s kind of uphill one way, downhill the other and each corner is different. We have raced there a decent amount over the last few years, so I’m hoping experience will play in my favor.”

The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision season resumes next weekend at Raceway 7 (May 15), Marion Center Raceway (May 16-17) and Bedford Speedway (May 18). Tickets will be available at the gate on all four nights.