For local go-kart racers, all roads lead to the Neshoba County Coliseum in Philadelphia next Friday and Saturday nights.

Organizers are expecting more than 250 go-karts to be entered in the first Mississippi Dirt Track Series Karting Championships.

The setup of the series is similar to the Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series that has been run for Super Late Model cars in recent years by promoter Charles Thrash of Meridian. Some drivers follow the series to each race while some local drivers just compete in the races at their tracks.

“It is a lot like the Late Models series,” said organizer Randy Rawson. “There have always been a statewide karting series in other states, and we decided to try here in Mississippi.

“We had been talking about it for a while, and finally we decided it was time to try it.”

This will be the seventh and final series event of the year. The earlier races were held at different go-kart tracks during the summer. Rawson said the races have been averaging around 170 karts per night.

Drivers earn points when they compete in a series race, and these points races will be decided in Philadelphia.

“There has been a lot of interest,” Rawson said. “Some of the races are quite close and there will be a lot of competition.

“We’ve drawn drivers from all over the Southeastern United States all summer, and we have had a lot of state drivers come on a regular basis. We are already looking making plans for next year.”

Drivers will be competing in 12 different divisions. Which division go-kart drivers race in depends on their age, experience and the weight and engine sizes of their cars.

The track will be constructed this week. The drivers will practice on the track Friday night, and the races will begin at 5 p.m.



Sell the farm



What do you do after you have sold all of your cows and have empty pasture land?

Seven years ago, Randy Rawson decided he would build a go-kart track on his pasture land, located just south of Causeyville. It has been a family-run operation that operated twice a month during spring and summer.

“My son had raced go-karts when Ed Allen had his track in Stonewall,” Rawson said. “We really enjoyed it. And when Mr. Allen closed, I decided we would give it a try.

“It started out being for fun, but it has developed into a full-time job. But if I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it.”

And while go-kart racing doesn’t draw the huge crowds that follow the big cars, Rawson said it has its niche.

“It’s a family-centered sport,” Rawson said. “It’s something that families can do together. The dad may be working on the engine and mom is checking the air pressure in the tires.”

Rawson, a full-time employee for Mississippi Power Co., and his wife, Trish, believed that there was enough interest to make a go of a statewide series. So, two times a month, they held races at Causeyville. Then on another weekend, they ran a state series race at another track.

And in between all of that, they have helped their daughter, Amanda Rawson, with her four-cylinder race car that competes at the Whynot Speedway.



Big weekend



One reason Rawson took the season finale to Philadelphia was the availability of an indoor facility.

“At this time of year, you never know what the weather will do,” Rawson said in an earlier interview.

David Vowell, president of the Community Development Partnership in Neshoba County, believes his community will be a good fit for this event.

“We can seat 2,500 (in the bleachers),” Vowell said. “They approached us about having the series here and it should work well. It will be good for tourism and they will have an enjoyable time.”