The points season at Dixie Speedway has entered its final stretch, with only three points races remaining before the division champions are crowned.

Tonight, fans will be treated to the full race program as well as a Late Crate Model championship race.

Track official Mia Green, the daughter of Dixie owner Mickey Swims, said fans will not only be treated to harder racing, but to more protests due to the importance of the remaining races.

“Anyone who finishes in second place and feels that the winner has been bending the rules a little bit can file a protest,” Green said. “By protesting, they are able to pay the track officials to inspect a driver’s car to see if it is legal to race with. It’s a good way to keep the drivers honest.”

A protest can be called at any time, as long as the driver calling it finished one spot behind the person that he is protesting.

If a car is found to be in violation, race officials would dock the driver however many points they determined to be fair.

One such driver who was recently protested against was the Econo Bomber points leader, Shane Smith.

Smith has won his last two races, causing his points lead over Cody Richards to increase from eight to 28 in a two-week span.

No infractions were found, however, and Smith remains the favorite to win the division.

“He’s doing great,” Econo driver Justin Shipley said. “He’s got his car handling really well and has had some good luck.”

While Shipley wasn’t ready to anoint Smith as the champion just yet, he did admit that it seemed more than likely that Smith would hang on.

“A lot can happen, so, is it possible for someone to catch him? Sure,” Shipley said. “But, if he keeps racing the way that he has, then, no, I don’t see anyone catching up to him.”

Smith currently sits at 304 points, with Richards second at 276.

Much like the Econos, the Pony Stocks have seen one driver begin to run away with the lead.

Shannon Etheridge has won the last two points races, with his lead increasing to 40 points over Jeremy Millsaps, whose ninth-place finish last Saturday did him no favors.

Etheridge currently sits at 306 points, with Millsaps at 266.

The Super Bombers continue to be a two-horse race between Kirk Atkins and Andy Morris, who have finished 1-2 in last two points races. Though it was Morris who finished first two races ago, last Saturday proved to be different, with Atkins emerging the victor.

Atkins, who sits at 312 points, increased his lead over Morris to 12.

Last Saturday also saw a lead change among the Cruisers.

Jimmy Wilson capitalized on an eighth-place finish by Chris Neece, who entered last week as the points leader, by winning the race and overtaking Neece for the lead.

Wilson now has 292 points, while Neece sits 10 points behind.

Little change to the Late Model divisions last week.

Craig Reece (306) holds a 56-point lead over Hunter Jones in the Crate Late Models, while a runner-up finish has Jake Herrell (304) holding a 62-point lead on Rucker Orr in the Limited Late Models. Michael Page continues to dominate the Super Late Models, with his 290-point total leaving him 84 points clear of Dale Thurman.