By Ben Deatherage
MILTON, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2026) — Southern Raceway is entering a new era as the Hunt The Front group has officially acquired the 3/8-mile clay oval in Milton, Florida, launching a revitalization effort that will see the venue operate as Hunt The Front’s Southern Raceway. The ownership group — brothers Jonathan, Joshua, and Joseph Joiner and their wives Shadow, Elizabeth, and Kayla — makes the project a true family-driven endeavor.
A centerpiece of the track’s competitive foundation will remain the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified division, continuing a sanctioning relationship that dates back more than three decades. Southern Raceway first joined the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program in 1993, when Robert Miley became the inaugural track champion. Events at the facility will again award track, Florida State, Close Racing Supply Eastern Region, and National points.
For Joshua Joiner and the entire Hunt The Front team, the acquisition was as much about preservation as it was progression.
“Our big fear was the track was going to go away,” Joiner said. “There were discussions and negotiations, and at one point a contract to sell the property that would have taken it out of racing. Fortunately that didn’t happen. We were able to step in, work out a deal with the previous owners, and make sure it stayed a racetrack. It’s our hometown track — we grew up five miles from here — so it means a lot to keep it alive for the foreseeable future.”
The new ownership group wasted no time getting to work. A “soft opening” practice and enduro event was held shortly after the purchase, drawing more than 120 cars and over 1,000 spectators.
Remarkably, the event came together just 16 days after Hunt The Front finalized the track purchase, underscoring the accelerated timeline they faced in preparing the facility for competition.
“The improvements are going to be a work in progress,” Joiner explained. “We had to address infrastructure right away — fixing the scoring loop, tower structure, radios, and general operations. We replaced boards in the bleachers, cleared washed-out walkways, and even dealt with the well pump going out during track prep. There’s been a lot to tackle in a short time.”
Track work has also been extensive, with approximately 200 loads of dirt brought in to reshape the racing surface, add an inside retaining wall in the corners, and build up the banking. Additional dirt work remains planned.
Long-term facility upgrades are already in the vision plan, including a new concession stand, restrooms, scoring tower, and VIP suite areas — projects targeted for offseason construction windows.
Southern Raceway’s first IMCA Modified showcase under the new ownership comes quickly, as the facility hosts a Winter Nationals doubleheader on Friday and Saturday, February 20-21, paying $1,000 to win each night and serving as qualifiers for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational that will be ran at this year’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September.
“We have about 16 to 18 IMCA Modified races planned,” Joiner said. “Our goal is to get through this weekend and then work closely with Northwest Florida Speedway. Both of us took over tracks late, so we want to coordinate schedules, avoid conflicts, and make it beneficial for racers in our region.”
Joiner emphasized that IMCA sanctioning remains central to the track’s identity moving forward.
“We’re really excited about continuing with IMCA,” he said. “It’s huge for our area, and Modifieds are a big part of our plans. We’re also looking at IMCA rules packages for other divisions down the road. It would be a transition process, but we love what IMCA does for racers and tracks.”
The February doubleheader also serves as a strategic lead-in to the busy Gulf Coast racing stretch surrounding the IMCA TV Clash On The Coast, with Northwest Florida Speedway located roughly 45 minutes away and Deep South Speedway about an hour east along Interstate 10.
“It’s a huge stretch of racing for this area,” Joiner added. “We hope to attract a lot of out-of-town drivers and build this into a destination racetrack where IMCA racers from across the country want to come compete.”
All Southern Raceway events will stream live on IMCA TV affiliate Hunt The Front TV.
For more information on the 2026 schedule and facility updates, visit SouthernRaceway.com or follow the track on Facebook.
