A special is a one-off, big-money race outside a track's weekly points schedule — a touring series date, an open show, or a crown jewel event — that draws outside cars and pays far more than a regular Saturday night.
Specials come in tiers. A touring date is the common one: the All Star Circuit of Champions ran a 32-race 2026 schedule across five states with more than $1,000,000 in a-main money, listed to-win purses running $5,000 to $15,000, topping out at Kokomo on May 9. Regional tours sit a step down — a Short Track Super Series stop at Bridgeport paid $5,000 to win a 50-lap Modified feature on a $45 pit pass and a $20 race-day entry. Above both are the crown jewels: Knoxville, Eldora, Boone. Specials move the rulebook, not just the purse. IMCA raises every engine claim amount $500 at what it calls non-track point/special events and adds an “or exchange” option.
A special can pay several weekly features in one night, but it costs more to enter, brings cars you never see on Saturday, and can move the claim rule you built your motor around.