Reporting from Las Vegas: Two weeks ago I finished my tour of the top dirt tracks with visits to Las Vegas and Fort Worth.
Las Vegas’ dirt track is part of a huge racing complex including the NASCAR track, drag strip, and asphalt short track. On a cold Wednesday night, over 50 USAC and CRA wingless sprint cars, and about 40 midgets competed on a very dry slick track. The big sprint cars put on a great show, in part due to inverting eight in the heat races.
On an even colder Thursday night, a near capacity crowd watched the World of Outlaws winged sprint cars put on a typical show, fast but boring. All three heat races, a dash, and a last chancec race produced zero passes and follow-the-leader. In the feature, Donny Schatz started in the second row, and actually passed someone to win.
Las Vegas has a very long track entrance road, so long that the sprint cars can be push started without the push vehicle even entering the track. On to Texas Motor Speedway Friday for the World Dirt Track Championship, featuring the Southern United Professional Racing (SUPR) Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, and Limited Modified divisions. The track was perfectly prepared, and the show started right on time, but there was just too much racing: scheduled were 15 12-lap modified heats, 15 12-lap limited mod heats, and five C, B, and A qualifiers for both divisions, plus three practice sessions for the SUPR late models. That’s 43 total - it all ended at 2:00 a.m. Saturday there were 25 more races, with practice starting at 5:00. End time is unknown. The Texas dirt track is the one with a tunnel. under turn one. It works neatly, with qualifying laps and checkered flags ending on the front stretch. Car slow down through one and two, make a left turn into the infield, and exit to the pits through the tunnel. One has to ask “Why?” Other tracks operate fine without a tunnel. Next week, comparing the top four tracks.
Mar. 28 Winder Barrow season opener Racing at 6:30
Mar. 28 Gordon Park Regular Race www.gordonparkspeedway.net
Mar. 28 Sayre (AL) Early Bird Weekend Super LMs $1500 to win www.superstarsracing.com
Mar. 29 (Sun.) Huntsville (AL) Early Bird Weekend Super LMs $1500 to win www.superstarsracing.com
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Mar. 14 (Sat.) SPEED 7:30 p.m. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Jackson 100
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The new Southern Pro Late Model Series opens at Senoia Sunday afternoon with the Shamrock 100. Russell Fleeman, of Dacula, is expected to go for his forth touring series championship. Fleeman has won two championships with the GAS Series and one with the now defunct All American Challenge Series. In addition, TJ Reaid of Acworth, Georgia will be looking to challenge Fleeman for the SPLM Championship coming off his 2008 GAS Rookie of the Year title. Coming off a 4th place finish at South Alabama Speedway's Pro Rattler 125, Billy Fulson, of Douglasville, is expected at New Senoia too. Fulson's Crew Chief and grandfather Ronnie Sanders has competed at New Senoia for many years and is expected to have Fulson's racer set up well for the fast 3/8 mile oval. Late Model racing veteran Tony Clark, of Sharpsburg, will also compete. Clark's #42 Air Freight Express racer was piloted to a win by neighbor Bubba Pollard in the Pro Rattler 125 at South Alabama Speedway last weekend. Former Lanier Super Truck class Champion Rodney Benefield, of Flowery Branch, will compete for the SPLM Series Rookie of the Year championship. Benefield competed with the super trucks for 10 years. He picked up his first Pro Late Model feature win last July at LNS. Other drivers expected are Ralph Carnes, of Anderson, SC, Tommy Stokes, of Central, SC, Bobby East, of Charlotte, NC. Taylor Satterfield, of Commerce, Ryan Seig, of Decatur, Nick Potts, of Jefferson, Kyle Mitchell of Hampton, Mahlon Winstead, of Williamson, Roger Delp, of Newnan, and many more are expected to compete. In addition, local classes will compete. Racing begins at 2PM. Interestingly, most old timers say Senoia is special and hard to race, but last year four LM drivers got their first LM wins EVER at Senoia - Max Gresham, David O'Dell, TJ Reaid, and Ryan Seig. In the ISCARS Dash race there last year, Joey Jones got his first ever win as well. The raceway is located between I-75 (exit 205) & I-85 (exit 41) on Georgia Highway 16, three miles west of the City of Senoia. For more information, check out the speedway's website at www.newsenoiaraceway.com. www.splmseries.com.
With a very grim forecast for the weekend officials from the Cleveland Speedway and the O'Reilly Southern All Star Racing Series have agreed to postpone this weekend's 14th Annual Shamrock event. The race will be moved to Saturday night April 4th and will now have a companion event on Friday night, April 3rd at the North Georgia Speedway. The 14th Annual Shamrock will still be a 60 lap event which will pay $5000 to win while the Friday night North Georgia event will be 40 laps and pay $4000 to win.
Boyd’s has also postponed this week’s March Madness race to Fri. and Sat., Mar. 20-21, with the scheduled Cabin Fever 250, which pays $3000 for a super LM win. http://www.boydsspeedway.com/
The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visits Brownstown Speedway for the “Indiana Icebreaker” Sat., Mar. 21st at the South-Central Indiana facility - $10,000 to win event. The rain-date for the event is Sunday, March 22nd. There will be a complete show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, who will boast of one of their strongest lineups in their five-year history, and also kick off the Sunoco Race Fuels “Road to Wheatland” gets underway as 20 drivers will be eligible for the $700 winners circle program starting at Brownstown. Also racing: UMP MODIFIEDS $1,000 to win and $100 to start UMP SUPER STOCKS $1,000 to win and $100 to start UMP PURE STOCKS $500 to win and $60 to start GENERAL ADMISSION $30
Working by race-long leader Ty Dillon, two-time Southern All Star Champion Chris Madden took the lead for the final time on the eighteenth circuit in Saturday night’s Ernest Young Memorial at North Georgia Speedway. Madden collected $5000 in winning his second series event this season. Randy Weaver rallied from a consolation race to finish in the runner-up spot. Jimmy Owens, Brandon Kinzer and Dillon rounded out the top five finishers. < Feature Finish (partial): 1 – 44 Chris Madden – Gray Court, SC 2 – 116 Randy Weaver – Crossville, TN 3 – 20 Jimmy Owens – Newport, TN 4 – 18 Brandon Kinzer – Allen, KY 5 – 2 Ty Dillon – Lewisville, NC 6 – 31 Skip Arp – Georgetown, TN 7 – 2x Anthony White – Clinton, TN 8 – 44 Clint Smith – Senoia, GA 9 – 25 Shane Clanton – Locust Grove, GA 10 – 25 Jeff Smith – Villanow, GA 11 – 17m Dale McDowell – Chickamauga, GA 12 – 26 Tony Knowles – Tyrone, GA 13 – 99 Derek Ellis – Chatsworth, GA 15 – 29m Gary McPherson – Dalton, GA 16 –101 Ethan Hunter – Tiger, GA 17 – 81 Aaron Ridley – Chatsworth, GA 21 – 101 Casey Roberts – Toccoa, GA < O'Reilly Southern All Star Racing Series 2009 Points Standings DRIVER TOTAL 1 Chris Madden 182 2 Jimmy Owens 172 3 Shane Clanton 138 4 Ronny Lee Hollingsworth 128 5 Casey Roberts 128 6 Eric Jacobsen 116 7 Derek Ellis 108 8 Clint Smith 104 9 Randle Chupp 98 10 Randy Weaver 96 Next: March 21 - Lavonia Speedway - Lavonia, GA - Late Model Mania $5000 Pictures from North GA: http://mikessportsimages.com/ Their biggest show of the summer, paying $10,000 to win, is the Lucas Oil Series Fri., June 12. http://www.northgeorgiaspeedway.comhttp://www.southern-allstars.com
Winder Barrow will have the slingshots racing every other weekend starting April 4th. You can view them at www.slingshotbytobias.com or www.Speedwayentertainment.com. The Ga Mini Sprint cars are back for four races. They will have an open practice on Saturday March 21st from 2:00 until ? and will start the 2009 season March 28th. New website is http://www.winderbarrowspeedway.net
Drew Hinesley will be joining Cameron Whitehead, Rich Feggeler, and Travis King for the upcoming 2009 race season as the BIG STICK RACING NETWORK covers the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour and Winder-Barrow Speedway. Drew is now the Play-By-Play announcer of the BSRN and fill the empty spot in the broadcast booth with Cameron Drew's first broadcast with the BSRN is scheduled for Friday, March 27, as the Network heads down to Pensacola, Florida with the ASA Southeast Series. Check the website or WIMO AM 1300 to listen. http://www.bigstickracingnetwork.com/
Dixie Speedway, in Woodstock, has an open practice April 25, and opens the season Sat., May 2. Rome opens Sun., May 24. http://www.dixiespeedway.com
Lanier opens Mar. 28, with all divisions competing. The track will close April 4, to support the GAS race at The ‘Melon, and hosts the ASA Southeasst Asphalt Tour and their TV cameras April 11. Join their email list for a chance to win a season pass. http://www.lanierspeedway.com/
Lavonia opens with their second Late Model Mania Mar. 20-21, with the Southern All Stars LMs, Fastrak crates, and Southeastern Late Model Sportsmen all running Sat. night. Last spring, this was one of the biggest and best shows of the year. The regular season and points races start April 4, and includes an Easter Egg Hunt. http://www.lavoniadirttrack.com/
Hartwell’s first race is Saturday. The Carolina Clash visits Hartwell April 25, and the Southern All Stars May 9. Hartwell and Lavonia are now alternating Sat. nights. http://www.hartwellspeedway.com
Toccoa has the Spring Thaw, Sat., Mar. 14. Seven divisions will be in action: the Limited Latemodels / Fastrak Crate Latemodels / Hobby / Enduro / Stock 4Cyl's / Bombers / and the Young Guns 4Cyl's. Adm. $12. Grand Opening and the start of weekly shows is Aptil 11, and the super LMs will race. The Southern All Stars visit April 18. http://toccoaspeedway.info/
Cochran opens with a practice Sat., Mar. 24, and there will be trophies for the best appearing cars. Opening night is Mar. 28, and points races start April 4. http://www.cochrangaspeedway.com
Oglethorpe Speedway Park, near Savannah, opens Sat., Mar. 14, with the National Late Model Series plus three local divisions. Admission is $15, with a discount for the military and seniors. OSP’s regular season starts Fri., April 3. After four races, Brandon Cameron (387 pts.), William Thomas (377), and Johnny Collins (372) lead the NLMS points. Mitch Fulford is the leading rookie, but Eric Regiser is only a point behind. http://www.ospracing.net/http://www.nlmss.com
Swainsboro opens for a car show and practice Mar. 14, and starts racing in five local divs. Mar. 21. New rules for 2009 all involve tire specs. http://www.swainsbororaceway.com/
Waycross has a practice Sat., and opens the season Sat., Mar. 21. They’ll race two Saturday’s per month thru the summer. http://www.wayxspeedway.com
At Golden Isles, the United Dirt Late Model Series, which usually has a lot of cars, will have a $10,000 to win race at GIS Mar. 27-28. http://www.goldenislesspeedway.com/
The Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele has an open practice Mar. 21, and starts the season Mar. 28 with local divs. and the USCS winged sprint cars. http://www.watermeloncapitalspeedway.com/
Tickets are only $10 for South Georgia’s Mar. 28 Short Track Nationals double-header with 100 lap features for the ASA South late models and the Southern Pro (crate) Late Models. http://www.racesgmp.com www.splmseries.com www.asalatemodelsouth.com
Sugar Creek Raceway, in Blue Ridge, will be racing again in 2009 on Fridays, after a very short 2008, and Bobby West is the new promoter. Sugar Creek is pairing with Tri-County Racetrack nearby Brasstown, NC, a Sat. night track, and both will feature the NeSmith Chevrolet crate series cars and rules. http://www.sugarcreekraceway.net/ www.nesmithracing.com
Dublin’s 441 Speedway opens April 4, as a dirt track, after closing as an asphalt track several years ago. The new rules put a 30-min. time limit on a races. They’ll draw for starting positions in heat races, and the feature lines up based on heat race finishes - saving a lot of boring qualifying time. www.441speedway.com
Douglas Motor Speedway, the "last 1/2 mile red-clay dirt track in South Georgia," has a new owner, and opens Mar. 14 with races starting at 6:00. They plan to race every other Saturday, with a National Late Model Series show June 12-13. Douglas is bringing back a “Skeeter” class, with bodies from the 1928-48 era, sprint car-style wings on top, and cast iron engines. They’ll also race late models, super streets, hobby stocks, and thunder and lightning. http://www.douglasmotorspeedway.com/
The Talladega (AL) Short Track opens their 32nd season Sat. The biggest single day race of the season is the 3rd running of the “Talladega Short Track Nationals” June 13 featuring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in a Speed TV event paying the winner $10,000. The annual Michael Head Jr. Memorial, with the O’Reilly Southern All Stars, is July 25. They’ll also have big shows on NASCAR weekends April 24-25 and Oct. 30-31. http://www.talladegashorttrack.com/
WSB’s Racing Show is back Sat. 2:00-4:00 p.m. Captain Herb and Doug Turnbull will be on the air. Listen to News/Talk 750 WSB in Atlanta or online at www.wsbradio.com.
Macon racer Beau Slocumb has a rare form of soft-tissue sarcoma called Synovial Sarcoma. He had surgery in Macon Jan. 28, and is now at the Univ. of Texas Medical Center for six weeks of chemo treatments. Get well cards: >Beau Slocumb >c/o Sam & Dave Mosley >16407 Canyon Chase Dr. >Houston, TX 77095 Updates and reports from sister Maggie: http://beauslocumb.blogspot.com/ Mon., Mar. 9 blog: “Beau had a pretty good weekend...he's feeling alright and even went out and hit golf balls on the driving range! His white blood count dipped pretty low right after his chemo ended and he ran a fever for a day or so but he's doing alright now ... Beau's chemo treatments are on a 21 day cycle so he will be going back in the hospital for the second round on March 19th.”
Jonathan Davenport, from Blairsville, took over the seat of Kevin and Leroy Rumley’s potent Rocket ride this year, and held off the charges of Chris Madden and Clint Smith to claim his first career O’Reilly Southern All Stars East career win at Cherokee (SC) Sunday. He led all 60 laps. Davenport also won the $10,000 at Modoc’s FASTRAK show Sat. < Official Finish (partial) 1 - 6 Jonathan Davenport - Blairsville, GA 2 - 44 Clint Smith - Senoia, GA 3 - 17m Dale McDowel - Chickamauga, GA 4 - 00 Freddy Smith - Seymour, TN 5 - 20 Jimmy Owens - Newport, TN 6 - 2 Dennis Franklin - Gaffney, SC 7 - 5 Eric Jacobsen - Seacliff Beach, CA 8 - 44 Chris Madden - Gray Court, SC 9 - 26 Tony Knowles - Tyrone, GA 14 - 101 Ethan Hunter - Tiger, GA 18 - 01 Travis Pennington - Winston, GA 20 - 101 Casey Roberts - Toccoa, GA 23 - 1 Brent Dixon - Elberton, GA Sunday afternoon, Mar. 15th, the O’Reilly Southern All Stars East Racing Series will return to the Travelers Rest (SC) Speedway for the $5,000 to win Ice Breaker 40 Super Late Model showdown. The show includes the Fastrak GM Performance Crate Late Models for a $2,000 to win event. 2:00 p.m. $20 Adm. www.TRSpeedway.net http://www.southern-allstars.com/sase/index.htm
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Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) (NYSE:TRK) today reported fourth quarter 2008 total revenues of $130.6 million and income from continuing operations of $18.1 million or $0.42 per diluted share. Full year 2008 results include total revenues of $611.0 million and income from continuing operations of $105.9 million or $2.44 per diluted share. Almost four million fans attended SMI events in 2008, at Atlanta, Bristol, Lowe’s, Las Vegas, Texas, New Hampshire, Kentucky, and Infineon. 2009 plans include reducing many ticket and concession prices, and using innovative promotional campaigns, to help foster fan support and mitigate near-term ticket demand weakness.
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Max Gresham, or Griffin, who turns 16 in April, has a deal to drive a Joe Gibbs car in four NASCAR Camping World races this summer. Max Gresham visits the NASCAR Truck pits at Atlanta: “I was sitting there thinking how cool it would be to have my suit on and be carrying my helmet down pit road to get ready to qualify. It's going to take a little while - a couple or more years - but my one of my goals is to be there.” Full story at http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_09/articles/000002/000236.htm
Green Valley Speedway,in Glencoe, AL, hosts The GVS Crate Nationals March 26th,27th and 28th - the Biggest paying Crate race EVER! The $25,000 to win event pays $1,000 to start, along with 2 non qualifier races paying $1,000 to win. www.greenvalleyspeedway.com
While the Cup Series struggles to fill seats, the biggest crowd in 25 years at Modoc Speedway was treated to an epic battle rivaling David and Goliath, as Jonathan Davenport overpowered the almost always unbeatable (and fast qualifier) Shanon Buckingham to win the FASTRAK Racing Series 'Modoc 100'. Davenport collected $10,000. FASTRAK hit a homerun at Modoc. Fans had to park as far away as two miles from the track just to find a parking space. It was a standing room only crowd at Modoc with fans seven to eight deep at the fence trying to get a glimpse of the furious racing action. "I have to admit I was surprised said Modoc Promoter Bryan Stewart. FASTRAK and I worked together to promote the event and we broke all attendance records for Modoc Speedway. It was a great way to start the season and we look forward to having the Series back on July 3rd." < Top Five: 1. Jonathan Davenport 2. Shannon Buckingham 3. Ross Bailes 4. John Henderson 5. Jeremy Faircloth Ben Stapleton’s pictures from Modoc: http://southboundracingphotos.smugmug.com/gallery/7551200_4yYkW#487844742_Ksk5e www.fastrakracing.com
The 2009 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series season begins on April 3, and runs through October 4. The Series will feature 17 tracks in two Regions for 2009. Drivers will compete for both track points and NeSmith Chevrolet WRS Regional points at their local tracks. A driver’s Regional point total will be based on their best 16 finishes of the season. Each Region Champion will receive a cash award of $1,500, a new GM Performance 604 Crate Engine, and a new race car chassis. The Top 10 in each Region, and the Top 10 in points at each track will receive an invitation to the 4th Annual NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Fall Nationals at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS on November 27-28. In addition to competing in the $2,000-to-win Fall Nationals Invitational Race, the Top 10 from each Region will compete in the Race of Regions, and each Track Champion will line-up for the Race of Champions. The East Region will consist of Avenger Motor Speedway in Greenville, AL, East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL, I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, MI, Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN, Penton Raceway in Penton, AL, Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, GA, Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL, and Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC. Competitors in the East Region will have both Friday and Saturday night options with Sugar Creek Raceway and Penton Raceway racing on Friday nights, while Avenger Motor Speedway, East Alabama Motor Speedway, I-96 Speedway, Mountain Raceway Park, Talladega Short Track, and Tri-County Race Track will be in action on Saturday nights. www.nesmithracing.com
The North Carolina Racing Academy (NCRA) – a comprehensive one-stop resource for racers aspiring to hone their driving skills and raise their stock in the sport – is now open. The NCRA is currently accepting contacts from interested candidates for academies at North Carolina pavement short tracks as early as this spring. www.NorthCarolinaracingacademy.com
Anderson (SC) Motor Speedway will kickoff the season on Friday at 8PM. The 2009 season will mark the 47th year of operation of the 3/8 mile asphalt track. Seven divisions of stock car racing will highlight the race card each and every Friday evening, including the B Mini Stock, C Mini Stock, Stock Four, BM Modified, Legends, Renegades and Super Renegades divisions. The Anderson Motor Speedway Jr Fan Club (JFC) will offer young race fans an opportunity to take part in many fun, speedway-related events in 2009. Local merchants, AMS Drivers and Sponsors have teamed-up to help AMS Staffers make these activities rewarding for JFC members. The 2009 Season Opener will feature a shamrock decorating contest, leprechauns, face-painting and all things green as we kickoff with the green light on the 2009 racing season. There will be lots of free giveaways for the kids to get the season started. Racing will begin at 8PM. Grandstand adult admission is $10 and kids under 12 are admitted FREE. www.andersonmotorspeedway.com
EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY Phenix City, Alabama March 14 - Season Opener March 21 - Stock Car Racing March 28 - Winged Outlaw Mini Sprints Adults - $10.00 Kids 6-12 - $3.00 www.eamsdirt.com
To raise funds for the familes of victims of Alabama’s worst-ever serial murder, fans who donate to the effort will have a chance to win rides in two-seater late model racers, and be on the track for the start of the shows Friday and Sat. nights at Deep South Speedway. The promotion will be a part of one of the biggest stock car programs ever held along the coastal region of Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. www.deepsouthspeedway.com www.worldofoutlaws.com
Track Chaser Randy Lewis reports that “only nine folks have reported seeing racing in all 50 of the United States. That special fraternity/sorority has now expanded its membership by one. ‘Trackchasing’s First Mother,’ aka Carol Lewis (his wife) saw her 50th state at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI.” She has also trackchased in eight Canadian provinces, two Mexican states, and 14 different countries. Only one of the other seven 50-staters is a woman, Nancy Brown, whose husband Allan sells the National Speedway Directory. Randy Lewis is now up to 1,412 different tracks worldwide. Randy’s reports often include items of interest: “The base ticket charge (for the RI indoor show) was $18 U.S. However, there was a “building facility” charge of $2 per ticket as well. Then Ticketmaster charged us a $7.75 per ticket convenience fee. Exactly whose “convenience” was being satisfied? Then there was an “order processing” charge of $3.80. We turned down the opportunity to buy “insurance” for our tickets at $6 per ticket.” One donut and a coffee was five bucks at the Dunkin Donuts Center.
The 9th annual Skyler Trull Memorial, at Carolina Speedway, has been moved to Fri., Mar. 20, due to expected bad weather this weekend. The show features the Carolina Clash LMs, with $5000 to win. Adm. $20 . http://www.carolinaspeedway.net/
The Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South Super Late Models begin their biggest season yet with the 4th Annual South Carolina Clash next weekend at the Dillon Motor Speedway in Dillon, SC. In addition to the 150 lap main event for the PASS South cars the nation’s newest touring series, the PASS Late Model Trucks, will also race for 75 laps on Saturday afternoon. Bad weather has postponed the show from this week.
What Not to Wear CASTING in ATLANTA, GA now!! TLC is coming to Atlanta Motor Speedway and is looking for NASCAR fans. We need YOU to nominate a friend, family member or co-worker whose wardrobe is screaming for a make-over! Send us an email telling us about the person you'd like to nominate and about yourself and your relationship to that person. NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY WED., 3/19/09. sfried@bbcnyproduction.com
Brad Harrison, who has been covering racing for the Macon newspaper, is now just a stringer for them. He continues to cover racing, posting at http://nascarmacon.blogspot.com His latest is about a ride in the AMS NASCAR pacecar. Send news to: bharrison0311@yahoo.com
Heather Rhoades has been publishing Slingin' Dirt, reporting on racing action in all classes at Hartwell, Lavonia, and Toccoa, and may expand to a few more tracks this season. Her webpage http://www.slingindirt.info has pictures from Lavonia’s car show and Modoc’s FASTRAK show, and she still has copies of the Toccoa Legends Show 20-page issue for $2. Her MySpace Page is www.myspace.com/slingindirt1 Send news to heather@slingindirt.info
With rain forcast, Gordon Park Speedway has postponed their Open House to Sat., Mar. 21. First points race is March 28. www.gordonparkspeedway.net
Greenville Pickens Speedway (SC) opens the 2009 season on Sat. Opening night will get the fun rolling for the 2009 race season with the local racers grabbing the spotlight with a Twin 50 lap Late Model race card, and all GPS divisions in action. Adults $15. The 4th section of Greenville Pickens Speedway grandstand, The Ralph Earnhardt Memorial, will be officially dedicated July 18. Ralph Earnhardt was the 1965 and 1966 GPS track champion. The track’s 'Upstate Race Day' radio show returns on WCCP, 104.9FM, at noon each Sat. The highlights of the schedule include the NASCAR Camping World East LMs April 11, and PASS South LMs July 3. www.greenvillepickens.com
The top two at South Alabama Speedway last weekend were Bubba Pollard, of Senoia, and Alabama veteran Augie Grill. Grill was first in Saturday’s pro LM 125 race, but Pollard got the trophy after Grill was DQ’d. Sunday, in the super LM Rattler 250, Grill won and passed tech inspection, with Pollardf second. Georgian Ryan Sieg was third. Grill started on the pole, while Pollard came from 25th.(from Speed51) Jamie Williams’ photos: www.finishlinephotography.smugmug.com
2 Dudes Designs, a motorsports design company, has hired motorsports veteran and former USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series media guru Paul Warner to help build the company toward the future. Warner did a great job for USAR. www.2dudesdesigns.com
The Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS) will run a 13 race schedule in 2009 throughout the southeast. The first GAS race of the season will be the Watermelon Twins 125 on Saturday, April 4th at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele GA. This race will be held in partnership with the CRA Super Series South, which makes its 2009 series debut that day also. All GAS races this year will be broadcast live online at the Lanier Speedway website. The 2009 GAS payout breaks down as follows: 1 – $2500 2 – $1200 3 – $1000 4 – $800 5 – $600 6 – $500 7 – $475 8 – $450 9 – $425 10 – $400 11 – $375 12 – $350 13 – $325 14 – $300 15 through 32 – $250 Young Chase Elliott now has Aaron’s sponsoring a late model, which he will drive in GAS races this summer.
NASCAR at Atlanta: Unadilla’s David Ragan was the highest-finishing Georgia driver, coming in 19th. Alpharetta’s Joey Logano was 30th, Peachtree City’s Reed Sorenson 33rd, and Dawsonville’s Bill Elliott 36th. NASCAR racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the a thrilling weekend of racing under the lights this Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-6. Great seats are available and can be reserved for only $20 down. To purchase, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Joey Logano's finishing position Sunday, earning him Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time this season. 94,400 - Estimated crowd in attendance at Atlanta. Brad Harrison, at Macon.com, has a neat article about the three Georgians: http://www.macon.com/160/story/643205.html David Ragan talks to Doug Tunrbull:: “I’m in favor of having shorter races. I think shorter races would be better for the fans, better for the drivers, better competition, just overall it’ll keep things moving along.” Full interview at http://www.frontstretch.com/dturnbull/22957/ FOX notched a 4.7 rating for the Atlanta race this weekend, down significantly from the 5.6 registered the year before. To date, the network is down 13% overall in metered markets for their NASCAR coverage this season. The race from Las Vegas Motor Speedway scored as the most-watched and highest-rated weekend sports event giving NASCAR on FOX that distinction for the third consecutive week: 11.1 million viewers (6.5/12 national rating/share) (MotorSportsNews.Net(work)
FASTRAK, now getting over a million hits a month, has moved to a better/faster web server. www.fastrakracing.com
The Southeastern Latemodel Sportsman Series is geared up for the 2009 Racing Season with a new Tire Rule - any Hoosier Spec or Crate Tire. Hoosier Tire will be the Series Major Sponsor. The Series’ confirmed dates: Saturday March,21st........................Lavonia Speedway Saturday March,28th.......................Travelers Rest Speedway Saturday May,16th..........................Toccoa Speedway Saturday May,23rd..........................Tri County Racetrack Friday July,3rd................................Toccoa Speedway Saturday Sept,5th...........................Tri County Racetrack
The Top Tracks Challenge Season Opener is scheduled for Friday Night, March 20th at Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe, Alabama. $1,500 to win - 30 laps This will serve as a great "Test-N'-Tune" for the upcoming $25,000 to win GVS Crate Nationals March 26, 27, and 28th. www.greenvalleyspeedway.com
The Legends race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was the final race of the Georgia Winter Series(Atlanta, Cordele and Lanier). Congratulations to today's Feature Winners: Bandits: Brady Boswell Young Guns: Evan Bell Outlaws: Jake Armstrong Chargers: Blake Jones Semi-Pro: Chase Elliott Masters: Jeff Haynie Pro: Austin Hill Roadsters: Adam Gay
Congratulations also to our Champions: AMS Winter Flurry Bandits: Brady Boswell Young Guns: Will Martin Outlaws: Garrett Smithley Semi-Pro: Chase Elliott Masters: Jeff Haynie Pro: Will Prance Roadsters: Ed Clark
GEORGIA WINTER SERIES Bandits: Brady Boswell Young Guns: Will Martin Outlaws: Jake Armstrong Semi-Pro: Chase Elliott Masters: Jeff Haynie Pro: Austin Hill
Raymond Parks was racing before NASCAR existed. A Georgia native, Parks was the car owner of the first NASCAR race winner. He is a two-time NASCAR champion and swept every race run on Daytona Beach. To say he was instrumental in building the foundation of NASCAR racing is probably a vast understatement. And Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Parks and his wife Violet announced that he would be donating has vast collection of trophies and race memorabilia to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is expected to open in 2010 in Charlotte, NC. “I think I was 11 years old when we run our first Cup race in ’49, and Mr. Parks had already been there a couple of years,” seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Richard Petty said. “He was the class of the field; he kind of set the standard. When racing first started, it was pretty rough. Mr. Parks brought class. It took people like Mr. Parks to lay the foundation we’re still working off of.” Now 94 years old, Parks did not speak during the 20-minute press conference, but he and his wife posed for photos with the commemorative brick they were presented by Hall of Fame executive director Winston Kelley. The brick will be placed outside the new Hall of Fame in tribute to Parks’ many contributions to racing. “Raymond doesn’t have any living children, so to preserve this collection, we needed to put it somewhere it was going to be taken care of,” Violet Parks said Saturday. “It’s important to have it in the museum. This memorabilia has always been very important to Raymond.” In fact, the collection survived a fire on the couple’s property in 2002. It includes 29 trophies from the earliest days of NASCAR racing.
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