"Battleground '09" was our headline Nov. 13, when we first reported on the expected war in Georgia among too many asphalt late model series. Last week the first real casualty fell, as Vince Whitmire's Southern Pro Late Model Series (SPLMS) suspended their season after five shows. One of the leading drivers has put an end to rumors, saying Whitmire "has paid every dime he owes me. No complaints." SPLMS had three shows, co-sanctioned with ASA South: 3/28 South Georgia 26 cars 4/4 Senoia 19 cars 5/9 Watermelon 17 cars SPLMS also reopened Montgomery (AL) Motor Speedway, attracting 6 cars from GA, 7 from AL, and single entries from SC, MS, and TN. The GA Asphalt Series (GAS), the original crate motor series in GA, has been through three managers in three seasons, with Lanier GM Terry Roberts now in charge. Lanier owner Donny Clack has offered up to $50,000 in points fund money for a combination of championships, including GAS, Lanier's Super Six, and Lanier's pro late model division. To allow some youngsters to race, Lanier switched the NASCAR affiliation from their pro LM class to their Truck Div. NASCAR has a 16-year-old minimum age. GA Asphalt Series shows: 4/4 Watermelon 13 cars 4/17 Anderson 12 cars 5/2 Lanier 17 cars The ASA South has a base of Florida racers. They opened the season at Charlotte (FL) with 16 cars (almost none from GA) and the co-sanctioned with SPLMS show at South Georgia had 26 cars (about six from GA). This Saturday, at Senoia, they go head-to-head with the GAS show at Lanier. South Alabama Speedway, located between Montgomery and Mobile, has an eight-race Viper Series, and all three races to date have been won by Bubba Pollard, from Senoia, GA. The track had 29 super LMs for the Rattler. Next super show is a CRA race Aug. 15. South Alabama Speedway: 3/7 (Rattler Weekend) 30 cars 4/18 10 cars 5/16 14 cars The RC Cola and Moon Pie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, run by promoter John Kee and former Peach State Speedway and GAS manager Micky Cain, is the only one of the series with a title sponsor and a TV deal, and has been to five states for the first six shows. Five of the top 10 in points are from Georgia, including leaders Jason Hogan and Max Gresham. The ASA SAT has a variety of legal engine and weight options, which allows race teams a variety of choices - and apparently attracting more teams. ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour: 2/28 Desota (FL) 20 cars 3/27 Five Flags (FL) 31 cars 3/28 Mobile (AL) 28 cars 4/11 Lanier 34 cars 4/25 Dillon (SC) 19 5/17 Hickory (NC) rain The Champion Racing Assn. South (CRA) has had non-points races at Lanier and South Alabama for their super late models. They attracted 12 cars to the Watermelon Capital Speedway April 4, and they'll be at Monroe (LA) Motor Speedway for a $3000 to win show July 18. CRA is also offering travel money to teams, including $500 to the winner and $125 or more for others in the top 15. Bubba Pollard won the CRA race at The 'Melon. Also competing for Super Late Models is PASS South, which will be at Senoia June 20 - their only GA race. Ben Rowe, commuting from Turner, Maine, leads the PASS South points. Two Georgians have raced with PASS South: Justin Wakefield, who has finishes of 2nd, 8th, 30th, and 3rd (6th in pts.) and Michael Pope, with help from Bob Dillner and the www.speed51.com bunch, who has finishes of 6th, 19th, and 20th (17th in pts.). PASS South will be at Greenville Pickens, SC, July 3 and Oct. 24. PASS South Super Late Models: Dillon (SC) 19 cars Hickory (NC) 30 cars Orange County (NC) 22 cars Wake County (NC) 25 cars Another opportunity for super late models is BJ Parker's new Southern Superstars, which has had three shows in Alabama. Southern Superstars: 3/29 Huntsville 16 cars 4/4 Sayre 10 cars 4/25 Montgomery 14 cars Another contender has appeared in the north, with the Ken-Ten Pro Late Model Series attracting 26 LMs from TN, KY, and IN to their first show at Highland Rim, on Nashville's north side. They have an eight-race schedule, including Beech Bend (KY) and Corbin (KY). Another twist in the pro late model world is Greenville Pickens, where the crate engines are subject to claiming. For $6300, an engine can be claimed, and the claimee gets a new crate engine and $400 cash from the track. The future of asphalt racing in the area depends on car counts, but especially on the number of butts in the seats, in trackside parking, and in the pits. Fans may enjoy a late model show with a car count in the teens, but if the support classes - the bombers, the minis, the trucks, the Legends - are also weak the fans aren't getting much for their money. "Battle Ground '09", after five months, continues at Lanier, Senoia, The 'Melon, and South Georgia. In the fall, Gresham Motorsports Park (known as Peach State several million dollars ago) returns. We'll watch, enjoy, and report. Send us your comments. http://sas.boswellracingdesigns.com http://www.superstarsracing.com http://www.splmseries.com http://www.lanierspeedway.com/GAS.html http://www.asasoutheastasphalttour.com http://craracing.net http://www.racewithpass.com http://www.asalatemodelssouth.com http://www.ken-tenprolatemodelseries.com/ http://www.georgiastockcarracing.com
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