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Kevin Prater supplied the picture of the Dixie Pit Shack Window for this week's earlier newsletter. He's got the two big wrecks at Rome from Sunday: http://kevinprater.home.mindspring.com/
The RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt tour has 23 advance entries for their show at the Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele Sat., with veteran Jason Hogan and newcomer Max Gresham on top of the points. The ASA SAT and the USAR Pro Cup series (formerly the Hooters Pro Cup) will have a joint show, with two features, at Lanier June 27. www.asasoutheastasphalttour.com http://www.lanierspeedway.com/
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s “Thunder Ring” will roar back to life Thursday for the opening night of the Thursday Thunder season, featuring Legends, Bandoleros, and Thunder Roadsters, on the quarter mile “Thunder Ring.” Each week will feature an on-track autograph and photograph session with Thursday Thunder drivers, weekly concourse activities, grandstand games and on-track racing action. For 12 years, Thursday Thunder racing has served as a training ground for three current NASCAR young guns – Joey Logano, David Ragan and Reed Sorenson, and many former Thursday Thunder competitors have graduated to late models and other forms of racing. The Young Lions class returns, dividing the Semi-Pro class, allowing the Young Lions division to serve as a developmental class for drivers ages 12 to 15, while resulting in more competitive racing among the Semi-Pros. Blake Jones, of Seviervillle, TN, who won the AMS Young Guns Championship in 2008, drove his Mountain Dew Legends Car to a victory at the Fairgrounds Speedway (TN) Sat., after winning at Newport (TN) the week before. He'll be in the in the Young Lions division at Thursday Thunder Series. www.blakejonesracing.net The first week of the 2009 Thursday Thunder season will feature an autograph and photograph session with all the Thursday Thunder competitors. Thursday Thunder is an affordably-priced activity that offers something for spectators of all ages. Tickets are just $5 for adults and $1 for children 6-11 (ages 5 and under are free) for each evening of family fun and grass-roots racing. Gates open at 6 p.m., heat races start at 6:15 p.m. and feature races start at approximately 7:50 p.m. For more information about Thursday Thunder, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
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June 4 (Thurs) Atlanta Motor Speedway Thursday Thunder Legends Racing, $5 adm. Clayton County night. www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
June 5 (Fri.) Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday Night Drags and car show $20 to compete, $7 adm. Kids candy & coin scramble www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
June 5 (Fri.) Boyd's Kings of Crates Challenge $2000 to win + Regular Racing Program http://www.boydsspeedway.com
June 5 (Fri.) Sugar Creek weekly racing show www.sugarcreekraceway.net
June 5 Anderson (SC) weekly show + Legends Reg. Qualifier
June 6 Gordon Park Regular Race www.gordonparkspeedway.net
June 6 Watermelon Capital RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt tour 100 laps www.watermeloncapitalspeedway.com
June 6 Lanier Dukes of Hazzard Night - win a ride in the 01 General Lee and Meet Ben "Cooter" Jones http://www.lanierspeedway.com/
June 6 Screven Regular season: Super Late Models, Claycutters, Moonrunners, Road Warriors, Mini Stocks and Renegades http://www.screvenmotorspeedway.com/
June 6 Albany Natl. Late Model Series $3000 to win Practice and heats for local classes Friday http://albanymotorspeedway.net/
June 6 Toccoa Super LMs + Hell Driver Jim "Crash" Moreau www.toccoaspeedway.info
June 11 (Thurs) Atlanta Motor Speedway Thursday Thunder Legends Racing, $5 adm. Mascot Mania night. www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
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Straight-line speed returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway’s eighth-mile pit lane drag strip this week as Friday Night Drags opens. Entry to drag race or for the Show N’ Shine is $20 or competitors can enter both for $30. Spectator admission is only $7 and exterior parking is free, while infield parking is $20. www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.
Boyd's KING of CRATES CHALLENGE, round 2, is Friday night, and it pays $2,000 to win. The round 1 was won by Rick Hixson, and drew a strong field of 43 raceteams. Start time Friday is moved up to 6:30 PM due to curfew limitations. Steel-Head LM's, A-Hobby, and Front Wheel Drives will also be in action. General Admission $10. For the third time this season, BOYD’s SPEEDWAY produced a Photo-Finish in its Late Model feature event. Last Friday night, Mike Price, of Lenoir City, TN, held on by mere inches at the finish line, holding off last starting Ronnie Johnson. Twenty-nine (29) Steel-Head Late Models entered the tracks regular $1,000 to win 25-lapper. http://www.boydsspeedway.com
Toccoa's show Saturday will Feature the Super Late Models PLUS Hell Driver Jim "Crash" Moreau live and in Person! Moreau is known for his death defying crashes and explosions! The Southeastern Latemodel Sportsman Series races at Toccoa June 20. www.toccoaspeedway.info www.fastrakracing.com www.crashmoreau.com
Albany hosts the National Late Model Series Saturday for a 50-lap race. They'll practice, and the locals will run heats, Friday. Sat.: Admission is $15. Racing Starts 7:00pm. FEATURE WINNERS, May 30th, 2009 Pure Stock - Michael Canady Pure Stock - Wesley Horne Super Street - Allen Flournoy Enduro - Michael Adams Mini Stock - Tyler Boyette http://racingpictures2.freehostia.com/5_31/index_4.html
Weekly racing at Lanier resumes Saturday, with the NASCAR WHELEN All American Series and the special Dukes of Hazzard night. Fans can meet Ben “Cooter” Jones and enter to win a ride in the General Lee. The GAS Series is off until the special July 3rd fireworks show at Lanier. Last Saturday, nineteen-year-old TJ Reaid outran Late Model veteran Russell Fleeman and young gun Casey Roderick at Lanier to become the first repeat GAS winner this season. Reaid and Fleeman traded the lead three times in the 100-lap Pro Late Model feature with Reaid taking the checkers 1.302 seconds ahead of Fleeman, followed by Roderick, Dwayne Buggay, and Greg Simpson. “What an awesome race,” said Reaid, who won the season-opener at the Watermelon Capital Speedway. “I want to dedicate this win to Matt Hawkins. We thought we had a car good enough to win the Matt Hawkins memorial race here in April, but we came up short – so this one is for Matt." Bill Elliott Racing teammates Casey Roderick (14.040 sec.) and Chase Elliott (14.044 sec.) topped the charts in qualifying. The inversion started Roderick fifth, and Elliott fourth, with Greg Simpson on the pole, Fleeman second, and Reaid third. GAS RACE RESULTS 1. TJ Reaid #41 2. Russell Fleeman #98 3. Casey Roderick #19 4. Dwayne Buggay #45 5. Greg Simpson #10 6. Chase Elliott #9 7. James Nealis #29 8. Cale Langford #22 9. Jeremy Rice #23 10. Zach Rearden #15 11. Rodney Benefield #36 12. Ralph Carnes #2 13. Jeremy Mullinax #07 14. Will Prance #9W 15. Chris Whorton #6 16. Shane Sawyer #38 17. Shane Chastain #3 Lanier’s local division Feature winners include: Mark Wilbanks #6 – Super Trucks Randy Haney #32 – Open Wheel Modified Jeff Chadwick #20 - Sportsman Mike Davidson #27 – Outlaw Scotty Beck #25 – Mini Stock Jeremy Fergueson #09 – Street Stock Brady Boswell #2 – Pro Challenge Mike Brooks #30 – Legends Masters Steven Ross #48 – Legends Pro Harrison Rhodes #36 – Legends Semi-Pro Cody Garland #23 – Bandolero Young Guns Kason Plott #00 – Bandolero Bandits www.LanierSpeedway.com
Tri-County Racetrack, in Brasstown, NC, hosts the Tennessee Thunder DirtCar Series on Saturday,June 13, for the $3,000 to win 'Tar Heel Shoot-Out' www.TriCountyRaceTrack.com www.TTDCS.com
Notes from a walk around the Rome pits before Sunday's show: "Jesus: Believe or Burn" on Wayne Echols rear spoiler ... Jody Knowles has Cadilac decals on his late model ... Cass Fowler, the 16-year-old from Acworth, is the son of Terry Fowler ... Parry Miller has "God is wiser" on the side of his #64. He can't put his last name on the car, since fans might think he had a beer sponsor ... Jimmy Long, of Canton, has sponsorship from two Texas businesses on his crate car, and some relatives that live out there ... Jody Coltrane has "Japanese Motors" on his #17. He owns the company, and says they're a good sponsor ... high school senior Danny Ferguson has "Thanks Dad" on his car ... Genna and Olivia Gentry, Oliver's girls, were making and selling paper race cars for fifty cents. Gentry has "Junk Man's Cadilac" on his racer ... Mike Head had run in the asphalt Outlaw class at Senoia Sat., and had his #54 on dirt Sun. ... one of Red Farmer's fans said Red won a heat race at Talladega Sat. night, and he's now good for 10 more years of racing ... the Page family got 17 people into the Super Bomber victory lane photo, before Chuck was DQ'd. Brother Chuck did win Econo Bombers ... the Econo Bombers race had a bad start, when someone's steering wheel came off ... rookie Austin Hill finished sixth in the crate feature, but only about six (of 25) finished the crashfest. 10 were around when they went to a green-white-checker finish. Most spectacular exit was Cass Fowler, who was the first driver in 10 years to go over the backstretch wall. Fortunately, a strong light pole kept him out of trackside parking .. announcer Johnny Clark said it was "first night jitters" but others said "crummy driving" ... Todd Morrow's super LM win was his first SLM at Rome, but he did win there in Top Tracks crates last year ... the novelty Cruiser division, with two drivers in the car, had a record 20 entries, but one rolled over on the backstretch on lap one ... Austin Hill had run asphalt at Senoia Sat., finishing 5th. Sixth at Rome paid him $50, enough gas money to get to this week's ASA Southeast show in Cordele. At Senoia, he won $900 for fifth, plus merchandise certificates (generally $50 or $100) from Port City Racecars, Penske, Quartermaster, and Race Safe Systems. Wednesday night Hill was back at AMS in his Legends car, and third fastest in practice. Rome Speedway Results 5-31-09 < SUPER LATE MODEL: T16 - Todd Morrow 22 - Robert Gant L7 - Lee Sutton 66 - Jody Knowles 54 - Mike Head 00 - Steve Endicott 10 - Anthony Hill 8 - David Burton 27 - Glen Morris 29 - Gary McPherson 4 - Vernon Smith 7 - Tracy Watson 24 - Buster Goss 31 - Dwayne Jackson 18 - Mike Bruner 3 - Luther Jenkins 07 - Scott Hall 59 - Richard Yeoman 66 - Jake Knowles 25 - Mitchell Browning F9 - Frank Ingram 15 - Dusty Chitwood 24x - Todd Murphy 7R - Sam Ruff 55 - JJ Nye 88 - Bill Peters 59 - Dale Thurman 77 - Tim Day 17 - Ricky Williams 19 - Wayne Echols (DNS) 11 - Chad Smith (DNS) 25 - Jerry Bradley (DNS) 65 - Danny Ferguson (DNS) < LTD LATE MODEL: partial) 7 - Travis Millwood 3 - Bobby Tucker < CRATE LATE MODEL: 67 - Jimmy Long X - Doug Stevens 22m - Mark Sims 34 - Bob Gibby 11 - Lee Gray 24 - Austin Hill 22 - Paul Holloway 22 - Alan Brewer 9 - Cass Fowler 17 - Jody Coltrane 23 - Curtis Cline 15 - Shane Chitwood 34 - Chuck Padgett 31 - Tyler Millwood 16 - Jeff Fields 53 - Joe Picklesimer 21G - Jarrod Green 18 - Matt Dooley c87 - Chris Fennell 25 - Jody Summerville (DNS) 89 - Carey Smith (DNS) 8 - Michael Keener (DNS) 80 - Chris Camp (DNS) 17 - Mark Page (DQ) 84 - Larry Dixon (DQ) < ECONOMY BOMBER: 50 - Chuck Page 711 - Timmy Millwood 17 - Ronnie Sanders D22 - Daniel Brewer 71 - Cody Richards At Rome Sunday, owner Micky Swims announced that he will have an unsanctioned 50-lap $5000 to win super LM race at Rome Sun., June 14. He's hoping to attract the Lucas LM Tour drivers, who are in the area for five shows in eight days: Duck River $7,000 Thursday North Georgia $10,000 Friday Talladega $10,000 Saturday Rome $5,000 Sunday Cleveland $7,000 Tuesday Swainsboro $7000 Thurs. http://www.dixiespeedway.com
The ASA Late Models South Division raced with 12 cars at Senoia, and Justin Larson won the 100-lapper. The Zaxby’s Late Model, driven by Keeton Hanks, of Auburn, KY, won the pole and finished second. Hanks will drive the car again on Saturday at the 'Melon ASA SAT show. Official finishing order 1. 88 Justin Larson 2. 09 Keeton Hanks 3. 51 Stephen Nasse 4. 75 David Odell 5. 24 Austin Hill 6. 45 Nick Potts 7. 59 Dustin Dunn 8. 95 Warren Mobley 9. 08 Drew Brannon 10. 11 Austin Kirkpatrick 11. 76 Jerick Johnson 12. 26 Travis Cope Next: July 11th at Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda, Florida. Ford Racing has announced its support for the ASA Late Model Series with a racer contingency plan for the 2009 season. Ford Racing has posted a $200 contingency award for race winners in all three of the ASA Late Model Series divisions. To be eligible for the awards, the winning racers must be driving a race car powered by the Ford D347SR Sealed Racing Engine. Ford racing will also post $500 awards for the three Series Champions and Rookie of the Year. http://www.asalatemodelssouth.com
At Cochran, Jason Fitzgerald scored a dramatic win by overtaking race-long leader Ben Faircloth on the 48th lap of the 50 lap Natl. Late Model Series feature to claim the $3000 prize. Jason Floyd pocketed $1500 for winning the pure stock feature. COCHRAN NLMS LATE MODEL 1-Jason Fitzgerald 2-Ben Faircloth 3-Jeremy Faircloth 4-Stevie Jones 5-Bo Allen http://www.nlms.com
Modoc's $4000 to win Modoc Cup Series Race #1 for Crate Late Models was won by Royce Bray. Next: June 12th Crate Late Model Showdown, $2000 to win, plus $1000 to win Stock V8 race. Crate Late Model Cup Race #1 of 4 1. #21 Royce Bray 2. #117 Parker Herring 3. #11 Brent Dixon 4. #116 David Smith 5. #76 Brandon Overton 6. #54 Larry Timms 7. #21x Bob Robertson 8. #49 Jonathan Davenport 9. #94 Wendell Chavous 10. #28 Henry Carter 11. #c21 Brian Connor 12. #76c Chris Steele 13. #8 Johnnie Tucker Jr. 14. #2x John Henderson 15. #9 Ches Chester 16. #09 Mike Garrett 17. #444 Brian Ligon 18. #71 Jimmy Maness 19. #118 Chris Cape 20. #42 Chris Usry 21. #27 Jeff Fortner 22. #B4 Brandon Carpenter 23. #D1 Doug Davis 24. #24 Ryan Bryson 25. #29 Jeremy Faircloth 26. #28 Greg Pilgrim 27. #m31 Michael Akeson Top three in the $1000 to win Limited Sportsman race: 1. #45 Brand Overton 2. #s32 Herb Sizemore 3. #8HR Glen Evans http://www.modocspeedway.com
Friday, Oglethorpe has the 9th Annual Faster Pastor Race, plus the Love's Seafood Street Stocks - Wildcat Archery & Hunting Supply Pure Stocks - Savannah Go Mini's Mini Stocks - Pooler Pawn & Diamond Company 440's. Last week: Southern Eagle Distributing Budweiser Late Models (top 10) 1st Bobby Oglesby #37 2nd Branden Yawn #11 3rd Buddy Jacoby #06 4th Dennis Morris #44 5th Corey Fletcher #6 6th Donnie Bazemore #28 7th Jim Manka #60 8th Garrett Shurling #4 9th Mark Davis #41 10th Rick Hunter #92 http://www.ospracing.net/
At South Georgia, Marc Mitchell started on the front row, and won the 40-lap late model feature, with Fain Skinner second and Darryl Shelnut third. Lee Newsome, from Lake Park, GA, won the super stocks. Marty Wood was sent to the rear twice, but came back to second. Todd Breer won the Race-Um Wreck-um show, with Donbald Dawkins second and Anthony Johnson third. Next SGMP show is June 13. For the next Race-Um Wreck-um show June 27, fans are encouraged to bring fruits and vegatables to throw at the cars. http://www.racesgmp.com
Conflict at Lanier: if you drive up I-985, you can hit the Smoke House BBQ, just off Hwy. 53 near the exit, which has the best ribs in GA. If you drive up I-85, you can hit Cork and Keg, the beer geek place, on Hwy. 53, which advertises at Lanier, and whose owner was reportedly a guest at Lanier of Bill Elliott, when son Chase won his first. Get there early, before the Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel Dark is gone.
BBQ moves to Cartersville this week for the GA BBQ Festival, with 50 competitive teams competing for $10,000 in prize money plus 30 Backyard Cooks competing for the coveted People's Choice award, where the public tastes and votes for the best tasting barbecue. http://www.georgiabarbecueclassic.com/
Promotion idea: BDS Racing Promotions, which operates Tyler County (WV) Speedway, continued its fan-friendly guarantee that the Super Late Model feature will be on the track by 9:30 p.m. each week with Sunday's WoO LMS program. The WoO LMS A-Main field was indeed doing parade laps around the quarter-mile oval just before 9:30 p.m. A fast-paced event saw the checkered flag drop before 9:45 p.m. – and the usefulness of the early finish was evidenced by the throng of youngsters and adults alike who swarmed winner Steve Francis when he brought his car to the checkeredboard square area behind the grandstand following the Victory Lane ceremonies. www.worldofoutlaws.com
Doug Turnbull's Some of the HOT and NOT issues of the week in racing: NOT: Daddy’s money – Mention of Paul Menard and his father’s Menard’s sponsorship arose some thoughts of mine about two Georgia drivers in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In Saturday’s race, John Wes Townley, driver of the No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford for RAB Racing wrecked Ken Butler III, part-time driver of the No. 23 R3 Motorsports Chevy sponsored by Aaron’s. Townley’s father Tony co-founded the popular Zaxby's chicken chain and has fully funded his son’s career in motorsports. Townley, only 19 years old, and Travis Kvapil replaced Zaxby’s franchise owner Joey Clanton in the No. 09 Roush Fenway Zaxby’s Ford Truck last season, after Clanton fell into bad graces with the team following the season-opening Daytona race. Townley raced only seven times in the 2008 Craftsman Truck Series and failed to register a top 10 finish. Nevertheless, RAB Racing and Townley began a campaign late in 2008 to run the Nationwide Series. Townley made three races in only seven attempts and destroyed his share of racecars. That tradition has carried over into his full-time 2009 schedule, where, despite working with veteran crew chief Brad Parrott, Townley has failed to qualify for two races and has run dreadfully in the ten others. Townley lasted just 26 laps Saturday, making a bonzai, over-zealous move under Butler and wrecking both. Townley finished 38th at Dover. Meanwhile, Butler III has shown a bit of promise this season, but still is very much the beneficiary of grandfather Ken Butler’s heavy involvement in sponsor Aaron’s. Butler has a season-high finish of 17th at Las Vegas, but has wrecked out of (or been wrecked) in three of his last four races. Combine these examples with the earlier one of Menard’s Cup Series presence, and a major downside of racing is exposed. Teams cannot race without money… and sponsors pay the bills. As a result, these fathers and heads of large companies need to look hard at where their money is going before suiting their sons up and making them the captains of rocket ships.
Listen to Doug this Saturday on The Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln Mercury 120 with Captain Herb Emory on News/Talk 750 WSB in Atlanta and online at wsbradio.com this Saturday form 2-4 p.m. http://www.frontstretch.com/dturnbull/24883/
Promotion idea: Nationwide Insurance along with NASCAR and the Nashville Superspeedway has put together a Tornado Relief Fund Team Challenge to help raise money for the American Red Cross and the victims of the Murfreesboro tornados in April. RAB Racing and Zaxby’s are doing their part to help by collecting donations and hosting a bake sale during race weekend activities at Nashville Superspeedway. To donate please contact Jessica Caulder directly or visit the bake sale outside the Nationwide Series hauler on Friday and Saturday.
Anderson (SC) Motor Speedway is hosting the 600 Racing Legends Regional Qualifier Event Friday. Also on the racing card will be stock car racing in the AMS weekly racing divisions including the Mini Stocks, Renegades, Super Renegades, and BM Modified. www.andersonmotorspeedway.com
More sadness: Russell Nelson, of Buford, died this week. He was a well-known and successful competitor at local tracks. One of his big wins was the 1977 Rattler 200, at South Alabama, where he led 166 laps to collect the $1,400 first place money, plus an additional $830 lap money. He won the first asphalt race at Dixie in 1973. Chad McDaniel, 34, of Concordia, KS, succumbed to injuries suffered while racing during Friday night's midget race in Knoxville, Iowa. McDaniel is survived by his wife Trish and children Trevor and Taylor. McDaniel was leading the SMRS Great Plains Midget Series standings at the time of the accident and had scored five top-10 finishes in six races so far this season. A crash during a feature race at the Red River Valley (ND) Speedway has killed longtime Fargo race car driver John Schulz. Schulz, 47, died after the car he was driving rolled on the back straightaway of the second lap in the modified division feature Saturday. A poster on www.trackforums.com says there have been 23 racing fatalities this year.
Saturday is Cleveland's Limited Late Model Mid-Season Championship, plus racing in Super Late Model, Crate Late Model, A&B Hobby, Pony and Front Runner divs. www.clevelandspeedway.com
Question of the Week, and we quote: On 4m.net to Talladega Short Track: "why can't yall do something about the flying bugs on the frontstretch. you got bugs flying around that scientist could not identify. the airport is across the street. get somebody to fly over there every saturday and spray the place down with raid."
Trivia, from Terry Roberts, GM at Lanier: Before David Reutiman, who was the last driver from Florida to win a NASCAR Cup race (and Mark Martin doesn't count)? Rick Minter answered this one: Joe Nemechek, of Lakeland, FL. His fourth, and latest, NASCAR win was in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Oct. 4, 2004.
Sprint car trivia: When was the last time a Georgia driver won a sprint car race? When did Georgians finish 1-2 (before Lavonia Sat. night)?
Matt Linder, of Hoschton, GA, notched his second career American Sprint Car Series Rebel Region feature win by topping Saturday night's 25-lap feature event at Lavonia Speedway. Starting from the pole position, Linder gunned into the lead at the outset and weathered several cautions along the way to post the win aboard his No. 1x entry. Linder took the checkered flag in front of Brian Thomas, of Pendergrass, GA, with Sport Allen, Matt Kurtz and Brad Wickham rounding out the top five. “A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 1x-Mat Linder, 2. 67-Brian Thomas, 3. 1a-Sport Allen, 4. 92-Matt Kurtz, 5. 6-Brad Wickham, 6. 24x-Nick Bashford, 7. 83-Bob Auld, 8. 20-Frank Carlsson, 9. 21-Aubrey Black, 10. 23-Lance Moss, 11. 36-Tim Perry, 12. 00-Danny Martin, Jr., 13. 4c-Tyler Godwin, 14. 9-C.J. Miller, 15. 2b-Frank Beck III, 16. 5-Dave Thorman, 17. 6x-Dave Lykins. ASCS Rebel Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Danny Martin, Jr. 272, 2. Brian Thomas 216, 3. Matt Kurtz 212, 4. Tyler Godwin 211, 5. Brad Wickham 210, 6. Aubrey Black 202, 7. Frank Beck III 190, 8. Bob Auld 171, 9. Frank Carlsson 164, 10. Matt Linder 150.
Dennis "Tink" Reno Jr., of Dora, AL, was second fastest qualifier, and won the Southern Superstars show at Montgomery Saturday. The Southern Classic 100 1. Dennis Reno Jr. 2. John "Boy" Wilkinson III 3. Clay Alexander 4. Ken McFarland 5. Andy Antinoro 6. Jeff Letson 7. Keith Cahela 8. Chase Knox 9. Bobby Knox Jr. 10. Chase Oliver 11. Scott Dunn 12. Pat Cruise 13. Chris Serio 14. Josh Belter 15. Brandon Hall 16. Gary Nix 17. Lee Hansard - Tyrone, GA 18. Joe Hornsby 19. Chris Hornsby DNS Next: Sayre Speedway, Hall of Fame 100, Saturday, June 13
Scott Knowles, of Lanett, AL swept the Alabama Bonus Bucks Weekend by driving his All-Star Graphics Warrior to his second straight NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series win on Saturday night in the Salute To The Armed Forces 50 in front of a packed house at East Alabama Motor Speedway. Knowles took the lead on lap four, and went on to post the $2,500 victory. With his $2,000 win on Friday night at Penton (AL) Raceway, Knowles was the top point driver in the two race series for a $1,000 bonus, and he also picked up a $1,000 bonus from GM Performance Parts for winning both races. That brought his two-day earnings to $6,500. “When I woke up this morning, I never dreamed I could win two of these races in a row,” Knowles said. “This has been the best weekend of my career. Travis Pennington, of Winston, GA, was fast qualifier at 15.660 seconds, but was light at the scales during the post-race weigh-in. NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS EAMS Results - MAY 30, 2009 (partial): POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON 1. 3 66k Scott Knowles Lanett, AL 50 $4,500 2. 5 7 Terrance Nowell Phenix City, AL 50 $1,250 3. 9 91 Richie Stephens Phenix City, AL 50 $850 4. 8 38 Chase Washington (R) Houlka, MS 50 $700 5. 12 33c Eric Cooley Fulton, MS 50 $950 8. 10 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 50 $450 9. 16 81 Aaron Ridley Chatsworth, GA 50 $500 11. 4 34 Chad Wallace LaGrange, GA 49 $350 15. 6 99 Larry Eldridge Columbus, GA 44 $250 16. 14 2h Randy Hester Columbus, GA 35 $240 17. 19 87 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA 30 $220 20. 22 11 Steven Roberts Sylvester, GA 16 $200 24. 1 95 Travis Pennington Winston, GA 50 $200-LT
NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES RESULTS SUGAR CREEK RACEWAY – BLUE RIDGE, GA: 1. 99g Jacob Grizzle 2. 7 Jason Deal 3. 51 Randy Dillard 4. 3d Jim Bob Davis 5. 41 Brian Cochran 6. 27k Brian Kinnersley 7. 64 Jacob Anderson DNS 8. 18 Seth Wimpey DNS TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL: (May 9 Make-Up Feature): 1. 47 Adam Martin 2. 07 Jimmy Elkins Jr. 3. k17 Cory Korreckt 4. 85 Jimmy Hudgins 5. 38 Jerry Goodwin 6. 18 Landon Sims 7. B97 Lee Burdett 8. 17 Cameron Heath 9. 28 Trent Thomas 10. 5c Mike Combs 11. 41k Steve Kirk 12. 13 David Pettus 13. 114 Wren Goodman 14. 75 Jonathan Lambert 15. 17 Adam Gauldin 16. F22 Carlton Freeman 17. 90 Jimmy Kay DNS TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL: (May 30 Feature): 1. 5 Logan Yates 2. 17 Adam Gauldin 3. F22 Carlton Freeman 4. 47 Adam Martin 5. 1 Jason Hiett 6. B97 Lee Burdett 7. 38 Jerry Goodwin 8. 85 Jimmy Hudgins 9. F97 Red Farmer 10. 18 Landon Sims 11. 75 Jonathan Lambert 12. 51 Gary Kellum 13. 17 Cameron Heath 14. 20 David Dailey 15. B4 Justin Beasley 16. 13 David Pettus 17. 5c Mike Combs 18. 00 Rusty Hamlin 19. 114 Wren Goodman 20. 30 Karl Parks 21. 29 Brian Ponder 22. k17 Cory Korreckt 23. 07 Jimmy Elkins Jr. 24. 41k Steve Kirk 25. 18 Matt Dooley
The Dirt Late Model Dream at NASCAR star Tony Stewart's high-banked, half-mile Eldora oval offers a $100,000 top prize – the largest single first-place paycheck for a dirt Late Model race this season. Hot laps, time trials and non-qualifiers' events are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday (June 5), with the Saturday-night program of heat races, B-Mains and the 100-lap Dream set to kick off at 7 o'clock. Eldora's website provides continuous updates during their big races. The fifth annual Prelude to the Dream at Eldora has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, due to rain this week. www.EldoraSpeedway.com
Thirteen students from across the United States have been selected to participate in the 2009 NASCAR Diversity Internship Program that gives minority college students the opportunity to complete 10-week, paid summer internships within the NASCAR industry. More than 200 students have participated in the program since its inception in 2000. One Georgian was selected: *Gabriela Acuna (Peachtree City, Ga.), from Georgia College and State University, Joe Gibbs Racing www.diversityinternships.com
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is searching for the next great talent to be the first mascot for the largest sports and entertainment complex in New England. The lucky winner will perform in front of over 105,000 NASCAR fans twice a year, and represent the speedway at numerous civic functions. This casting call is open to anyone age 18 and over and will be held Friday, June 5th. More info at www.nhms.com
Sunday, June 07, 2009 At 10:00 AM Eleventh Annual Raymond Parks Birthday Party Riverbend Racing Museum in Easley, SC, behind the home of JB and Willavene Day. Directions: I-85 to Exit 40 (Easley, SC/Hwy 153). Go north & stay on 153, about 5 miles exit right on Hwy 123. Turn left on Hwy 124 at Greenville/Pickens Speedway. At 1st light/road left on North Fish Trap Rd. At 2nd street (Floyd Circle) turn right to dead end.
The Parts Plus United Sprint Car Series Outlaw Thunder Tour winged sprint car event scheduled for Friday (June 5) at Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge has been postponed. www.sugarcreekraceway.net www.uscsracing.com
Promotion idea: The Las Vegas Bullring's concession stand offers a family-friendly dollar menu, including $1 hot dogs, $1 soda and $1 beer.
The GA Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville is showing GREASED LIGHTENING, the racing movie starring Richard Prior, Saturday, June 13th, at 2 pm. Tickets $5 each (includes popcorn & a soda) The Induction Banquet and Ceremony for the GRHOF will be Friday, October 23, in Dawsonville. http://www.thunderroadusa.com
Jamie Lathroum's eyes got real wide when Steve Francis pulled up lame with a flat tire on lap 44 of Thursday night's ‘First State 50' at Delaware International Speedway. Six circuits later, the red-hot driver from Mechanicsville, Md., wore a wide smile in Victory Lane after capturing his first career World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main. Results of WoO Late Model Series ‘First State 50' - partial (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won): 1. (1) Jamie Lathroum/50 $10,650 2. (2) Brady Smith/50 $5,500 3. (4) Steve Francis/50 $3,650 4. (17) Tim Fuller/50 $3,000 5. (7) Darryl Hills/50 $2,000 6. (11) Clint Smith/50 $2,200 15. (12) Shane Clanton/13 $1,350 www.worldofoutlaws.com
Steve Francis, 41, of Ashland, Ky., was simply the class of the field in the at Hagerstown (MD) Speedway, roaring off the pole position to lead the entire 50-lap distance without facing a single serious threat. He pocketed $10,750 for his tour-best fourth triumph of the 2009 WoO LMS season and the 24th of his career. Results (partial): 1. (1) Steve Francis/50 $10,750 2. (3) Darrell Lanigan/50 $5,600 3. (8) Rick Eckert/50 $3,550 4. (4) Shane Clanton/50 $3,000 5. (5) Austin Hubbard/50 $2,500 8. (13) Tim Fuller/50 $1,850 (fast qual.) 14. (14) Clint Smith/50 $1,400
Jimmy Owens, of Newport, TN, took the lead on lap 35 from Don O'Neal as he went on to score his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win of 2009 Saturday at Florence Speedway (KY) in a $10,000 to win event. Finish (Start) Car Number Driver Name (partial) 1. (8) #20 Jimmy Owens 2. (1) #71 Don O'Neal 3. (4) #0 Scott Bloomquist 4. (10) #41N Brad Neat 5. (2) #44 Earl Pearson Jr. 11. (15) #53 Ray Cook 22. (19) #17M Dale McDowell 2009 Championship Points Standings 1. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) 2145 2. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) 1930 2. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) 1930 4. Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA) 1870 5. Billy Moyer (Batesville, AR) 1810 6. Don O'Neal (Martinsville, IN) 1790 6. Ray Cook (Brasstown, NC) 1790 Rick Schwallie's photos: www.LateModelPhotos.com
Promotion idea: Toledo (OH) Speedway: Friday, June 5 is Wendy's Family Fun and Autograph Night. Fans can get 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 drinks and a program for just $25! The autograph session allows fans to walk onto the track to meet their favorite drivers.
Promotion idea: The Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and Nossi College of Art are already working towards the shared vision of marrying the two domains together. The students are creating a dynamic wall mural at the short track plus working hand-in-hand with the speedway staff to develop the first annual Fairgrounds Speedway driver’s calendar. www.nossi.com
Bubba Pollard, of Senoia, beat out Augie Grill by .075 of a second for the super LM win at Pensacola's Five Flags Friday. Pollard only led one lap and it was the one that counted. Grill had to settle for second and Casey Smith came on strong for a third place finish. Eddie Mercer ended up fourth after losing the lead with 19 laps to go with thanks to the aid of a lap car. Hunter Robbins rounded out the top-five. Results (partial): 1 26 Bubba Pollard 2 112 Augie Grill (fast qual.) 3 99 Casey Smith 4 1 Eddie Mercer 5 6 Hunter Robbins 6 2 John Bolen 7 39 Ryan Sieg www.Speed51.com
A great night of racing at Mobile International Speedway Saturday evening May 30 in the Miller Lite 100 for the Super Late Models. Twenty-three cars entered the second race of the summer long series, which is also part of the Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship. Augie Grill of Birmingham was the fast qualifier on the evening and used his front row starting position to take the lead from the start until a mid race pit stop for tires. After this pit stop it was lap 72 and Grill was back in the lead and never looked back taking the checkered flag and the winners' share of the purse. Bubba Pollard was second for the evening and added to his lead in the over all Sunoco Gulf Coast Championship season points race. Pollard and Grill share the $1000.00 Gulf Coast Championship bonus which is added to their winnings for the evening. (Pollard won in Pensacola Friday night and Grill was second)
Andy Santerre's development team won their first NASCAR Camping World East Series race with rookie driver Brett Moffitt at South Boston Speedway in VA. RCR development driver Ryan Gifford was second and pole-sitter Ryan Truex was third. Rounding out the top five was point leader Jody Lavender and Max Gresham, of Griffin, in his East Series debut.
Anderson (SC) Motor Speedway is the only asphalt track in SC or GA racing Fridays, and they're known for all types of promotions every race night. Last week Casey Tucker, of Douglasville, GA, was fourth in BM Modifieds, and RS Senter, of Oakwood, GA, was third in the Legends Semi Pros.
Carolina Clash Super Late Model raced at the Fayetteville Motor Speedway on Saturday. Results (partial): 1. Ricky Weeks Rutherfordton NC. (fast qual.) 2. Jeff Smith Dallas NC. 3. Dennis Franklin Gaffney SC. 4. Shawn Beasley Lumber Bridge NC. 5. Dan Breuer Troutman NC. 18. Keith Freeman Commerce GA. Jeff Smith (970 pts.) and Ricky weeks (953) lead the points. Next: June 13th Friendship Speedway in Elkin N.C. Upcoming: Saturday, June 27 Lavonia Speedway $5,000 to win, and Hartwell Oct. 10 $5000 to win. www.CarolinaClash.com
National Speed Sport News, celebrating 75 years, reminds us that Dick Trickle, the great Wisconsin short-tracker, won 67 features in 1972, including a 500-lapper at the MN State Fair, adding $4500 to his $50,000 earnings for the year. He also won 57 times in 1971. www.nationalspeedsportnews.com
Promotion ideas, reported by CE in NSSN: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway had a "Mutt Strut" on the track, and 5,000+ paid $20-$35 to benefit the Humane Society. Michigan's Dixie Speedway opened a luxury suite on race night, where race fans could Speed Date for $25.
More: Lanier handed out snack packs of Georgia peanuts, compliments of the Georgia Peanut Commission, to fans.
Jack Flowers, in NSSN May 20, writes about the rivalry in 1960 as the Atlanta and Charlotte NASCAR tracks were opened. Atlanta corporations are now major NASCAR sponsors, but Charlotte has far surpassed Atlanta as the home to NASCAR teams, support industries, and the new Hall of Fame. The biggest slap: since 1985, Charlotte/Lowe's biggest race has been sponsored by an Atlanta soft drink bottler.
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