New Website!!!

For news regarding racing in east Tennessee, go to my new webiste, TennesseeRacer.com.

Click on the link below to visit the new site:

http://tennesseeracer.com/

Boyd's Speedway hosting Steel-Head Border Wars on Friday, July 24th

Ringgold, GA/Chattanooga, TN (7/21/09) - - This Friday night, July 24th BORDER WARS returns to the BOYD's SPEEDWAY with round # 2 of the $2,000. to-WIN, double points touted (within the track championship points) event for the Steel-Head Late Models. Top area racers from Knoxville to Nashville; North Carolina, Alabama and Georgia that don't race regularly on Friday's at the track will be vying for a starting spot amongst the 24 starters. The 1st event on April 24th 2009, saw a photo-finish between Jason Welshan and Jason Cardwell and drew thirty-two (32) competitors. Mark Rosner has held the points lead until recently, since the beginning of the season, but now Rick Hixson has taken over. Hixson also won last weekends event in a caution free 25 lapper against fellow Austin Trucking sponsored William Thomas, who's now driving the # A19 that Lamar Scoggins began the season with. Friday qualifying (1 Lap) will place the Top 12 into two (2) DASH RACES. If needed "B" Main(s) will stage the remaining qualifiers.


Of the now eight (8) points events so far in 2009, (Steel-Head LM's) only two racers have been able to produce repeat a victories. Just prior to the BORDER WARS "A" Main Feature, track announcer Steve Milling will be giving away an official BORDER WARS/KING of CRATE t-shirt courtsey of RACIN' w/ REX, if someone can correctly identify all the winners thus far in the Steel-Head division, during the points season. The T-Shirts are available at the souvenir trailer location behind the turn-one grandstands. The Crate LM's will be on-hand for their regular $800 to-WIN - 20 lap feature along with a regular racing format for the A-Hobby and FWD classes. Racing begins at 7PM with Hot Laps at 6:30PM.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Preview(7-22-09)

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 17 PREVIEW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series will have 12 events on the Week 17 schedule with six races each in the West and East Regions. Larry Harrod of Plains, GA took his third win of season in the East Region Week 17 opener on Tuesday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL driving the Harrod Logging Scorpion.

The NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region will open Week 17 action on Friday night at Hattiesburg Motorsports Park in Hattiesburg, MS. Saturday night West Region events will be held at Central Mississippi Speedway in Winona, MS, Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS, Jackson Motor Speedway in Jackson, MS, Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS, and South Mississippi Speedway in Gulfport, MS.

East Region Week 17 competition will continue on Friday night at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL, and on Saturday night at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN, Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown, NC, Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL, and East Alabama Motor Speedway. Talladega Short Track will host a double-points event on August 8.

The Event Point Averages of Top 20 Regional drivers above 40 show nine drivers in the West Region, and ten drivers in the East Region. The EPAs are based on a driver’s best 16 finishes, including bonus points, and a perfect EPA is 52.5.

Two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region Champion Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS has the highest West Region EPA at 48.4, and leads the West Region point standings in quest of his third West Region title in the past four seasons. Keeton has 774 points based on his best 16 finishes in 21 starts with six wins, 17 top five finishes and 18 top ten finishes.

Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS has the second-highest West Region EPA at 48, and is seventh in the West Region standings with 625 points. Cooley has 13 starts, and can still earn full points in three more West Region events. The 18-year-old driver has six wins, 12 top fives, and 13 top tens.

Cooley is trying to win both the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Touring and the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region titles in the same season. Cooley currently leads the NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS National Touring point standings.

Michael Arnold of Hattiesburg, MS is another 18-year-old driver looking for success in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS West Region. Arnold has the third-highest West Region EPA at 46.4 and is second in the West Region standings with 742 points based on his best 16 finishes. Arnold is tied with the most wins in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS at eight, and he has 20 top fives, and series-leading 25 top tens in 26 starts.

Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS has the fourth-highest West Region EPA at 45.2, and is third in the West Region standings with 724 points based on his best 16 finishes in 25 starts. Kody Barber of Bogalusa, LA has the fifth-highest EPA at 44.4 and is fourth in the West Region standings with 711 points based on his best 16 finishes in 20 starts.

Tracy Brown of Lumberton, MS is fifth in the West Region standings with 703 points based on his best 16 finishes in 22 starts and has the sixth highest West Region EPA at 43.9. Cliff Williams of Star, MS is sixth in the West Region standings with 643 points in 15 starts, and has the seventh highest EPA at 42.9.

Two drivers outside the Top 10 of the West Region standings have the eighth and ninth-highest EPA. Chase Washington of Houlka, MS is 14^th in the West Region standings with 508 points in 12 starts and has the eighth-highest EPA at 42.3. Randall Beckwith of Kilmichael, MS is 12^th in the West Region standings with 522 points in 13 starts, and has the ninth-highest EPA at 40.1.

NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region point leader Scott Knowles of Lanett, AL also has the highest East Region EPA at 47. Knowles has 752 points in 16 starts with seven wins, 13 top fives, and 15 top tens. Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL has the second-highest East Region EPA at 45.1 and is fifth in the East Region standings with 632 points in 14 starts win one win and 13 top fives.

Defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region Champion Adam Martin of Talladega, AL is 15^th in the East Region standings with 494 points in 11 starts, but has the third-highest EPA at 44.9. Martin will be a driver to watch in coming weeks, as he still has five East Region races to earn full points. Martin has four wins and nine top fives.

Harrod’s win at East Alabama Motor Speedway on Tuesday night moved him up to the tenth spot in the East Region standings with 532 points in 12 starts, and the fourth-highest East Region EPA at 44.3. Montana Dudley of Phenix City, AL has the fifth-highest East Region EPA at 44.2 and is second in the East Region standings with 707 points in 16 starts.

Jerry Goodwin of Eastaboga, AL is 17^th in the East Region standings with 472 points in 11 starts, and has the sixth-highest EPA at 42.9. Dana Eiland of Salem, AL and Jimmy Elkins Jr. of Talladega, AL are tied with the seventh-highest EPA at 42.5. Eiland is third in the East Region standings with 637 points in 15 starts, and Elkins is 11^th with 510 points in 12 starts.

Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL has the ninth-highest East Region EPA at 42.3 and is 12^th in the East Region standings with 508 points in 12 starts. Bobby Eiland of Phenix City, AL has the tenth-highest East Region EPA at 41.8 and is 18^th in the East Region standings with 460 points in 11 starts.

For a complete rundown of the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series point standings in both the West and East Regions, and links to the web sites of NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series tracks, visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com.

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 17 EARLY RESULTS:

EAST REGION:

July 21:

EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – PHENIX CITY, AL:
1. 27 Larry Harrod
2. 95 Richie Stephens
3. 55 Terrance Nowell
4. 55 Montana Dudley
5. 18 Chase Edge
6. 5 Rodgerick Dykes
7. 02 Justin Weeks
8. 12 J.R. Cobb

NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 17 SCHEDULE:

WEST REGION:

July 24:

HATTIESBURG MOTORSPORTS PARK – HATTIESBURG, MS

July 25:

CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – WINONA, MS
COLUMBUS SPEEDWAY – COLUMBUS, MS
JACKSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY – JACKSON, MS
WHYNOT MOTORSPORTS PARK – WHYNOT, MS
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI SPEEDWAY – GULFPORT, MS

EAST REGION:

July 24:

PENTON RACEWAY – PENTON, AL

July 25:

MOUNTAIN RACEWAY PARK – MARYVILLE, TN
TRI-COUNTY RACE TRACK – BRASSTOWN, NC
TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL
EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – PHENIX CITY, AL

-30-

Southern Nationals stretch run goes through East Tennessee

By Chris Tilley (O’Reilly Southern Nationals Series)
CONTACT: (606) 219-1723 or (606) 271-1724 or tilleyracing@hotmail.com

BRASSTOWN, NC (July 23, 2009)—After seven exciting races, the O’Reilly Southern Nationals Series is ready for the final three events on the 10-race mini-series which ends in East Tennessee.

During the first seven events, there have been five different winners including Vic Hill (Wythe Raceway), Jonathan Davenport (Carolina Speedway), Casey Roberts (Hartwell/Swainsboro & Screven Speedways), Tony Knowles (Fort Payne Speedway) and Chris Madden (Crossville Raceway). Already over 100 different drivers have raced with the O’Reilly Southern Nationals Series and a tight point battle is heating up for the final three race swing which starts Tonight (July 23rd) at Cleveland Speedway paying $3,500 to win.

The ninth stop on the tour following Cleveland Speedway will be at the Loven Family’s Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN on Friday Night July 24th which pays the event winner $5,300. Following Volunteer Speedway will be the finale event at the Tazewell Speedway in Tazewell, TN which pays $5,300 to the race winner on Saturday Night July 25th.

For more information on the O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series, please visit the series website at www.southernnationalsseries.com.
The O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series is brought to fans across the Southeast by many important sponsors and partners, including O'Reilly Auto Parts, Red Man Tobacco Products, American Racer Tires, Barry Wright Race Cars, Carolina Performance, DBR Performance Starters, Delph Communications, Fibertech Roofs by JB Performance, Graphic Impressions, GRT Race Cars, GW Performance, Hoosier Racing Tires, Integra Racing Shocks, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Ohlins Shocks, PPM Performance Products, Rocket Chassis, Schaeffer's Oil, SHY Racing Suspensions, Star Graphix, VP Racing Fuels, Wiles Driveshafts, and Wilwood Engineering.

Position Name Points Hometown
1. Tommy Kerr 976 (Maryville, TN)
2. Jonathan Davenport 954 (Blairsville, GA)
3. Tony Knowles 952 (Tyrone, GA)
4. Dennis Franklin 944 (Gaffney, SC)
5. Jeff Cooke 908 (Spartanburg, SC)
6. Shon Flanary 832 (Church Hill, TN)
7. Dane Dacus 815 (Lakeland, TN)
8. Daniel Baggerly 748 (Rural Retreat, VA)
9. Austin Dillon 684 (Lewisville, NC)
10. Gar ****son 680 (Flinstone, GA)

2009 SCHEDULE:
Monday, July 13 - Wythe Raceway, Rural Retreat, VA (Vic Hill)
Tuesday, July 14 - Carolina Speedway, Gastonia, NC (Jonathan Davenport)
Thursday, July 16 - Hartwell Speedway, Hartwell, GA (Casey Roberts)
Friday, July 17 - Swainsboro Raceway, Swainsboro, GA (Casey Roberts)
Saturday, July 18 - Screven Motor Speedway, Sylvania, GA (Casey Roberts)
Monday, July 20 - Fort Payne Motor Speedway, Fort Payne, AL (Tony Knowles)
Tuesday, July 21 - Crossville Raceway, Crossville, TN (Chris Madden)
Thursday, July 23 - Cleveland Speedway, Cleveland, TN
Friday, July 24 - Volunteer Speedway, Bulls Gap, TN
Saturday, July 25 - Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN

Southern Nationals conclude at Tazewell on July 25th

Southern Nationals championship race at Tazewell Speedway
By Michael Moats – MRM Media Services

Tazewell, Tennessee – For the fifth straight year, Tazewell Speedway hosts the finale for the O’Reilly Southern Nationals series, the mini-tour featuring 10 races in 13 nights this Saturday night. Some of the best drivers from the Southeast will be competing for the $5,300 winner’s check.

This year’s O’Reilly Southern Nationals has more drivers following the tour over previous years. And at least five drivers could have a shot at winning this year’s title at Tazewell Speedway.

Maryville’s Tommy Kerr is one of the drivers in the championship mix. Last year’s runner-up, Dennis “Rambo” Franklin, Jeff Cooke, Tony Knowles, and Jonathan Davenport are all locked in a tight battle for the 2009 O’Reilly Southern Nationals championship.

All the drivers chasing points for the O’Reilly Southern Nationals will also have to do battle with some of the area’s top drivers. Vic Hill, track record holder Rick Rogers, Billy Ogle Jr., last Saturday’s winner Mike Weeks, Mike Smith, and others will also be looking to win and claim the $5,300 winner’s check.

Also racing on Saturday will be the limited late models, modified streets, pure streets, and four cylinders.

General admission tickets are $20 for adults with kids 10 and under admitted free with a paying adult. Pit passes are $30. Pit gates open at 3:00 and grandstand gates open at 5:00. Racing will start at 7:45.

Tazewell Speedway is located just two miles northwest of Tazewell, Tennessee. Going north on US 25-E, turn right and then left onto Bacchus Rd, and then 1.8 miles north, then .8 miles west and the race track is located on the left. For additional information, visit www.TazewellSpeedway.net or call 865-626-2222.

Southern Nationals coming to Volunteer Speedway

Volunteer Speedway to host 'O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series' on Friday, July 24

BULLS GAP, Tenn. — The O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series features 10 events in the span of 13 days, with races held in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Volunteer Speedway will host the series for the next-to-last event of the two-week tour around the Southeast on Friday, July 24 for a $5,300-to-win ... $530-to-start Super Late Model show.

Also racing besides the Super Late Models will be Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned "Courtesy Chevrolet" Pro Late Models and "McDonald's" Hobby Stocks. The fastest 10 cars in O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series qualifying will be locked into the 53 lap feature, with B-mains scheduled to complete the 24-car starting field.

The top 10 in Southern Nationals Series points following seven of the 10 events are Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn.; Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga.; Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga.; Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C.; Jeff Cooke of Spartanburg, S.C.; Shon Flanary of Church Hill, Tenn.; Dane Dacus of Memphis, Tenn.; Daniel Baggerly of Rural Retreat, Va.; Austin Dillon of Welcome, N.C., and Gar Dickson of Flintstone, Ga. Other drivers who are expected to compete at "The Gap" include Chris Madden of Gaffney, S.C.; Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark.; Randle Chupp of Troutman, N.C.; Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky.; Brandon Kinzer of Allen, Ky.; Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, Ala.; Brian Nuttal Jr. of Clayton, Ga.; Chris Combs of Isom, Ky.;

East Tennessee drivers expected to be present include four-time (1997, ’98, 2000 and ’05) Volunteer Speedway track champion Vic Hill of Morristown, Jimmy Owens of Newport, Rick Rogers of Knoxville, Kerry Jones of Bristol, Jeff Maupin of Greeneville, Chad Ogle of Sevierville, Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Randy Weaver of Crossville, Mike Marlar of Winfield, Shanon Buckingham of Morristown, Michael Smith of Rogersville, Dale Ball of Johnson City, Mark Vineyard of Powell, Bryan Hendrix of Knoxville, Skip Arp of Georgetown, Mark Douglas of Knoxville, Dusty Carver of Englewood, Anthony White of Clinton, Steve Smith of Powell, Herman Goddard of Knoxville, Joe Armes of Petros, Bobby Mays of Jonesborough, and many more.

Adult grandstand admission on Friday, July 24 will be $15, youth (ages 11-15) $5, with kids 10-and-under admitted free in grandstands when accompanied by an adult. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $30.

The pit gate will open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands at 5 p.m. Hotlaps are tentatively scheduled to begin around 8 p.m., to be followed by qualifying and then racing action.

***NOTE: For the O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series event, no lawn chairs will be permitted in the grandstands. Only stadium seat-type cushions will be allowed. Also, no coolers or outside food allowed to be brought into the front straightaway (main) grandstands!

Directions to Volunteer Speedway: South on Interstate 81 from Tennessee/Virginia state lines, take Exit 23 (Bulls Gap/Greeneville), then turn right onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Look for track entrance approximately 200 yards on left.

North on Interstate 81 from I-81/I-40 split (East of Knoxville, TN), take Exit 23, then turn left onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Continue underneath the interstate over-pass and track entrance approximately 300 yards ahead on left.

For information about the O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series, visit the Web site at www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com or call promoter Ray Cook at (706) 835-7503 or (828) 837-0379.

Volunteer Speedway: (423) 235-5020 www.VolunteerSpeedway.com
Track Office - Weekdays Only 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.: (423) 378-5942
Phyllis Loven: (423) 676-9081
Robert Walden-Media/Public Relations Director: (423) 928-9644 robwald@prodigy.net
Jimmy Meade-Marketing and Sales: (423) 817-0925
Race Director David Bryant: Race Shop (423) 235-5420 ... Cell (865) 978-1752

Back to School night at Wartburg on August 8th

Wartburg, TN (July 21st, 2009) Wartburg Speedway in Wartburg, TN will play host to the Tennessee Thunder DirtCar Series for the third time in 2009 on Saturday night August 8th. It will be the first time since April of last year the ‘Friday night ‘ track will run a Saturday night event. “I’ve wanted to try a special event on a Saturday night for some time now and the August 8th date looked like a great opportunity to give it a try” stated Wartburg Speedway owner/ promoter Scott Green.

The ‘Back-to-School Saturday Night Special’ as it’s being dubbed will offer up a full slate of racing action including the 40 lap, $3,000 to win, $300 to start main event for Thunder Series Late Models. Preliminary action will include two laps of time trials, the Sunoco Race Fuels Quick Six Twin Dashes and West Haven Speed Equipment B-Mains.

The Sportsman, Open Wheel Modified, Modified Street, Pure Street, Mini Stock and Front Wheel Drive Divisions will all be in action along with a special promotion geared toward kids. Details will be forthcoming.

It will mark the series’ eleventh overall visit to the 1/3 mile oval which is the site of the series very first race dating back to March 25th of 2005 when thirty-one Super Late Models appeared breaking the previous track record of twenty-six; many of which had never raced at Wartburg previously. Three-time Thunder Series Champion Anthony White of Clinton, Tennessee bagged his first ever series win and the $3,000 winner’s check that night and has since claimed four additional victories at his home track. Other series feature winners at the east Tennessee bullring include Stacy Boles of Claxton with two victories, Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Mike Marlar of Winfield and most recently Ricky Arms of Moss, TN with one series victory each.

Pit gates are scheduled to open at 3pm with stands and tier parking at 4pm and the drivers meeting is scheduled for 6:30pm with hot laps to immediately follow. Adult General Admission will be $15 with Adult Tier Parking at $20 and Adult Pit Passes at $30.

For more information fans can log onto the track’s website at www.WartburgSpeedway.net, the series’ website at www.TTDCS.com or by calling the track phone at (423) 346-6750. The track is located at 205 Heidel Road in Wartburg, Tennessee. For fans with GPS, the zip code is 37887.