$10,000-to-win 'Spring Thaw 100' scheduled Feb. 29-March 1 at Volunteer Speedway
BULLS GAP, Tenn. — Volunteer Speedway will begin its 35th season of exciting dirt-track racing by hosting the Knoxville, Tenn.-based Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series in its inaugural visit to the track for the running of the $10,000-to-win "10th Annual Spring Thaw 100" presented by Branch Banking & Trust Co. (BB&T), Phil Bachman Honda of Kingsport and event support sponsor Pizza Plus on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 29-March 1. The Spring Thaw 100 will be the first of three scheduled Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series events at "The Gap" in 2008.
Defending and four-time Spring Thaw 100 race winner Scott Bloomquist from nearby Mooresburg will be present to defend his title, along with fellow Team Zero (Bloomquist Race Cars) members Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., Eric Jacobsen of Santa Cruz, Calif., Michael England of Glasgow, Ky., Kerry Jones of Bristol, Tenn. (2001 & '07 Volunteer Speedway track champion), Shanon Buckingham of Morristown, Tenn., and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.
Leading the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series contingent of regional drivers from the Volunteer State will be three-time series champion Anthony White of Clinton, Rick Rogers of Knoxville, Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Randy Weaver of Crossville, Kayne Hickman of Soddy Daisy, Mike Weeks of Friendsville, Stacy Boles of Claxton, Brad Coffey of Friendsville, Dan Tipton of Kingston and April Farmer of Livingston; plus out-of-state competitors Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Dan Schlieper of Pewaukee, Wis., Ivedent Lloyd of Ocala, Fla. (2007 O'Reilly Auto Parts Southern All-Star Series champion), Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., Bart Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio, Brandon Kinzer of Allen, Ky., Damon Eller of Crumpler, N.C., Tommy Bailey of Corbin, Ky., David Payne of Murphy, N.C., and others.
East Tennessee drivers tentatively scheduled to be present include four-time Volunteer Speedway track champion Vic "The Thrill" Hill of Morristown (1997, '98, 2000 & '05), Mike Smith of Rogersville, Dale Ball of Johnson City, Jeff Maupin of Greeneville, Bryan Hendrix of Knoxville, Herman Goddard of Knoxville, Mark Douglas of Knoxville, Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Mike Marlar of Winfield, Mark Vineyard of Powell, Michael Jackson of Greeneville, Greg Burchett of Church Hill, Shane Roberts of Blountville, Bobby Mays of Jonesborough, Bobby Giffin of Maryville, David Crabtree of Maryville, and many more.
On Friday, Feb. 29 the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series Super Late Models will qualify (Powermaster Time Trials) and run heat races, along with Crate Late Model and Mini Stock features. Adult grandstand admission on Friday is $12, youth ages 7-14 $4, with 6-and-under admitted free. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $30.
Highlighting the Saturday, March 1 racing program will be the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series Super Late Model $10,000-to-win 10th Annual Spring Thaw 100. Two Sunoco Dashes from preliminary qualifying events (heat races) on Friday night will determine the first six rows of the Spring Thaw 100, with two last chance West Haven Speed Equipment B-mains determining starting positions 18-22, and the final two (23-24) starting berths series provisionals based on 2007 final point standings. Also racing will be Hobby Stocks in a 25-lap feature. Adult grandstand admission on Saturday is $25, youth ages 7-14 $5, with 6-and-under admitted free. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $35.
The pit gate will open each day at 3 p.m., with the grandstands opening daily at 5 p.m. Hotlaps are tentatively scheduled to begin each evening around 6 p.m., followed by qualifying and then racing action.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Indy 500 Fan Tour, will bring the excitement of the legendary Indianapolis 500 to Volunteer Speedway during the Spring Thaw 100 racing weekend. A full-size IndyCar Series racing simulator will allow fans to experience the thrill of driving an IndyCar around the famed "Brickyard." Fans will also be able to look over various items from drivers who have competed in the Indianapolis 500, including a collection of helmets from past and current drivers and a pair of driving gloves from two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves. An IndyCar Series safety display complete with in-car crash box with warning lights will be on display, along with pieces of brick and asphalt from the famed 2.5-mile oval. A lucky fan will win two tickets to the 2008 Indianapolis 500!
To learn more about the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series, visit their official Web site at www.AdvanceAutoPartsThunderSeries.com
For more information about Volunteer Speedway visit the Web site at www.VolunteerSpeedway.com ... contact the track at (423) 235-5020, Phyllis Loven in the track office at (423) 378-5942, or Media/Public Relations Director Robert Walden at (423) 928-9644.
For Immediate Release
February 25, 2008
Another Successful East Bay Winternationals in the Books for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series; Over $230,000 Given Out Over Six Nights of Racing CORONA, CA (February 25, 2008) - With another successful East Bay Winternationals under its belt the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series takes a lengthy break before gearing back up with its 2008 racing schedule on Saturday Night, March 29th at the Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN for the $10,000 to win "Indiana Icebreaker." With six great nights of racing during the 2008 edition of the DART Winternationals at East Bay over $230,000 in prize money, point fund cash and product were given out to the drivers. Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR came away from East Bay with three victories in the last four nights of racing to claim the DART Winternationals Points Fund Title. Joining Moyer in victory lane during the week at East Bay were Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN, Matt Miller of Waterville, OH and Terry Casey of New London, WI. For Moyer Saturday Night's win was his 18th at East Bay which leads all drivers in career wins at the Tampa area facility. O'Neal's win of the opening night (Monday) was his 12th career triumph on the 1/3rd mile oval as Miller's Tuesday Night victory was his second ever at East Bay and Casey's thrilling Thursday Night triumph was his first at East Bay, his first Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win and the biggest win of his career (worth $10,000). During the weeklong competition the weather was perfect every day as nearly 100 race teams took part in the 32nd Annual DART Winternationals. Out of those nearly 100 competitors only four drivers (Matt Miller, Donnie Moran, Steve Francis and Shannon Babb) made the starting grid all six nights. The average car count during the week was 78 with the highest tally on Friday Night with 88 entrants participating. With outstanding crowds on hand each night of this year's edition of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series visit to East Bay there were nearly one million listeners during the week who tuned into www.racetalklive.com's internet coverage of the DART Winternationals with Dustin Jarrett handling the play by play action. During the week three drivers provided color commentary with Josh McGuire, Rick Combs and Jesse James Lay all stopping by to lend their racing expertise to the broadcast. Each race night's broadcast is archived and can be replayed by going to www.racetalklive.com. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Director Ritchie Lewis along with East Bay Raceway Park promoters Al Varnadore and Todd Hutto instituted a new format for this years DART Winternationals and it proved to be successful for the drivers and fans. With hot laps beginning at 5:00 PM each day followed by qualifications ripped off in a timely manner each night, the 7:00 PM advertised starting time was met with no problems as the fans saw a quick and efficient race program each night as Saturday Night's finale was taped before the cameras of SPEED Channel. The East Bay finale will be aired on a date and time to be announced in the future. It will also mark the first time that a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event was taped in HD (High Definition). The list of drivers competing at East Bay for the first time was quite large, those drivers that were successful in making their first East Bay A-main debuts were: Dave Tyrchniewicz, Jared Hawkins, Bryan Barber, Chris Wall and Chris Madden were all first time starters during the week with Wayne Chinn and Jason McBride finally making their first East Bay features in their second year of competing at the DART Winternationals. Dr. Stephen Murray of the Apollo Beach Chiropractic Center of Apollo Beach, FL became a household name during the DART East Bay Winternationals as drivers Dan Schlieper and Randy Korte paid a visit to him during the week. Schlieper who has suffered with back problems for a few years had to be lifted out of his car one night at Golden Isles and at East Bay decided to make a visit to Dr. Murray. Not only did the good doctor help Schlieper with his pain he also got his name put on the veteran Wisconsin driver's race car. Korte suffered a vertebrae injury in Monday Night's feature which sidelined him for the rest of the week. Korte said he will be able to return to racing action in about six weeks after letting the injury heal. A very short list of people had never heard of St. Andrews Manitoba Canada driver Dave Tyrchniewicz before his arrival at East Bay, but after the 41 year old driver won two heat races and made the starting lineup for two features they knew that "The Turk" would go down in East Bay racing lore. Tyrchniewicz was piloting a C.J. Rayburn Race Car from the Terry Casey race shop in New London, WI. Casey is a Rayburn North dealer for the veteran Whiteland, IN chassis builder. Several drivers spoke of their intentions to run for the Quarter Master "Rookie of the Year" title which has a top prize of $10,000 cash to the winner and $2,500 for second place. Drivers must make their final decision by March 1st to be eligible for the 2008 season. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series continues to send its thoughts and prayers to the families of David England and Kellen Chadwick. David England suffered a fatal heart attack on practice night for the DART Winternationals as his son Michael withdrew from competition to be with his family. Michael still has plans to run full-time with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in '08 Kellen Chadwick was seriously injured in a Modified race in Arizona on February 22nd just two weeks after competing with the Lucas Oil Series for the first time in his career at East Bay. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race teams now have until March 29th to prepare for the "Indiana Icebreaker" at Brownstown Speedway. With the Jasper Engines "Road to Wheatland" taking shape heading to Brownstown look for another stout field of entrants at the South Central Indiana facility. The $10,000 to win event will feature a complete show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and the main event. For more information you can log onto the tracks website at www.brownstownspeedway.com. For the latest news and information regarding the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can go to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503. Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings (After February 9, 2008) 1) Billy Moyer (Batesville, AR) - 250 2) Terry Casey (New London, WI) - 230 3) Steve Francis (Ashland, KY) - 220 3) Josh Richards (Shinnston, WV) - 220 5) Donnie Moran (Dresden, OH) - 205 6) Matt Miller (Waterville, OH) - 200 6) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) - 200 8) Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN) - 190 9) Earl Pearson, Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) - 185 10) Tim McCreadie (Watertown, NY) - 180 |
Kellen Chadwick Suffers Severe Injuries While Racing In Arizona
February 22, 2008 - Kellen Chadwick, the 22 year-old Oakley, Calif. driver, was severely injured during the Modified main event at Central Arizona Raceway during the opening night of the Salute To The Veterans 100 race weekend. Kellen was invited to race in a Flexi-Flyer house car for the $8000 to win event.
Kellen was airlifted to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. He was initially diagnosed with broken vertebrae in his neck (from his skull down to his shoulder), broken vertebrae in his back, damage to an artery in his neck and burns to his back and right arm. He is in serious but stable condition and remains in intensive care. Doctors were performing more tests to ensure he had no other injuries. He is reported to have feeling and movement in all his extremities. The early prognosis is that they will have to fuse the bones in his neck together, which would prevent him from moving his head up, down, right or left.
As of Sunday afternoon, doctors have provided some updates. They have made some progress on his damaged artery. They are hoping that the damage to his back will heal on its' own, without needing surgery. He has had some problems with his breathing and has been placed on a breathing machine and has a tube in his lungs. A tube was also put in his stomach to drain some of the excess fluids that were causing nausea. Due to the extreme pain he has been in, doctors have decided to keep him unconscious. Surgery will not be considered for several days, as doctors wait for the swelling in his spinal cord to go down.
During the first 48 hours of learning of the incident, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the young driver and race car fabricator. There are many efforts underway to help in raise funds for Kellen. Donation information is available on his website, www.KellenChadwick.com.
Kellen has been given word of all the support the racing community has been showing to him. He and the Chadwick family are very grateful.
We want to say a special Thank You to Ryan McDaniel. Ryan has been providing much of the information to the racing community regarding Kellen's status via various message boards. Ryan, you are a great friend to Kellen and the Chadwick family!
Best regards,
Dennis Daniel
-Daniel Digital & Design
www.DanielDigital.com