By Joe Dunn / joe@onpitroad.com
Tuesday night is not a normal race night at Crossville Raceway, and two of the drivers racing this past Tuesday were big hits with the fans and drivers.
Nascar Nextel Cup drivers Ken Schrader ( Woods Bros. Little Debbie # 21 Ford) and Kenny Wallace (Furniture Row #78 Chevy) were on hand to race their dirt cars and spend some time with fans. Though the weather was a big concern for track owner Al Varnadore with a sudden downpour at the track about 2 pm, by 4 pm the skies cleared and work began on drying the track. The extra time needed kept the fans happy as Schrader and Wallace served a line of fans with autographs and pictures.
Following the qualifying laps, four fans got a big treat and also had a chance to help support the Alzheimer’s Foundation. A raffle was drawn for 2 fans to take a ride around the track in a special made Super Late Model race car piloted by either Schrader or Wallace. In addition an Auction was held in the stands for two more fans to ride along. The total proceeds to the Foundation was $1395.00
In the racing action, Mark Martin of Baxter won the Super Late Model feature, while Crossville’s Robert Edwards collected his first ever Limited Late Model win. Ron Dodson won the Street Stock feature and in the Open Wheel Modifieds, after a hard battle through most of the race with Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader held on for the win.
To see pictures from this event, click on the Crossville Raceway photo link in the column on the right, then go to Tuesday July 17.
On the Nascar scene, the Nextel Cup teams are off this week, while the Nascar Busch series heads to St. Louis where Kenny Wallace will be driving the #2 Richard Childress car. Ginn Racing announced Tuesday morning that they have released both Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemecheck, as they shut down the 13 team and move Regan Smith from the 01 car to the 14 car. They also signed Aric Almirola to replace Smith in the part time 01 ride with Mark Martin.
Marlin has stated that he wants to run a limited schedule in 2008 with possibly no more than 20 races. I spoke with Kenny Wallace who stated that he has discussed Marlin driving a second car in 2008 for Furniture Row, provided a sponsor can be secured.
Local Racing Results for last weekend:
Friday night at Wartburg Speedway
SLM – 1. Anthony White, 2. Curt Williams, 3. Steve Smith, 4. Ruben Mayfield, 5. Danny Bray Sportsman – 1. Jeff Adkisson, 2. Dale Nance, 3. Johnny Lane, 4. Keith Longmire, 5. Melvin Burns Pure Street – 1. Reagan Williams, 2. Jason Capps, 3. Jonathan Sims, 4. Joe Seiber, 5. Michael Brashears Pure Mini – 1. Jason Manley, 2. Donald Christmas, 3. Brian Frost, 4. Nick Nelson, 5. Jim Frost FWD – 1. Blake Hall, 2. David Hall Sr, 3. Billy Freytag, 4. Justin Scott, 5. Casey Crane
Saturday night at Crossville Raceway:
Limited Late Model – 1. Brandon Williams, 2. Sam Williams, 3. Joe Cline, 4. Dale Nance, 5. Jason Butler Open Wheel Modifieds – 1. Steve Mullinax, 2. Michael Asberry, 3. David Flowers, 4. Michael Selby Jr, 5. Greg Hoskins Mini Stock – 1. John Ross, 2. Dustin Stephens, 3.Joseph Howell, 4. Randy Goolsby, 5. Brandon Kilburn Front Wheel Drive – 1. Jonathan Norris, 2. Seth Smith, 3. JD Rector, 4. Ricky Tinch, 5. Brandon Norris. Chevette – 1. Ronnie Choate Jr, 2. Stephen Fields, 3.Don Pollard, 4. Wesley Stafford
Next up racing this weekend, Tonight Wartburg Speedway runs a full card of racing including SLM, Sportsman, Pure Street, Pure Mini and Front Wheel Drive. Racing starts at 7:30 pm (et) Saturday racing at Crossville Raceway with SLM, LLM, Street Stock, Mini Stock and FWD starting at 7:00 pm. Next Tuesday, July 24, 2007 Crossville raceway will host the Ray Cook’s Southern Nationals with a $3500 SLM race. Also included in the night’s program will be LLM, OWM, SS, MS and FWD. Racing begins at 7:00 pm.
Get off that couch and bring the family out to a local dirt track and support the local racers. You may just see the next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart on his way up.
