By Jay Hardin
Calvert City, KY, September 25, 2003--Dozens of cars and many of the biggest names in late model stock car racing are expected to pull into the “Taj Mahal” of the dirt tracks, the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway for the annual Commonwealth Cup weekend October 24th and 25th, with the 50-lap late model feature Saturday night paying $15,000 to the winner!
The Commonwealth Cup traditionally draws many of the biggest names in late model racing. Past winners of the annual Commonwealth cup at the 3/8 mile just outside of Calvert City, Kentucky include, defending Commonwealth Cup winner Billy Moyer of Batesville, Arkansas (a five time winner of the World 100), 2001 Commonwealth Cup winner Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, 1998-1999 Commonwealth Cup winner Steve Francis of Ashland, Kentucky and 1997 Commonwealth winner Bob Pierce of Oakwood, Illinois.
Past entrants of the Commonwealth Cup include national late model standouts such as Tennessee’s Scott Bloomquist, Wisconsin’s Dan Schlieper, Freddy Smith of Knoxville, Tennessee, Bill Frye of Arkansas, Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Arkansas, Springfield, Missouri’s Terry Phillips, Pinconning, Michigan’s Jeep Van Wormer and Jimmy Mars.
The big name invaders could be joined by Midwest standouts such as three-time UMP Late Model National Champ Ed Dixon of Washington, Missouri, Randy Korte of Highland, Illinois, Carpentersville, Illinois’ Dennis Erb, Gibson City, Illinois’ Kevin Weaver, Kevin Gundaker of St. Charles, Missouri, Shannon Babb of Decatur, Illinois, Darren Miller of Illinois, Joey Mack of Benton, Missouri and Rodney Melvin of Logan, Illinois.
At press time it is unknown what late model competitors will choose to participate or enter the Commonwealth Cup at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway. However, over 70 late models were in attendance for last year’s event.
Whoever the invaders may be, they will have to contend with a bevy of local and area late model stars eager for the $15,000 first place check. Heading the local drivers is defending UMP National Late Model Champ Terry English of Benton, Kentucky. English has been choosing races rather than chasing points this season, though he had been in the top ten in both UMP and Xtreme Dirt Car Series points earlier in the year. English added another series to his resume when he made his first ARCA RE/MAX series start at Springfield, Illinois qualifying third and finishing tenth, then following that up with an outside front row start at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds two weeks later. English won the 2000 Commonwealth Cup and has three track championships at KLMS.
Other local drivers expected to compete for the large prize award include Mayfield, Kentucky driver Randy Sellars, a former UMP National Champion, Jeremy Williams of Lone Oak, Kentucky, one of the hottest drivers at KLMS this season plus 2003 late model feature winners at KLMS such as Rod Reed of Mayfield, hometown driver Tim Brown, Gary Keeling of Paducah, Tait Davenport and Bobby Dietz.
They should be joined by Illinois drivers such as Lee Thomason of Marion, Joe Morris of Galatia, Bill Millikan of Shawneetown, and Larry Hurn of Olney. Drivers from at least five states are expected to compete at Kentucky lake for the Commonwealth Cup late model prize.
Friday night’s schedule begins at 6:30 p.m. with hot laps, qualifying for the late models, heat races and the late model Race of Champions, featuring the top ten qualifiers plus 2 provisionals voted on by the racing fans! The Race of Champions pays $2000 to the winner. A full program for modifieds and limited late models will be run Friday night as well.
Saturday night will see action starting at 6:30 p.m. with hot laps. Qualifying, heat races and feature events will be held for the modifieds and limited late models, while the last chance races and the 50-lap Commonwealth Cup main event will take place for the late models, with $15,000 going to the Commonwealth Cup winner.
Tickets can be obtained by calling Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway at 270-395-3600, and you can visit KLMS on the web at www.klms.com.
Calvert City, KY, September 25, 2003--Dozens of cars and many of the biggest names in late model stock car racing are expected to pull into the “Taj Mahal” of the dirt tracks, the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway for the annual Commonwealth Cup weekend October 24th and 25th, with the 50-lap late model feature Saturday night paying $15,000 to the winner!
The Commonwealth Cup traditionally draws many of the biggest names in late model racing. Past winners of the annual Commonwealth cup at the 3/8 mile just outside of Calvert City, Kentucky include, defending Commonwealth Cup winner Billy Moyer of Batesville, Arkansas (a five time winner of the World 100), 2001 Commonwealth Cup winner Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, 1998-1999 Commonwealth Cup winner Steve Francis of Ashland, Kentucky and 1997 Commonwealth winner Bob Pierce of Oakwood, Illinois.
Past entrants of the Commonwealth Cup include national late model standouts such as Tennessee’s Scott Bloomquist, Wisconsin’s Dan Schlieper, Freddy Smith of Knoxville, Tennessee, Bill Frye of Arkansas, Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Arkansas, Springfield, Missouri’s Terry Phillips, Pinconning, Michigan’s Jeep Van Wormer and Jimmy Mars.
The big name invaders could be joined by Midwest standouts such as three-time UMP Late Model National Champ Ed Dixon of Washington, Missouri, Randy Korte of Highland, Illinois, Carpentersville, Illinois’ Dennis Erb, Gibson City, Illinois’ Kevin Weaver, Kevin Gundaker of St. Charles, Missouri, Shannon Babb of Decatur, Illinois, Darren Miller of Illinois, Joey Mack of Benton, Missouri and Rodney Melvin of Logan, Illinois.
At press time it is unknown what late model competitors will choose to participate or enter the Commonwealth Cup at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway. However, over 70 late models were in attendance for last year’s event.
Whoever the invaders may be, they will have to contend with a bevy of local and area late model stars eager for the $15,000 first place check. Heading the local drivers is defending UMP National Late Model Champ Terry English of Benton, Kentucky. English has been choosing races rather than chasing points this season, though he had been in the top ten in both UMP and Xtreme Dirt Car Series points earlier in the year. English added another series to his resume when he made his first ARCA RE/MAX series start at Springfield, Illinois qualifying third and finishing tenth, then following that up with an outside front row start at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds two weeks later. English won the 2000 Commonwealth Cup and has three track championships at KLMS.
Other local drivers expected to compete for the large prize award include Mayfield, Kentucky driver Randy Sellars, a former UMP National Champion, Jeremy Williams of Lone Oak, Kentucky, one of the hottest drivers at KLMS this season plus 2003 late model feature winners at KLMS such as Rod Reed of Mayfield, hometown driver Tim Brown, Gary Keeling of Paducah, Tait Davenport and Bobby Dietz.
They should be joined by Illinois drivers such as Lee Thomason of Marion, Joe Morris of Galatia, Bill Millikan of Shawneetown, and Larry Hurn of Olney. Drivers from at least five states are expected to compete at Kentucky lake for the Commonwealth Cup late model prize.
Friday night’s schedule begins at 6:30 p.m. with hot laps, qualifying for the late models, heat races and the late model Race of Champions, featuring the top ten qualifiers plus 2 provisionals voted on by the racing fans! The Race of Champions pays $2000 to the winner. A full program for modifieds and limited late models will be run Friday night as well.
Saturday night will see action starting at 6:30 p.m. with hot laps. Qualifying, heat races and feature events will be held for the modifieds and limited late models, while the last chance races and the 50-lap Commonwealth Cup main event will take place for the late models, with $15,000 going to the Commonwealth Cup winner.
Tickets can be obtained by calling Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway at 270-395-3600, and you can visit KLMS on the web at www.klms.com.
