Atlanta, GA – April 1, 2010 – After a two-season hiatus the world’s most powerful short-track race cars return to Lanier National Speedway. The United Sprint Car Series “Asphalt Thunder” Tour winged outlaw sprint cars invade the legendary Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Georgia on Saturday night April 10th at 7:00 pm for a full program of winged outlaw style sprint car racing in the 6th annual LNS “Night of Thunder’. The USCS is the only winged sprint car series in the World that contests it’s National Championship on dirt and paved surfaces.
The USAC Carolina Midgets join the USCS winged outlaw style sprint cars for an open wheeled double-header. Additionally five other racing divisions are on the action-packed racing card. Those include the popular Legends Cars, Mini Stocks, Pro Challenge Cars, Bandoleros and Mini Cup Cars.
Early sprint car entries for the event which is being sanctioned and promoted by the USCS, include a number of the Nation’s top open wheel drivers from at least six states for the event.
Veteran sprint car ace and defending series National champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee leads the USCS National championship title chase after 3 races on dirt ovals. Gray finished in the runner-up spot in the 2009 USCS Asphalt Thunder Tour pavement series just 16 points behind Blaze Martin from Valrico, Florida with 1036 points.
A full field of the fly-weight 1300 pound, 700 horsepower winged outlaw style sprint cars is expected for the return of the United Sprint Car Series to Lanier National Speedway. Entries include two of the Southeast’s top sprint car pilots, Gray and former USCS/AOAS regional series Champion Johnny Bridges from Cherryville, North Carolina. Gray brings Wesmar built Chevrolet power to the track, while Bridges will enter his rare Roush-Yates Ford powered mount. Bridges has three USCS Asphalt Thunder Tour feature wins to his credit.
A host of talented young drivers are expected to assault Lanier’s 3/8 mile paved oval including, 19 year-old 2006 USCS Rookie of the Year Derek Hagar from Marion, Arkansas. Hagar competes regularly with the USAC Silver Crown Series as well. He will be joined by 22 year-old 2008 USCS Asphalt Thunder Rookie of the Year, Adam Jackson from Birmingham, England and 2009 USCS Asphalt Thunder Rookie of the Year, Brian Carter from Concord, North Carolina.
Jake McLain who garnered the 2008 USCS Southern Thunder regional Rookie of the Year title and finished the 2009 season in fifth place in the Southern Thunder standings is entered as is 2009 Southern Thunder Rookie of the Year Brandon Rekow from Mooresville, North Carolina and 2007 Southern Thunder Tour Rookie of the Year, Lee Moore from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Another talented young driver, 18-year old Nick Bashford from China Grove, North Carolina will also bring a heavy hitting Roush-Yates Ford powered mount to the speedway for his sprint car asphalt debut.
Among this season’s young guns who are vying for the Rookie of the Year title is 17 year-old female sprint car hot-shoe, Morgan Turpen from Oakland, Tennessee who is Terry Gray’s team-mate. Also expected is 15-year old Rookie of the Year candidate, Eric Riggins from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Veteran USCS dirt and paved track racers entered include, Doug Day from nearby Winder, Georgia and David Thorman from Greenville, South Carolina. Day finished in the runner-up spot for the National title in 2003. Also pre-entered is sprint car veteran Brad Wickham from Rutherfordton, North Carolina. Wickham finished in the fourth position in the 2009 Southern Thunder regional series and in the top ten in the National standings last season as well. Another local favorite entered should be Joe Larkin from Suwannee, Georgia.
Other pre-entries include Coby Adams from Mooresville, North Carolina, Jim Blenkarn from Smyrna, Tennessee and Nick Manikis from Tampa, Florida. Several more entries are expected to be added in the coming week.
Trey Robb from Newcastle, Oklahoma won the last USCS “Night of Thunder” race at Lanier National; Speedway. The then fifteen year old teenage hot-shoe captured his fifth USCS feature win in his rookie season at Lanier on August 30, 2007. Kevin Swindell from Bartlett, Tennessee holds the Lanier National Speedway all-time track record with an unbelievable lap of 11.03 seconds around the 3/8 mile oval.
The Friday night April 9th companion event at Anderson Motor Speedway in Anderson, South Carolina has been postponed until later in the season due to prolonged re-surfacing work at that speedway. The USCS is still set to visit there on Friday, August the 13th.
Ticket info and directions to Lanier National Speedway which is located just across the street from Road Atlanta on Georgia Highway 53 in Braselton, Georgia can be obtained by visiting www.laniernationalspeedway.com . For additional info and with questions, please call the track at 770-967-8600. For United Sprint Car series (USCS) info please visit the series Official website at www.uscsracing.com or call 770-460-7223.
The USAC Carolina Midgets join the USCS winged outlaw style sprint cars for an open wheeled double-header. Additionally five other racing divisions are on the action-packed racing card. Those include the popular Legends Cars, Mini Stocks, Pro Challenge Cars, Bandoleros and Mini Cup Cars.
Early sprint car entries for the event which is being sanctioned and promoted by the USCS, include a number of the Nation’s top open wheel drivers from at least six states for the event.
Veteran sprint car ace and defending series National champion, Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee leads the USCS National championship title chase after 3 races on dirt ovals. Gray finished in the runner-up spot in the 2009 USCS Asphalt Thunder Tour pavement series just 16 points behind Blaze Martin from Valrico, Florida with 1036 points.
A full field of the fly-weight 1300 pound, 700 horsepower winged outlaw style sprint cars is expected for the return of the United Sprint Car Series to Lanier National Speedway. Entries include two of the Southeast’s top sprint car pilots, Gray and former USCS/AOAS regional series Champion Johnny Bridges from Cherryville, North Carolina. Gray brings Wesmar built Chevrolet power to the track, while Bridges will enter his rare Roush-Yates Ford powered mount. Bridges has three USCS Asphalt Thunder Tour feature wins to his credit.
A host of talented young drivers are expected to assault Lanier’s 3/8 mile paved oval including, 19 year-old 2006 USCS Rookie of the Year Derek Hagar from Marion, Arkansas. Hagar competes regularly with the USAC Silver Crown Series as well. He will be joined by 22 year-old 2008 USCS Asphalt Thunder Rookie of the Year, Adam Jackson from Birmingham, England and 2009 USCS Asphalt Thunder Rookie of the Year, Brian Carter from Concord, North Carolina.
Jake McLain who garnered the 2008 USCS Southern Thunder regional Rookie of the Year title and finished the 2009 season in fifth place in the Southern Thunder standings is entered as is 2009 Southern Thunder Rookie of the Year Brandon Rekow from Mooresville, North Carolina and 2007 Southern Thunder Tour Rookie of the Year, Lee Moore from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Another talented young driver, 18-year old Nick Bashford from China Grove, North Carolina will also bring a heavy hitting Roush-Yates Ford powered mount to the speedway for his sprint car asphalt debut.
Among this season’s young guns who are vying for the Rookie of the Year title is 17 year-old female sprint car hot-shoe, Morgan Turpen from Oakland, Tennessee who is Terry Gray’s team-mate. Also expected is 15-year old Rookie of the Year candidate, Eric Riggins from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Veteran USCS dirt and paved track racers entered include, Doug Day from nearby Winder, Georgia and David Thorman from Greenville, South Carolina. Day finished in the runner-up spot for the National title in 2003. Also pre-entered is sprint car veteran Brad Wickham from Rutherfordton, North Carolina. Wickham finished in the fourth position in the 2009 Southern Thunder regional series and in the top ten in the National standings last season as well. Another local favorite entered should be Joe Larkin from Suwannee, Georgia.
Other pre-entries include Coby Adams from Mooresville, North Carolina, Jim Blenkarn from Smyrna, Tennessee and Nick Manikis from Tampa, Florida. Several more entries are expected to be added in the coming week.
Trey Robb from Newcastle, Oklahoma won the last USCS “Night of Thunder” race at Lanier National; Speedway. The then fifteen year old teenage hot-shoe captured his fifth USCS feature win in his rookie season at Lanier on August 30, 2007. Kevin Swindell from Bartlett, Tennessee holds the Lanier National Speedway all-time track record with an unbelievable lap of 11.03 seconds around the 3/8 mile oval.
The Friday night April 9th companion event at Anderson Motor Speedway in Anderson, South Carolina has been postponed until later in the season due to prolonged re-surfacing work at that speedway. The USCS is still set to visit there on Friday, August the 13th.
Ticket info and directions to Lanier National Speedway which is located just across the street from Road Atlanta on Georgia Highway 53 in Braselton, Georgia can be obtained by visiting www.laniernationalspeedway.com . For additional info and with questions, please call the track at 770-967-8600. For United Sprint Car series (USCS) info please visit the series Official website at www.uscsracing.com or call 770-460-7223.
