…Nation’s Top Stock Car Dirt Racers Battle in Special Tribute Race Thursday Night – September 11 With Purse of More than $50,000.00 Up for Grabs at Northeast Georgia Event to be aired in special SPEED Channel Broadcast
Scott Bloomquist Goes for Historic 100th Career Win on Xtreme Dirtcar Series at Lavonia Speedway 9-11 Nationals
(September 2, 2003 – Mooresville, NC) With the date of September 11th forever etched in the memory of Americans, the Xtreme Dirtcar Series (XDCS) and its host of the nation’s most talented short-track racing superstars are prepared to roar into action at Lavonia (GA) Speedway on Thursday night, September 11th as part of a special scheduled event to honor our country and pay tribute to the fallen heroes of September 11, 2001. The recently announced memorial race event will take place at the northeast Georgia clay oval on Thursday night (September 11th) as part of a full weekend of short-track racing activities slated for Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and being billed as the ‘Border Wars of the Carolinas’. When the weekend’s action kicks off in Lavonia, Georgia the special appearance of the Xtreme Dirtcars Series sanctioned competitors will be televised on SPEED Channel as part of the tribute to fellow Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives on that fateful date of 9-11 just two years ago.
As a sanctioned event on the Xtreme Dirtcar Series tour, which competes in thirty-five events across the nation this season, the field of superstars will include all of the drivers competing for the national championship of Dirt Late Model racing plus the added feature of drivers from other sanctions all present to battle for the winner’s share of the purse which will yield a $10,000.00 payday for the victor of the 75 lap main event. Advanced reserved seating tickets are available by calling (866) 892-RACE. Event information can be accessed on the internet by visiting www.Xtremedirtcars.com and by visiting the official web site of Lavonia Speedway at www.lavoniaspeedway.com. Lavonia Speedway is located 5 and ½ miles off of Interstate 85 near the Georgia/South Carolina border. Take Exit 177 off of I-85 and go toward Hartwell, GA (From I-85 South turn left at Exit 177; >From I-85 North turn right at Exit 177). Go 5 miles from I-85 and turn Right at the Shell Station; then go ½ mile and Lavonia Speedway will be on the left. The host hotel for the event is The Sleep Inn located at Exit 173 off of Interstate 85 in Lavonia, GA.
As part of the special memorial race tribute to the fallen American Heroes of 9 – 11 Xtreme Dirtcar Series officials have announced that a silent auction will be held to raise added funds for the National Firefighters 9-11 Relief Fund. As part of these special efforts an event T-Shirt featuring a remembrance to those who gave their lives on September 11, 2001 will be sold with all proceeds going to that relief fund. Companies and organizations caring to participate in a promotional capacity with the event should forward e-mail requests to xdcs@xtremedirtcars.com
Leading the charge into Lavonia Speedway will be four-time Xtreme Dirtcar Series National Champion Scott Bloomquist who is closing in on his 100th career win on the prestigious Xtreme Dirtcar Series and making a bid in 2003 for a record-breaking 5th National Title on the Xtreme Dirtcar Series tour. Bloomquist's shot at the historic 100th win will take center stage at Lavonia Speedway with many of his and the Xtreme Dirtcar Series fans on hand to witness the potential dramatic landmark victory. Bloomquist began amassing his series leading career win total on the Xtreme Dirtcar Series in 1993 when the tour was then known as the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series. His first-ever win came in the state of Georgia at Waycross Motor Speedway and has since registered sanctioned victories on the circuit in 19 states at nearly 60 different racetracks.
A long list of hotshoes from across America will be among the contenders for the win at the "9-11 Nationals" when the green flag waves at Lavonia Speedway on Thursday, September 11th and in front of a global audience viewing the SPEED Channel broadcast. Among the favorites in the field will be all of the top-ranked drivers in the XDCS national championship point standings, including Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa; Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, Wisconsin; Ashland, Kentucky's Steve Francis and two-time defending XDCS National Champion Rick Eckert of York, Pennsylvania. Other national title contenders in action in addition to the current top-five ranked drivers will include Jacksonville, Florida's Earl Pearson Jr.; former XDCS National Champion Dale McDowell of Rossville, Georgia; Dan Schlieper of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Ohio's Donnie Moran and Matt Miller; Steve Shaver of Parkersburg, West Virginia; Murphy, North Carolina's Ray Cook; Jeff Smith of Dallas, North Carolina and his fellow competitor and father, the legendary "Southern Gentleman" Freddy Smith a former champion of the Xtreme Dirtcar Series and 5-Time champion of the Dirt Track World Championship who resides in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The event is expected to provide frenzied high-speed fireworks with the 750 horsepowered machines battling door to door at speeds exceeding 100 mph in the 75 lap nationally televised event. The results of the event will have a substantial impact on the season-long national championship standings as the Xtreme Dirtcar Series winds its way down the homestretch of the 2003 season. With the top finishing positions in the season-long national title chase on the Xtreme Dirtcar Series season, don't expect drivers to give in to each other as they battle and bang their way to the checkered flag at Lavonia Speedway.
Grandstand Gates will open at 5:00 pm on Thursday afternoon, September 11th at Lavonia Speedway with the racing action getting underway at 7:30 pm. Due to the event being conducted on a weeknight, XDCS officials have lightened the racing schedule of support classes to include only one additional racing division in order to conclude the event at a decent hour with respect for those who must attend work and school on the following day. Local competitors in the Limited Late Model division will compete as the supporting act on the racing program with a special feature event. The Super Late Model competitors of the Xtreme Dirtcar Series will conduct time-trial qualifications, qualifying heat races, the Action Performance Dash among the heat race winners, a pair of last-chance qualifying events and main event, the 75 Lap "9 – 11 Nationals".
Bloomquist is the only former winner of an Xtreme Dirtcar Series sanctioned event at Lavonia Speedway with that victory coming April 26th of last season in the tour's lone appearance at the 3/8's mile clay oval in northeast Georgia. Veteran Buck Simmons is the defending track champion at Lavonia Speedway and will lead the charge of local and regional racers who will stand their ground in defense of their home turf against the traveling drivers of the Xtreme Dirtcar Series.
Other top-rated high-speed daredevils expected to be in action include a strong field of leading Georgia competitors with former Southern All-Stars Series Champions Clint Smith, Mike Head, Rex Richey and Marshall Green in action; plus other Georgians Bobby Turner, Ed Basey, Jody Summerville, John Jones, Ricky Williams, Gary McPherson, Shane Tankersley, Greg Knight and former Winston Cup veteran Jack Pennington along with one of the winningest drivers in short-track history, Buck Simmons of Baldwin, GA. Pennington and Simmons have racked up a long list of wins on Lavonia Speedway's testy clay surface over the years as Simmons racing resume boasts over 1,050 career feature wins. A host of young talented drivers will also make their presence known including impressive youngsters Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, GA, Joe Armistead of Sharpsburg and a strong contingent of drivers who regularly compete in the northeast corner of Georgia, including former XDCS winner Tim Headen of Toccoa, Casey Roberts, Doug English, Randy Hemphill, Benji Cole, Royce Bray, Chris Ausburn, David McCoy, Butch Pritchett, Kip Cochran, Paul Byrum, Scotty, Chattam, Chan Chitwood, Kelly Guy, Shane Stephens, Daryl Freeman, Joey McCoy, Gary Collins, James Roulette, Melvin Stephens and Bruce Taylor among others.
With a field of over 50 entries expected at the special Thursday night running of the "9 – 11 Nationals" at Lavonia Speedway look for numerous travelers from the Carolinas to join in on the border wars, including veterans Mike Duvall, Randle Chupp, Billy Hicks, Ricky Weeks, David Smith, Hot Rod Lamance, David Payne, Doug Sanders and Steve Phillips along with young guns Chris Madden, Dennis Franklin, Jeff Cooke, Jeremy Clements all set to contend for a starting spot in the 24-car field in the lucrative nationally televised event. In fact, with all area tracks and other sanctioning bodies not scheduled to compete elsewhere on Thursday night, September 11th expect to see all of the top running Southern All-Stars Series competitors go head to head with the Xtreme Dirtcar Series regulars including 2002 Southern All-Stars Champion Duayne Hommel of Newport, Tennessee leading the charge into Lavonia Speedway. Hommel's fellow Tennesseans including former 2-Time Dirt Track World Champion and 3-Time Southern All-Stars Series Champion Ronnie Johnson from Chattanooga should join Billy Ogle, Vic Hill, Patrick Duggan, Jimmy Owens, Steve Smith, Anthony White, Brad Hall and numerous others from the hills of Tennessee which should provide strong representation and a challenge for the win from the Volunteer State contingent.
Fans arriving early for the kickoff to the special weekend of racing will have the chance to meet their favorite drivers in an autograph session and enjoy the salute of tribute to the American Heroes of 9 –11. For additional event information on the "9 –11 Nationals" at Lavonia Speedway and information about the northeast Georgia area, check out the official home page of Lavonia Speedway on the internet at www.lavoniaspeedway.com.
Scott Bloomquist Goes for Historic 100th Career Win on Xtreme Dirtcar Series at Lavonia Speedway 9-11 Nationals
(September 2, 2003 – Mooresville, NC) With the date of September 11th forever etched in the memory of Americans, the Xtreme Dirtcar Series (XDCS) and its host of the nation’s most talented short-track racing superstars are prepared to roar into action at Lavonia (GA) Speedway on Thursday night, September 11th as part of a special scheduled event to honor our country and pay tribute to the fallen heroes of September 11, 2001. The recently announced memorial race event will take place at the northeast Georgia clay oval on Thursday night (September 11th) as part of a full weekend of short-track racing activities slated for Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and being billed as the ‘Border Wars of the Carolinas’. When the weekend’s action kicks off in Lavonia, Georgia the special appearance of the Xtreme Dirtcars Series sanctioned competitors will be televised on SPEED Channel as part of the tribute to fellow Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives on that fateful date of 9-11 just two years ago.
As a sanctioned event on the Xtreme Dirtcar Series tour, which competes in thirty-five events across the nation this season, the field of superstars will include all of the drivers competing for the national championship of Dirt Late Model racing plus the added feature of drivers from other sanctions all present to battle for the winner’s share of the purse which will yield a $10,000.00 payday for the victor of the 75 lap main event. Advanced reserved seating tickets are available by calling (866) 892-RACE. Event information can be accessed on the internet by visiting www.Xtremedirtcars.com and by visiting the official web site of Lavonia Speedway at www.lavoniaspeedway.com. Lavonia Speedway is located 5 and ½ miles off of Interstate 85 near the Georgia/South Carolina border. Take Exit 177 off of I-85 and go toward Hartwell, GA (From I-85 South turn left at Exit 177; >From I-85 North turn right at Exit 177). Go 5 miles from I-85 and turn Right at the Shell Station; then go ½ mile and Lavonia Speedway will be on the left. The host hotel for the event is The Sleep Inn located at Exit 173 off of Interstate 85 in Lavonia, GA.
As part of the special memorial race tribute to the fallen American Heroes of 9 – 11 Xtreme Dirtcar Series officials have announced that a silent auction will be held to raise added funds for the National Firefighters 9-11 Relief Fund. As part of these special efforts an event T-Shirt featuring a remembrance to those who gave their lives on September 11, 2001 will be sold with all proceeds going to that relief fund. Companies and organizations caring to participate in a promotional capacity with the event should forward e-mail requests to xdcs@xtremedirtcars.com
Leading the charge into Lavonia Speedway will be four-time Xtreme Dirtcar Series National Champion Scott Bloomquist who is closing in on his 100th career win on the prestigious Xtreme Dirtcar Series and making a bid in 2003 for a record-breaking 5th National Title on the Xtreme Dirtcar Series tour. Bloomquist's shot at the historic 100th win will take center stage at Lavonia Speedway with many of his and the Xtreme Dirtcar Series fans on hand to witness the potential dramatic landmark victory. Bloomquist began amassing his series leading career win total on the Xtreme Dirtcar Series in 1993 when the tour was then known as the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series. His first-ever win came in the state of Georgia at Waycross Motor Speedway and has since registered sanctioned victories on the circuit in 19 states at nearly 60 different racetracks.
A long list of hotshoes from across America will be among the contenders for the win at the "9-11 Nationals" when the green flag waves at Lavonia Speedway on Thursday, September 11th and in front of a global audience viewing the SPEED Channel broadcast. Among the favorites in the field will be all of the top-ranked drivers in the XDCS national championship point standings, including Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa; Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, Wisconsin; Ashland, Kentucky's Steve Francis and two-time defending XDCS National Champion Rick Eckert of York, Pennsylvania. Other national title contenders in action in addition to the current top-five ranked drivers will include Jacksonville, Florida's Earl Pearson Jr.; former XDCS National Champion Dale McDowell of Rossville, Georgia; Dan Schlieper of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Ohio's Donnie Moran and Matt Miller; Steve Shaver of Parkersburg, West Virginia; Murphy, North Carolina's Ray Cook; Jeff Smith of Dallas, North Carolina and his fellow competitor and father, the legendary "Southern Gentleman" Freddy Smith a former champion of the Xtreme Dirtcar Series and 5-Time champion of the Dirt Track World Championship who resides in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The event is expected to provide frenzied high-speed fireworks with the 750 horsepowered machines battling door to door at speeds exceeding 100 mph in the 75 lap nationally televised event. The results of the event will have a substantial impact on the season-long national championship standings as the Xtreme Dirtcar Series winds its way down the homestretch of the 2003 season. With the top finishing positions in the season-long national title chase on the Xtreme Dirtcar Series season, don't expect drivers to give in to each other as they battle and bang their way to the checkered flag at Lavonia Speedway.
Grandstand Gates will open at 5:00 pm on Thursday afternoon, September 11th at Lavonia Speedway with the racing action getting underway at 7:30 pm. Due to the event being conducted on a weeknight, XDCS officials have lightened the racing schedule of support classes to include only one additional racing division in order to conclude the event at a decent hour with respect for those who must attend work and school on the following day. Local competitors in the Limited Late Model division will compete as the supporting act on the racing program with a special feature event. The Super Late Model competitors of the Xtreme Dirtcar Series will conduct time-trial qualifications, qualifying heat races, the Action Performance Dash among the heat race winners, a pair of last-chance qualifying events and main event, the 75 Lap "9 – 11 Nationals".
Bloomquist is the only former winner of an Xtreme Dirtcar Series sanctioned event at Lavonia Speedway with that victory coming April 26th of last season in the tour's lone appearance at the 3/8's mile clay oval in northeast Georgia. Veteran Buck Simmons is the defending track champion at Lavonia Speedway and will lead the charge of local and regional racers who will stand their ground in defense of their home turf against the traveling drivers of the Xtreme Dirtcar Series.
Other top-rated high-speed daredevils expected to be in action include a strong field of leading Georgia competitors with former Southern All-Stars Series Champions Clint Smith, Mike Head, Rex Richey and Marshall Green in action; plus other Georgians Bobby Turner, Ed Basey, Jody Summerville, John Jones, Ricky Williams, Gary McPherson, Shane Tankersley, Greg Knight and former Winston Cup veteran Jack Pennington along with one of the winningest drivers in short-track history, Buck Simmons of Baldwin, GA. Pennington and Simmons have racked up a long list of wins on Lavonia Speedway's testy clay surface over the years as Simmons racing resume boasts over 1,050 career feature wins. A host of young talented drivers will also make their presence known including impressive youngsters Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, GA, Joe Armistead of Sharpsburg and a strong contingent of drivers who regularly compete in the northeast corner of Georgia, including former XDCS winner Tim Headen of Toccoa, Casey Roberts, Doug English, Randy Hemphill, Benji Cole, Royce Bray, Chris Ausburn, David McCoy, Butch Pritchett, Kip Cochran, Paul Byrum, Scotty, Chattam, Chan Chitwood, Kelly Guy, Shane Stephens, Daryl Freeman, Joey McCoy, Gary Collins, James Roulette, Melvin Stephens and Bruce Taylor among others.
With a field of over 50 entries expected at the special Thursday night running of the "9 – 11 Nationals" at Lavonia Speedway look for numerous travelers from the Carolinas to join in on the border wars, including veterans Mike Duvall, Randle Chupp, Billy Hicks, Ricky Weeks, David Smith, Hot Rod Lamance, David Payne, Doug Sanders and Steve Phillips along with young guns Chris Madden, Dennis Franklin, Jeff Cooke, Jeremy Clements all set to contend for a starting spot in the 24-car field in the lucrative nationally televised event. In fact, with all area tracks and other sanctioning bodies not scheduled to compete elsewhere on Thursday night, September 11th expect to see all of the top running Southern All-Stars Series competitors go head to head with the Xtreme Dirtcar Series regulars including 2002 Southern All-Stars Champion Duayne Hommel of Newport, Tennessee leading the charge into Lavonia Speedway. Hommel's fellow Tennesseans including former 2-Time Dirt Track World Champion and 3-Time Southern All-Stars Series Champion Ronnie Johnson from Chattanooga should join Billy Ogle, Vic Hill, Patrick Duggan, Jimmy Owens, Steve Smith, Anthony White, Brad Hall and numerous others from the hills of Tennessee which should provide strong representation and a challenge for the win from the Volunteer State contingent.
Fans arriving early for the kickoff to the special weekend of racing will have the chance to meet their favorite drivers in an autograph session and enjoy the salute of tribute to the American Heroes of 9 –11. For additional event information on the "9 –11 Nationals" at Lavonia Speedway and information about the northeast Georgia area, check out the official home page of Lavonia Speedway on the internet at www.lavoniaspeedway.com.
