DAWSONVILLE, GA – Phil and Judy Santie of Malden Speedway in Malden, MO were named the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Promoters of the Year on January 12 at the Annual NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Awards Banquet at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.
Under the Santie’s ownership, Malden Speedway was one of the original NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series tracks when the series was formed in 2006. Phil and Judy Santie helped the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series with their Westward expansion in recent years. Malden Speedway also hosted a NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division event in 2012.
“Phil and Judy Santie always went out of their way to make the competitors, officials and fans of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and Weekly Racing Series feel welcome every time we came to Malden Speedway,” NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Director Roby Helm said. “They always provided a great place to race with a fast racing surface and a facility that the community can be proud of.”
It was bitter-sweet for Phil and Judy Santie when they came to the stage to accept their NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Promoter of the Year Award, as they announced their retirement from race promotion.
“Judy and I have reached a point in our promotional career where it isn’t getting any easier to work the long hours it takes to properly get the track ready each week, and we have made the decision to retire from race track promotion and put the track up for sale,” Phil Santie said. “This has been a labor of love for us, and we have always put a lot of pride in the track. We’ve enjoyed it, and we’ve enjoyed working with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and its competitors through the years. We are hopeful someone will buy the track and keep going what Judy and I have started.”
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series officials are also hopeful a buyer for Malden Speedway will be forth coming and keep the sanction going at Malden Speedway in the years to come.
“We appreciate everything Phil, Judy, their family and staff have done at Malden Speedway, and made it the place to go for affordable high-speed family entertainment on Friday nights in the Missouri Bootheel,” Helm said. “We sure are going to miss Phil and Judy Santie as race track owners and promoters, but they will always remain special friends. We share their hopes that someone will buy this great race track and keep their tradition of hospitality and great racing alive.”
Two Malden Speedway regulars in the 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Late Model Division placed in Top 10 of the series’ National point standings. The 2012 Malden Speedway NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Late Model Champion Robby Moore of Brosley, MO finished eighth in the National WRS point standings and Kyle Berry of Portageville, MO finished tenth in the National standings.
Many Top 10 drivers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division and NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series that came up to accept their awards thanked Phil and Judy Santie for what they have done at Malden Speedway. That list included the top two NeSmith Chevrolet WRS drivers Chase Washington of Houlka, MS and Mickey Trosclair of Luling, LA.
Both Washington and Trosclair traveled many miles to Malden Speedway to decide the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series National Championship, and the track would play an important role in deciding the closest and most exciting point battle in the history of the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS.
But it was Moore who would pay the biggest tribute to Phil and Judy Santie for going the extra mile to help him through the years with his dirt late model racing career.
“Phil and Judy Santie went out of their way to help me early in my racing career by opening up the track for me during the week so I could get some much needed practice,” Moore said. “I probably wouldn’t be standing here tonight as a NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Top 10 driver if it wasn’t for the help they’ve given me through the years. I appreciate everything they’ve done, not just for me, but for all of the racers at Malden Speedway.”
Phil Santie said anyone interested in purchasing Malden Speedway can give him a call at 573-281-0116 to obtain details about the facility.
For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at NeSmith Racing. Becoming a fan of the NeSmith Racing Facebook page will make you eligible for special prizes that will be given away each month. You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.
NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is the nation’s number one GM Powertrain and Performance Dealer six years running, with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast. Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Hedman Hedders is the Official Hedder of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and the Hedman Husler Award sponsor. Bilstein Shocks is the Official Spec Shock of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Old Man’s Garage is the sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Old Man’s Garage Weekly Racing Series. RockAuto.com and VP Racing Fuels are Official Sponsors of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2013 are Dominator Race Products, Race Car Engineering, KRC, QA 1 Precision Products, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Shorty’s Shock Service, Schoenfeld Headers, Integra Racing Shocks, J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment, Kinser Air Filters, and AR Bodies. 2013 Chassis Sponsors are Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, Stinger Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.