By Michael Despain, Southern Nationals Bonus Series
JUNCTION CITY, KY (October 27, 2014)-Ponderosa Speedway track promoter Jerry Denson and staff are ready for the 2014 season finale weekend of racing action at the 3/8 mile D-shaped oval known as “Kentucky’s Baddest Bullring” as the Ray Cook promoted Southern Nationals Bonus Series will sanction the 24th Annual Fall Classic event on Friday October 31 and Saturday November 1.
The 24th Annual Fall Classic weekend, which is now the richest stock car event in the history of the track in purse monies being paid in all divisions, will now be a two-day event, with it being rescheduled late in the race season and with several racers and fans expected, the event has been split into a two-day format as a way to keep the best interest of the fans and drivers in mind from the standpoint of possible cooler temperatures and not dragging out all the racing into one long, late night. The Southern Nationals Bonus Series Super Late Models will now race for $10,024 to win, with Modifieds racing for $3,000 to win, Pro Late Models racing for $2,000 to win, and KDRA Sportsman racing for $2,000 to win in the inaugural Bobby Carrier, Sr. Memorial contest. The weekend will kick off with an open practice for all divisions on Thursday October 30 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., weather permitting of course.
Also, with the Friday portion of the program falling on October 31 and that being Halloween, children are encouraged to come out to the track in their Halloween costumes and plan on taking a trick-or-treat trip through the pit area from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. All race teams in attendance are encouraged to bring candy for the children.
The opening night of the 24th Annual Fall Classic will take place on Friday October 31 and will feature the Southern Nationals Bonus Series in action in a program of practice, A-B group time trials, qualifying heats, and the Revelution Race Cars/Graphic Impressions $500 to win Dash for Cash events. Also in competition on the opening night of the 24th Annual Fall Classic will be Modifieds, Pro Late Models, and Sportsman. Modifieds will practice, time trial, and run their qualifying heats, while Pro Late Models, and Sportsman will have a combined practice/time trial session and run qualifying heats as well. RACEceivers are mandatory in all divisions and can be rented at the track at driver registration.
The 24th Annual Fall Classic weekend will conclude on Saturday November 1 and will feature the Southern Nationals Bonus Series in action in a program of B-Mains and the 60 lap, $10,024 to win 24th Annual Fall Classic event. Also in action on Saturday November 1 will be the track’s Modified, Pro Late Model, and KDRA Sportsman divisions in a program of B-Mains and each divisions A-Main contest. The Modifieds will race 40 laps for $3,000 to win, Pro Late Models will race 30 laps for $2,000 to win sponsored by Jay Construction and Restoration, and KDRA Sportsman will race 30 laps for $2,000 to win in the first-ever Bobby Carrier, Sr. Memorial event. RACEceivers are mandatory in all divisions and can be rented at the track at driver registration.
The following contingency awards will also be up for grabs each at Ponderosa Speedway in the Super Late Model division: Graphic Impressions (Hazard, KY) and Revelution Race Cars (Richmond, KY) $500 to win Dash for Cash; PPM Racing Products (Rockwood, TN) Hard Charger of the Race Award ($100); Double H Race Fabrication (Harriman, TN) Middle Man Award ($50 product certificate).
The following entry fees will apply for the 24th Annual Fall Classic weekend on Friday October 31 and Saturday November 1: Super Late Models-$100; Modifieds-$60, Pro Late Models- $40, and Sportsman- $40. Also, all four divisions will be using scoring transponders for the weekend and the rental fee for Super Late Models will be $20 ($10 if driver has their own transponder), while the entry fees for all other divisions includes the transponder rental fee for racing. Tow money will be paid in all divisions and racers must start their assigned B-main to be eligible for tow money.
The Southern Nationals Bonus Series will sanction the Super Late Model portion of the program and the following tire rules will be in place for each night: Hoosier- LM20, 1300, 1350, LM40, and 1600; American Racer- 44, 48, and 56. These tire compounds must be on all four corners of the race cars. Also, random tire samples will taken by the series over the course of the two days of racing.
Ponderosa Speedway Southern Nationals Bonus Series 24th Annual Fall Classic A-Main Payout for October 31/November 1, 2014:
*Super Late Models (60 laps): 1st- $10,024, 2nd- $5,000, 3rd- $2,500, 4th- $2,000, 5th- $1,500, 6th- $1,300, 7th- $1,200, 8th- $1,100, 9th- $900, 10th- $850, 11th- $800, 12th- $750, 13th- $700, 14th- $700, 15th- $700, 16th- $700, 17th- $700, 18th- $700, 19th- $700, 20th- $700, 21st- $700, 22nd- $700.
Also, this event will still serve as a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness and 50/50 ticket sales and a portion of the weekend’s proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society in the name of “Supporters of Ponderosa Speedway”.
Activities for the opening night of the 24th Annual Fall Classic weekend on Friday October 31 will see the pit area and general admission area open at 4:00 p.m. The drivers meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., with practice laps set for 7:20 p.m. Time trials for the Super Late Model and Modified divisions will be at 8:00 p.m., with racing set for the green flag immediately following time trials.
Activities for the 24th Annual Fall Classic on Saturday October 11 will see the pit area and general admission areas cleared at 1:30 p.m., with gates set to reopen at 2:00 p.m. A special driver’s autograph session will take in the general admission area from 3:45 p.m. until 4:15 p.m., with the drivers meeting set for 4:30 p.m., with racing set to begin at 5:00 p.m.
Ticket prices for the open practice on Thursday October 30 in the general admission area will be $5, while a pit pass will be $20. Ticket prices for Friday October 31 and Saturday November 1 in the general admission area will be $30 each night or a two-day general admission pass will be available for $40, while pit passes will be $35 each night or a two-day pit pass can be purchased for $50.
Ponderosa Speedway is located at 365 Phillips Lane on the Boyle/Lincoln County border, outside of Junction City, KY, just minutes from Danville, KY. Jerry Denson is the track promoter. For more information about racing activities at Ponderosa Speedway, visit the track’s webpages on the internet at www.ponderosaspeedway.net or by contacting track promoter Jerry Denson at (606) 235-0190 or via email at jerrydenson@ponderosaspeedway.net., via Twitter @MichaelDespain, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/131180253585931/ (Ponderosa Speedway). Patrons and/or other interested parties can phone the track at (859) 854-6808 on raceday.
Further information on the Southern Nationals Bonus Series can be obtained by calling (606) 219-1723 or visiting www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com .
Previous Fall Classic Winners
1990- Steve Francis (Ashland, KY)
1991- Jack Boggs (Grayson, KY)
1992- Jack Boggs (Grayson, KY)
1993- Rainout
1994- Darrell Lanigan (Union, KY)
1995- Mike Jewell (Scottsburg, IN)
1996- C.J. Rayburn (Whiteland, IN)
1997- Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN)
1998- Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN)
1999- Darrell Lanigan (Union, KY)
2000- Joey Daniel (Liberty, KY)
2001- Steve Barnett (Franklin, IN)
2002- Event Not Held
2003- Johnny Wheeler (Campbellsville, KY)
2004- Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY)
Bobby Wolter, Jr. (Lexington, KY)
2005- Chris Combs (Isom, KY)
2006- Aaron Hatton (Mount Sterling, KY)
2007- Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY)
2008- Greg Johnson (Bedford, IN)
2009- Mike Marlar (Winfield, TN)
2010- Eric Wells (Hazard, KY)
2011- Aaron Hatton (Mount Sterling, KY)
2012- Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY)
2013- Dustin Linville (Lancaster, KY)