National notebook
Deluges damage three north Georgia dirt tracks
An overflowing Chickamauga Creek flooded Boyd's Speedway. (Boyd's Speedway)
Disastrous flooding in north Georgia that left 10 dead and caused $250 million in damage earlier this week has also damaged some of the state's racetracks that host Dirt Late Model racing, including Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Toccoa Speedway and Boyd's Speedway just south of Chattanooga, Tenn.
"I've never seen this kind of rain in my life," said long-time Dixie Speedway owner Mickey Swims, who said the 40-year-old track received 21 inches of rain over two days early in the week. "We've got a gauge, and it don't lie."
The frontstretch wall stayed intact during the deluge, but dirt on the grandstand side of the wall was pushed over the wall and onto the frontstretch of the D-shaped track that once served as the home of the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series.
Swims, who had been on crutches until Tuesday with gout in his left foot, said it would probably take nearly a week to get the facility back into racing condition using "backhoes and shovels and plenty of labor."
The track's infield scales were covered by the standing water and the scales themselves are mud-packed while the electronics must be repaired after being soaked, he said.
The track cancelled its Sept. 26 program, the final regular-season event of the season, but plans to be ready for the $10,000-to-win Dixie Shootout on Oct. 10, one of the final events on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
"We're going to have to reclay the corners," Swims said. "It just played the dickens with us. It'll take a solid week to get ready, but we'll be ready for the Shootout, the Good Lord willing and if nothing don't happen.
"We're just pleased it's no worse than what it is. It's just a lot of work, but we're used to that."
In Georgia's northeast corner, Toccoa Speedway promoter Randy McCoy had already cancelled Sept. 26's action because of a conflicting event, but it will take extensive repairs of the frontstretch wall before the track can host racing again. The double-layered guardrail collapsed onto the racing surface over a 60-foot stretch between turn four and the flagstand at a track that soaked up 18 inches of rain in the deluges.
Toccoa's 3/8-mile oval, Georgia's oldest operating track that opened in 1955, isn't scheduled to compete again until Oct. 10. Attempts to contact McCoy were unsuccessful.
At Ringgold, Ga., the flooding Chickamauga Creek virtually covered the Boyd's Speedway oval by Tuesday, with the track's victory lane sign nearly submerged. The creek, which runs along the track's backstretch, receded by Thursday and crews were pumping water out of the infield at the third-mile oval.
"We've gotta get to the track's electrical system and survey the damage," track owner Richard Harvey said Thursday after surveying the damage. "We're gonna do everything we can to prepare for the SRRS Super Late Model series event in eight days."
A $3,000-to-win Southern Regional Racing Series is scheduled for Boyd's on Oct. 2. — From staff and correspondent reports
BIG WEEKEND WRAPS UP ULMS SEASON: The Northern Tier United Late Model Series wraps up with a four-event weekend Sept. 24-27, highlighted by the $12,000-to-win Priority Care RaceFAN 50 at McKean County Speedway in East Smethport, Pa. Among drivers expected for the fourth annual event are past winners Rob Blair and Boom Briggs, who pocketed $12,000 with a weekend sweep last year. McKean County's Fall Classic events starts with a $1,000-to-win King of the Hill showdown on Thursday. Friday's preliminary ULMS feature pays $2,000 to the winner and Fastrak Northeast Series Crate Late Model drivers are in action for a $1,200-to-win feature. Guaranteed starting spots in Saturday's ULMS event are Mike Knight and Gregg Satterlee, by virtue of previous 2009 wins at McKean County. Wrapping up the ULMS weekend Sunday will be rain makeup at Little Valley (N.Y.) Speedway paying $4,000 to the winner. — From series reports
BRUSHCREEK PLANS TO BOOST BILLY BOB PURSE: Brushcreek Motorsports Complex hosts its biggest Late Model event of the season Sept. 26 with the $10,000-to-win Billy Bob at the 3/8-mile oval in Peebles, Ohio. The unsanctioned event for topless Late Models pays $10,000 to the winner and at least $600 to all 26 starters. Guaranteed starters are last year's winner Eddie Carrier Jr., track points leader Clint Jamison and another driver drawn from a list of drivers who fail to transfer to the main event through preliminary races. The track plans to boost the purse for the event, paying $15,000 in 2010, $20,000 in 2011 and $25,000 in 2012. — From track reports
PHILLIPS (MARS), MOYER JR. (MSRA) WRAP UP TITLES: With a pair of co-sanctioned races rained out last week in Springfield, Mo., and Monett, Mo., of the final points events on two Missouri-based tours, Terry Phillips wrapped up his fifth championship on the O'Reilly MARS DIRTcar Series and Billy Moyer Jr. clinched his first title on the O'Reilly Mid-South Racing Association. Phillips won his $15,000 crown after overtaking rookie of the year Eric Turner in the points chase on Sept. 18 at Paducah, Ky. Turner earned $11,500, including $1,500 for his rookie title. On the MSRA tour, the 21-year-old Moyer dethroned two-time champ Joey Mack while Gary Christian, 16, of Broken Bow, Okla., took MSRA rookie honors. While MSRA's season is over, MARS has scheduled a $3,000-to-win non-points event at Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Okla., for Oct. 31. — From series reports
KEETON GETS THIRD NeSMITH WEST REGION TITLE: Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, Miss., clinched his third NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series West Region title on Sept. 19 with a victory at Jackson (Miss.) Motor Speedway. “I’ve been racing a long time, and after these past four seasons running with NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series, I feel I’m as good a driver as I’ve ever been,” Keeton said. “If I can find some sponsorship help, I’d like to run the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series national tour next season.” In 32 starts in 2009, Keeton posted nine victories and 25 top-five finishes. — Roby Helm
SOUTHERN ALL STARS CANCEL WAYCROSS EVENT: The O'Reilly Southern All Star Series canceled the Oct. 3 event at Waycross (Ga.) Motor Speedway, the series announced. The track wasn't happy with the decision, but series director Kelley Carlton cited developing factors regarding rules, nearby events and driver plans that he believed would limit the event's success. Waycross still plans to host unsanctioned races on Oct. 2-3. Next up for the Southern All Stars is the 15th annual Georgia State Championships on Oct. 17 at Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway. — From staff reports
RED BUCK CIGARS SPONSORING PONDEROSA SPECIALS: Red Buck Cigars has added sponsorship to Oct. 2-3 racing at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky., the Friday Night Rumble ($2,500 to the winner) and Bill Pierce-Trenton Rayborn Memorial Fall Classic ($7,500 to the winner). The Pierce-Rayborn Memorial honors former Ponderosa racer Donald Rayborn's father-in-law Bill Pierce and son Trenton Rayborn. Victor Lee of Stanford, Ky., leads the track's Late Model point standings. — Michael Despain
TAR HEEL 50 MOVES TO CLEVELAND SPEEDWAY: The Tar Heel 50, previously hosted by Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown, N.C., is moving to Tennessee but keeping the same name. The sixth annual Ray Cook-promoted event is scheduled for Oct. 8 at Cleveland Speedway, an unsanctioned Thursday event preceding a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tripleheader at Talladega (Ala.) Short Track, Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga., and Rome (Ga.) International Speedway. The Tar Heel 50 pays $5,000 to the winner and previous winners include Billy Moyer, Dennis Franklin and Shane Clanton. "We have put on some awesome races at Cleveland in the past with the O'Reilly Southern Nationals Series and I think this year's Tar Heel 50 will be no different," Cook said in a release. "With the Lucas Oil Series sanctioning races at Talladega, Dixie, and Rome later that weekend, it is shaping up to be a great four days in the Southeast." — Ryan Delph
RAYBURN OPEN HOUSE SET FOR NOV 27: C.J. Rayburn Race Cars is hosting its annual open house and chassis clinic for Nov. 27 at its Whiteland, Ind., manufacturing facility. The chassis clinic and seminar begins at 9 a.m. and will address issues including handling different track conditions, tires, the economics of racing and business aspects of operating a race team. Cost is $200 per attendee; register by calling (877) 828-8232 or at cjrayburn.com. The open house begins with a complimentary buffet at 7 p.m. Awards will be presented to the unsung heroes of Dirt Late Model racing, and Lifetime Service Awards will be given in memory of Chris Estes, Butch Wildermuth and Jerry Ross. Everyone is welcome to the open house and the Rayburn shop is open for self-guided tours throughout the day. — From staff reports
ODDS AND ENDS: The fast qualifier for the 29th annual Dirt Track World Championship will receive $1,000 from DirtonDirt.com, which is sponsoring the award for the third straight year. The $50,000-to-win event is scheduled for Oct. 16-17 at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway. ... Former Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series champion Mike Johnson of Lompoc, Calif., 39, is expected to be out of the driver's seat two months after suffering an Achilles tendon injury playing football. ... Sunoco Race Fuels added $1,000 to the purse for the Dorus Wisecarver Memorial at Midway Speedway in Crooksville, Ohio, boosting the 40-lap feature to $4,101 to the winner. The unsanctioned event honoring the late Zanesville, Ohio, driver is scheduled for Sept. 26. ... The two-race Lake Cumberland Classic has been scheduled for Oct. 23-24 at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, Ky., with $2,000-to-win and $4,000-to-win features scheduled. Saturday's Harold Hardgrove Memorial, honoring the former track owner, highlights the five-division weekend. ... The new 191 Speedway in Hazel Green, Ky., plans to open with three consecutive Saturday events starting Sept. 26. The track has scheduled $1,000-to-win Late Model events using O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series rules. ... Natural Bridge (Va.) Speedway is preparing for the $7,500-to-win Natural Bridge Classic for Oct. 2-3. Among drivers expected are Bo Feathers, Jamie Lathroum, Walker Arthur and last year's winner Booper Bare. ... Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, has announced its major 2010 race dates. The $100,000-to-win Dream XVI is scheduled for June 11-12 with the 40th annual World 100 set for Sept. 10-11.
