Bristol Motor Speedway
Notebook: Gill saddles up in Warrior house car
From track, staff and series reports
John Gill (DirtonDirt.com)
The Modern Day Warrior? It doesn’t have quite the same ring as the Modern Day Cowboy, but John Gill of Mitchell, Ind., will indeed pilot the Warrior Race Cars house car for the full schedule of 2008. Gill, a two-time winner of the North-South 100 at Florence (Ky.) Speedways, plans to launch his schedule with the Knoxville, Tenn.-based chassis builder at Florence on March 22 for the unsanctioned Spring 50.
“We are excited to have John pilot our cars in 2008,” said Sandy Goddard, general manager of Warrior. “He drove our stuff a couple of years ago for a few races, so we are familiar with him and his driving style.”
Following the Spring 50, the team plans to run at Gill’s home track, Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway, for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Indiana Icebreaker. The team plans to hit the biggest events at Florence, Brownstown and Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., along with high-profile races including the Show-Me 100 at West Plains (Mo.) Motor Speedway and the Dream and World 100 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
Gill brings a wealth of experience and success to the team. Besides his North-South 100 victories, Gill is a two-time winner of Brownstown’s Jackson 100 (1994, ‘96), a two-time winner of Brownstown’s Indiana Icebreaker (2002, ‘04), a four-time winner of Brownstown’s Hoosier Dirt Classic (1989, ‘92, ‘96, ‘03), and a five-time winner of Brownstown’s Kenny Simpson Memorial (1989, ‘90, ‘95, ‘96, ‘04). — Ryan Delph
CLASH OPENER PUSHED BACK AGAIN: After announcing a March 15 rainout at Lancaster (S.C.) Motor Speedway would be rescheduled for March 22, the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series has decided to scrap the Easter weekend event. “We told our race teams all winter long that we would try our best not to race on holidays,” series president Larry Lee said. “We want to do what is best for our race teams, promoters and valued fans. ... We work very hard to get our schedule out as early as we can but sometimes Mother Nature throws you a curveball.” The series is now scheduled to open the season March 29 at Gordon Park Speedway near Augusta, Ga. The original opener March 8 at Carolina Speedway was postponed and reset for June 6, one day before a June 7 makeup at Lancaster. — From series reports
LAVONIA’S GUNS FOR BIG CAR COUNT: Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway will host three Late Model-type organizations for its March 22 event. The O’Reilly Southern All Stars highlight the program while the Southeastern Late Model Sportsman Series and Fastrak Racing Series for crate Late Models will also be in action. The track expects a big turnout. “I have people calling me from all over the country” said promoter Brad York. “People are bringing their campers and staying the entire weekend.” To show off the Late Model entrants, drivers from all three divisions will bring their cars to the track following hot laps and then come to the grandstands for a 30-minute autograph session. — Dale Terry
FRIENDSHIP BACK TO DIRT: Friendship Speedway in Elkin, N.C., a dirt track built in 1984 that ran the past five seasons as an asphalt oval, will return to dirt for the 2008 season, new promoters Dennis Wood and Phil Hall announced. Hall, a former driver, said the track plans to run at least 10 Super Late Model events as well as Fastrak Racing Series crate Late Models weekly. “I have never promoted a race in my life, but after 30 some years of racing, I feel like I have seen enough rights and wrongs sitting at the tracks to promote one from a driver and spectator point of view,” Hall said. The track plans to stick to its 11:30 p.m. curfew. If races are still going at 11:15, “it will be a green, white, checkered and we're going to the house,” Hall said. — From track reports
ADVANCE THUNDER SHUFFLES SCHEDULE: The third annual Thunder Thaw 50 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway, postponed because of inclement weather March 9, has been rescheduled for March 29, the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series announced. That means the originally scheduled March 29 event at Toccoa (Ga.) Speedway will be pushed back to May or June. — From series reports
JACKSON READY TO SHOW OFF IMPROVEMENTS: Jackson (Miss.) Motor Speedway, under the new ownership of Don Cliburn, has made several improvements in preparation for its March 29 practice night. Among the improvements: renovated concession stands, remodeled bathrooms, new backstretch bleachers, concrete walkways entering the grandstands, more track lighting, a new five-position scoreboard and more. The pit area has also been expanded and the track plans to use a transponder scoring system. The track hosts the Mississippi State Championship Challenge for its April 5 opener and later hosts MARS (May 30-31) and the Lucas Oil Series (Sept. 12-13). — From track reports
ODDS AND ENDS: After initially scheduling the National 100 for the second weekend in November, East Alabama Motor Speedway has moved the date to Oct. 30-Nov. 2 at the Phenix City, Ala., track. ... Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway’s Crazy 8 miniseries starts March 2 with $2,500 going to the Super Late Model winner. Other dates: April 5, April 12, May 24, July 19, Aug. 2, Sept. 20, and Oct. 4. ... Steve Morris, co-promoter of Tri-County Speedway in Brasstown, N.C., addressed the Clay County (N.C.) Commission before commissioners voted down consideration of a county noise ordinance. The track is requiring mufflers for 2008 that reduce engine noise to 95 decibels or less; cars failing to run the spec muffler will be assessed a 50-pound penalty.
