National notebook
Notes: Tri-City's 50th brings richest-ever race
Shannon Babb (center) is a former Lucas Oil winner at Tri-City. (rickschwalliephotos.com)
Expanding its previously scheduled Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event, Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., plans to host the richest event in track history this summer.
The $20,000-to-win Budweiser Battle of the Beach 100 is scheduled for July 14-15 at the 3/8-mile oval near St. Louis, Mo., as part of the track's 50th anniversary celebration for promoters Kevin and Tammy Gundaker. The Thursday-Friday event, originally scheduled as a standard single-day series event, will include time trials and heat races on the opening night with consolation races and the 100-lap feature the following night.
The Gundakers and the track crew have been busy during the off-season with improvements to the track, that ran as a half-mile until the last few seasons. The old building behind the grandstands was torn down and a new 40-by-232-foot building replaces it, but at a greater distance from the grandstands to provide more walking area. The new building houses offices, a souvenir stand, concession stand, arcade and restrooms.
The 55-year-old Kevin Gundaker, a standout racer-turned-promoter who will be inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in August, has fond feelings for the track that opened May 30, 1961.
"My early memories of going to Tri-City were in the '60s when my grandpa first took me. From there, we would go just about every night they raced, and I eventually bought a car from a racer. And the rest is history," said Gundaker, who retired from driving several seasons ago but plans to do some part-time racing in 2011. "I won't be racing at Tri-City for obvious reasons, but I will be hitting some of the tracks in our area to race some this season. My son Gordy is moving up to Super Late Models this year, and I want to help him get some experience."
The Battle of the Beach 100 will be taped for later telecast on Speed. The track also plans a weekend appearance of Bigfoot, the original monster truck. — From series reports
COOK EXPANDS PROMOTIONS TO HOMETOWN TRACK: Brasstown, N.C., racer Ray Cook has leased his hometown Tri-County Racetrack and plans to host a regular program including Super Late Models every other Friday at the quarter-mile oval in western North Carolina. "I look forward to the challenge of bringing Tri-County Racetrack back to life," said Cook, who follows the Lucas Oil Series as a driver and promotes the Southern Nationals Series annually. "Car counts and fan attendance have really dropped in recent years, but I have hope that we can change things around and put on a great program for the fans and racers." Because of Cook's other commitments, Jack Wimpey, Kip Cochran, Leon Latham and Brian Kennersley will be among those tending to Tri-County, a track where Cook ran his first pony race as a 15-year-old. The switch to Friday nights from Saturday nights is new for the track, which plans to host Limited/Crate Late Models among four lower divisions. Cook is hosting a pre-season forum 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28 at the Brasstown Community Center. For information call Cook at (706) 835-7503. — Ryan Delph
DEER CREEK PROMOTERS HONORED: The Queensland family of Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., was honored Feb. 15 in Daytona Beach, Fla., as the 35th Auto Racing Promoters of the Year at the RPM Promoters Workshop. Deer Creek, a 3/8-mile dirt oval, promote WISSOTA-sanctioned Late Models and hosts the $20,000-to-win World Modified Dirt Tack Championship on April 9, a $20,000-to-win event. Others honored as regional Promoters of the Year: Andrew Harpell, Five-Mile Point (N.Y.) Speedway; Shirley and Sylvia Porter, Anderson (S.C.) Motor Speedway; Gary and Donna Howe, Kalamazoo (Mich.) Speedway; Lanny Edwards, Devil's Bowl (Texas) Speedway; and Adam Nelson, Meridian (Idaho) Speedway. Matt Long of Charlotte Motor Speedway presented the Queenslands with membership to the Speedway Club at Charlotte Motor Speedway. — Stewart Doty
CLASH OPENER PART OF DOUBLEHEADER: The Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series opener on March 12 at Carolina Speedway is part of a season-opening doubleheader at the Gastonia, N.C. track. Besides the $4,000-to-win Skyler Trull Memorial for Clash drivers, a $2,500-to-win Crate Late Model event is also on tap, and reigning Clash champion is among drivers competing in both. "You can't run the same setup on the Super Late Model as you can the crate car," Franklin said. "With all the horsepower the Super Late Model has, it takes a different feel. We have tried running them the same but it just hasn't worked out for us. We have been very successful with our crate car at Carolina, and now we are focusing on getting the Super Late Model just as good." March 11 action at Carolina includes qualifying and heat races for Crate Late Models, along with lower-division action and Clash practice. — From track reports
SCHEDULE CHANGES: Batesville (Ark.) Motor Speedway has added April 22-23 events co-sanctioned by the MARS DIRTcar Series and Comp Cams Super Dirt Series. ... MARS has also changed the venues for July 1-2 events. Instead of a trip to Nebraska and Iowa, the series will run two events at West Plains (Mo.) Speedway. ... The Southern Nationals Series has completed its 10-race schedule with the addition of a $5,300-to-win event on July 14 at North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, Ga.; a record six series events pay $5,300. ... The first-year STARS Midwest Dirt Racing League has added a July 4 event at Rocky Top Raceway in Coal Grove, Ohio. ... The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series has pushed back its first race at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn., a week because of schedule conflicts. The race is now scheduled for April 2.
ODDS AND ENDS: Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., opens it season Feb. 27 with a $1,500-to-win event for Crate Late Models. Among changes at Cherokee: 70 loads of clay to the racing surface; Tony Adair and Sandy Cooke will share the flagging duties; Kelly Norris has been added as track photographer; and long-time scorer Danny Estep returns to the booth. ... Driver Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind., has added sponsorships from Rockstar Energy Drink and Makita Industrial Power Tools, additions that will allow him to follow the Lucas Oil Series. ... Three-time Grandview (Pa.) Speedway Late Model champion Brian Shuey won't defend his 2010 title because car owners Dave and Charlotte Eyrich are taking a season off. Shuey plans to drive for Ed Powell and Jesse Willman, but not full time at Grandview. ... The fastest qualifier who doesn't make the Carolina Clash Series opener on March 12 at Carolina Speedway will receive a set of tires from American Race Tire. The event's fast qualifier will receive $500 from Heintz Performance.
