Dirtman
06-08-2011, 08:03 PM
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Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Invades Cherokee Speedway Friday June 17th
Friday, June 17th, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series comes to Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC for 13th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial paying $10,000 to win. This event has drawn the attention of the nation’s top drivers since the inaugural running of the Grassy Smith Memorial Race in 1999. The late Clarence "Grassy" Smith is known throughout the racing world for his contributions to motorsports. Grassy Smith stamped his name in the Southern racing scene building engines for Nascar pioneers Holman Moody with their racing stable boasted of drivers such as Ned Jarrett, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, and Fireball Roberts. Grassy earned his reputation by being a top engine builder and a great friend to many.
When Grassy's son Freddy began to gain interest in motorsports the dirt racing world was forever changed. This father and son duo would catapult Freddy into racing history. Dubbed the "Southern Gentleman", he would go on to win over 785 feature races. He is a member of the Dirt Late Model Hall of fame and continues to be a force at any track. When asked about his father, Freddy was quick to reply that it was Grassy who was the real Southern Gentleman. "Grassy never met a stranger and would always offer his advice and a helping hand. He was a great man."
The Smith family legacy continues on with Freddy's son Jeff Smith. Jeff Smith operates his own racing team and is the owner of J & J race cars in Gastonia NC. "I remember my grandfather for always making racing a family event. He made everyone laugh with his one liners and was willing to help anyone at the track - even those he didn't know. We look forward to our Grandfathers race. Hope full we can get a good run and bring home one of those checkered flags."
It is only fitting that Freddy Smith has won 4 of the races that carry his father's name. The only other drivers to defeat Smith in the Grassy Smith Memorial are Rick Eckert, Dan Schlieper, ‘Rambo’ Dennis Franklin, Chris Madden and last year’s winner Jonathan Davenport. The Lucas Oil Series visit to the track “Where Three Wide is a Given” will be the fifth time for the Lennie Buff promoted facility. In the previous four appearances Scott Bloomquist (2), Dan Schlieper and Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC have all captured Lucas Oil Dirt Series events at the track. There will be a complete show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with Red Buck Cigar Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the Main Event along with racing in Cherokee Speedway support classes.
Last year’s Lucas Oil Event at Cherokee was one of the best races of the 2010 season. A spectacular field of 39 cars signed in, and Chris Wall set fast time with a blistering lap of 16.381 seconds in his first ever visit to the speedway. The race provided 5 lead changes with only 3 cautions during the main event. Defending Series Champion Scott Bloomquist led the only lap that mattered with a spectacular last lap turn 4 pass over Dale McDowell to take the $10,000 win. Randy Weaver finished 3rd and Don O’Neal won the PBM Hard Charger of the Race Award storming from his 16th starting position to finish in 4th place. O’Neal will come into Gaffney fresh off his $10,000 Lucas Oil Victory from Florence Kentucky last weekend. Local standout Chris Madden finished in 5th place after leading Laps 1-10 and Laps 29-41.
Scott Bloomquist has been on another tear winning 5 Lucas Oil Events this season and running in the top5 each week, however the last two races Bloomquist has had to battle torn sheet metal and traffic finishing an uncharacteristic 15th and 13th place. For the first time in several months the 2 time Defending Lucas Oil Series Champion finds himself in 2nd position 60 points behind fellow Tennessee Team Zero Driver Jimmy Owens. Consistency has been the key for Owens who has won 2 of the last 4 Lucas Series Races this season. Owens has 3 series victories on the year, including the $30,000 Show –Me 100 which is scheduled to air Fathers Day Sunday on CBS Sunday July 19th at 5PM.
The schedule of events for Friday June 17th at Cherokee Speedway will see the Grandstands open at 5 PM with a driver’s autograph session from 6 - 6:45 PM, driver’s meeting at 7 PM followed directly by hot laps at 7:30 PM. Support Classes include Limited Sportsman, Stock 4’s and Crate Sportsman. Lucas Oil Officials run an efficient show to get fans and drivers home early. All Support Mains will have a 20 minute time limit. Cherokee Speedway sits conveniently off I-85 exit 96 in Gaffney, SC. For more information on the series visit to Cherokee Speedway please visit online at www.cherokeespeedwaysc.com. For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Invades Cherokee Speedway Friday June 17th
Friday, June 17th, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series comes to Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC for 13th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial paying $10,000 to win. This event has drawn the attention of the nation’s top drivers since the inaugural running of the Grassy Smith Memorial Race in 1999. The late Clarence "Grassy" Smith is known throughout the racing world for his contributions to motorsports. Grassy Smith stamped his name in the Southern racing scene building engines for Nascar pioneers Holman Moody with their racing stable boasted of drivers such as Ned Jarrett, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, and Fireball Roberts. Grassy earned his reputation by being a top engine builder and a great friend to many.
When Grassy's son Freddy began to gain interest in motorsports the dirt racing world was forever changed. This father and son duo would catapult Freddy into racing history. Dubbed the "Southern Gentleman", he would go on to win over 785 feature races. He is a member of the Dirt Late Model Hall of fame and continues to be a force at any track. When asked about his father, Freddy was quick to reply that it was Grassy who was the real Southern Gentleman. "Grassy never met a stranger and would always offer his advice and a helping hand. He was a great man."
The Smith family legacy continues on with Freddy's son Jeff Smith. Jeff Smith operates his own racing team and is the owner of J & J race cars in Gastonia NC. "I remember my grandfather for always making racing a family event. He made everyone laugh with his one liners and was willing to help anyone at the track - even those he didn't know. We look forward to our Grandfathers race. Hope full we can get a good run and bring home one of those checkered flags."
It is only fitting that Freddy Smith has won 4 of the races that carry his father's name. The only other drivers to defeat Smith in the Grassy Smith Memorial are Rick Eckert, Dan Schlieper, ‘Rambo’ Dennis Franklin, Chris Madden and last year’s winner Jonathan Davenport. The Lucas Oil Series visit to the track “Where Three Wide is a Given” will be the fifth time for the Lennie Buff promoted facility. In the previous four appearances Scott Bloomquist (2), Dan Schlieper and Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC have all captured Lucas Oil Dirt Series events at the track. There will be a complete show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series with Red Buck Cigar Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains, and the Main Event along with racing in Cherokee Speedway support classes.
Last year’s Lucas Oil Event at Cherokee was one of the best races of the 2010 season. A spectacular field of 39 cars signed in, and Chris Wall set fast time with a blistering lap of 16.381 seconds in his first ever visit to the speedway. The race provided 5 lead changes with only 3 cautions during the main event. Defending Series Champion Scott Bloomquist led the only lap that mattered with a spectacular last lap turn 4 pass over Dale McDowell to take the $10,000 win. Randy Weaver finished 3rd and Don O’Neal won the PBM Hard Charger of the Race Award storming from his 16th starting position to finish in 4th place. O’Neal will come into Gaffney fresh off his $10,000 Lucas Oil Victory from Florence Kentucky last weekend. Local standout Chris Madden finished in 5th place after leading Laps 1-10 and Laps 29-41.
Scott Bloomquist has been on another tear winning 5 Lucas Oil Events this season and running in the top5 each week, however the last two races Bloomquist has had to battle torn sheet metal and traffic finishing an uncharacteristic 15th and 13th place. For the first time in several months the 2 time Defending Lucas Oil Series Champion finds himself in 2nd position 60 points behind fellow Tennessee Team Zero Driver Jimmy Owens. Consistency has been the key for Owens who has won 2 of the last 4 Lucas Series Races this season. Owens has 3 series victories on the year, including the $30,000 Show –Me 100 which is scheduled to air Fathers Day Sunday on CBS Sunday July 19th at 5PM.
The schedule of events for Friday June 17th at Cherokee Speedway will see the Grandstands open at 5 PM with a driver’s autograph session from 6 - 6:45 PM, driver’s meeting at 7 PM followed directly by hot laps at 7:30 PM. Support Classes include Limited Sportsman, Stock 4’s and Crate Sportsman. Lucas Oil Officials run an efficient show to get fans and drivers home early. All Support Mains will have a 20 minute time limit. Cherokee Speedway sits conveniently off I-85 exit 96 in Gaffney, SC. For more information on the series visit to Cherokee Speedway please visit online at www.cherokeespeedwaysc.com. For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.