Hoosier
09-20-2011, 04:45 PM
Lanier National Speedway To End Weekly Racing After 30 Years
Braselton, GA; The economy has affected many industries over the last four
years, but none more then short track racing. Short tracks across the
country have been closing at an alarming rate and Lanier National Speedway
is joining those who have already experienced this devastation. After 30
years Lanier is having its last weekly racing event this Saturday
September 24th. What started out as a way 50 years ago for Moonshiners in
the South to show off their cars that out ran the law, into what is NASCA
racing today is coming to an end with the Death of Saturday Night Racing.
Lanier has been over the years one of short track racings premier racing
facilities. It was the home to NASCAR drivers such as David Ragan, Reed
Sorenson and Joey Logano. Some of NASCAR’s greats have graced Lanier’s
oval including Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Michael and Daryl Waltrip,
Bobby Labonte and Jimmy Spencer to name a few. Lanier has always been
regarded as one of the country’s most challenging tracks. Those who have
won at Lanier have always stated, “if you can win at Lanier, you can win
any where”.
It was originally owned by Bud Lundsford who at one time held the record
for all time short track wins with his daughter Debbie Lunsford-Love being
one of the first women nationally to ever win a short track championship
at Lanier. Lanier has hosted such notable touring series as the NASCAR
Nationwide Series, ARCA Racing Series, ASA Racing Series, the NASCAR All
Pro Racing Series and the Southern All Star Racing Series. Lanier was also
the only short track in Georgia which held the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series
for 27 of its 30 years.
Donnie Clack the tracks owner over the last six years has worked hard at
keeping up the traditions started at Lanier back in the 70’s. But, with
the rising gas prices and the rising costs for running even a small race
team, Donnie has seen the car counts drop drastically and along with it
Lanier’s fan base over the last 3 years. With the car counts down and the
economy hurting the entertainment dollar, Donnie has finally come to
realize that he can no longer continue to open the doors every Saturday
night. Families have had to cut back just to pay the bills and Saturday
night racing is not the Southern tradition it once was, Donnie has stated.
Sponsorship dollars have dried up affecting not just the short tracks, but
the NASCAR big boys also.
Donnie said that he will continue to have some special events at Lanier
during the early part of the year. These will include the Ice Cold
Shriners Bowl benefiting Shriners charities and Speedfest which usually
brings in some of NASCAR’s top drivers looking to get a leg up on the
beginning of the racing season. The track will also offer other events
such as Friday Night Drifting which has had moderate success over the last
year, but the staple of what has made racing what it is today, Saturday
night racing will be gone.
Go to www.lanierspeedway.com to find out more information of what will be
an historic event this Saturday September 24th, the Death of Saturday
night Racing.
--
Dalene Clack
Lanier Motorsports, LLC
One Raceway Drive
Braselton, GA 30517
C: 770.527.8667
F: 770.967.4411
www.lanierspeedway.com
Braselton, GA; The economy has affected many industries over the last four
years, but none more then short track racing. Short tracks across the
country have been closing at an alarming rate and Lanier National Speedway
is joining those who have already experienced this devastation. After 30
years Lanier is having its last weekly racing event this Saturday
September 24th. What started out as a way 50 years ago for Moonshiners in
the South to show off their cars that out ran the law, into what is NASCA
racing today is coming to an end with the Death of Saturday Night Racing.
Lanier has been over the years one of short track racings premier racing
facilities. It was the home to NASCAR drivers such as David Ragan, Reed
Sorenson and Joey Logano. Some of NASCAR’s greats have graced Lanier’s
oval including Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Michael and Daryl Waltrip,
Bobby Labonte and Jimmy Spencer to name a few. Lanier has always been
regarded as one of the country’s most challenging tracks. Those who have
won at Lanier have always stated, “if you can win at Lanier, you can win
any where”.
It was originally owned by Bud Lundsford who at one time held the record
for all time short track wins with his daughter Debbie Lunsford-Love being
one of the first women nationally to ever win a short track championship
at Lanier. Lanier has hosted such notable touring series as the NASCAR
Nationwide Series, ARCA Racing Series, ASA Racing Series, the NASCAR All
Pro Racing Series and the Southern All Star Racing Series. Lanier was also
the only short track in Georgia which held the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series
for 27 of its 30 years.
Donnie Clack the tracks owner over the last six years has worked hard at
keeping up the traditions started at Lanier back in the 70’s. But, with
the rising gas prices and the rising costs for running even a small race
team, Donnie has seen the car counts drop drastically and along with it
Lanier’s fan base over the last 3 years. With the car counts down and the
economy hurting the entertainment dollar, Donnie has finally come to
realize that he can no longer continue to open the doors every Saturday
night. Families have had to cut back just to pay the bills and Saturday
night racing is not the Southern tradition it once was, Donnie has stated.
Sponsorship dollars have dried up affecting not just the short tracks, but
the NASCAR big boys also.
Donnie said that he will continue to have some special events at Lanier
during the early part of the year. These will include the Ice Cold
Shriners Bowl benefiting Shriners charities and Speedfest which usually
brings in some of NASCAR’s top drivers looking to get a leg up on the
beginning of the racing season. The track will also offer other events
such as Friday Night Drifting which has had moderate success over the last
year, but the staple of what has made racing what it is today, Saturday
night racing will be gone.
Go to www.lanierspeedway.com to find out more information of what will be
an historic event this Saturday September 24th, the Death of Saturday
night Racing.
--
Dalene Clack
Lanier Motorsports, LLC
One Raceway Drive
Braselton, GA 30517
C: 770.527.8667
F: 770.967.4411
www.lanierspeedway.com