‘Southern Nationals Series’ visits Volunteer Speedway on Friday, July 22

[R-W]

$5,300-to-win ‘Southern Nationals Series’ Super Late Model special event scheduled Friday, July 22 at Volunteer Speedway

By Robert Walden
Volunteer Speedway Media/Public Relations

BULLS GAP, Tenn. — The Ray Cook-promoted Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants Southern Nationals Series features 10 Super Late Model special events across the Southeast in the span of 13 days, with races held in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.

Tracks hosting events in 2011 include Wythe (Rural Retreat, Va.) Raceway, Carolina (Gastonia, N.C.) Speedway, North Georgia (Chatsworth) Speedway, Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway, Screven (Sylvania, Ga.) Speedway, Rome (Ga.) Speedway, East Alabama (Phenix City) Motor Speedway, Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway, Volunteer (Bulls Gap, Tenn.) Speedway, and Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway.

Jeff Cooke of Spartanburg, S.C., won the 2005 Southern Nationals Series title. Anthony White of Clinton, Tenn., was champion in 2006, with Gray Court, S.C.-chauffeur Chris Madden winning the championships in 2007 and ’08. Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn., claimed the championship in 2009, with Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga, winning the title in 2010.

Volunteer Speedway will host the Southern Nationals Series for the next-to-last event of the two-week tour on Friday, July 22 for a $5,300-to-win … $530-to-start Super Late Model main event. Also racing Friday night besides the Super Late Models will be Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned Pro (Crate) Late Model, “Gunslingers of Kingsport” Hobby Stock and Road Warrior divisions. The fastest eight cars from Southern Nationals Series qualifying will be locked into the 53-lap feature, with B-mains scheduled to complete the 22-car starting field.

A partial list of out-of-state drivers “possibly” expected at Volunteer Speedway for the Southern Nationals Series include Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C.; Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga.; Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga.; Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga.; Johnny Pursley of Clover, S.C.; Donald Bradsher of Burlington, N.C.; Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C.; Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, Ga.; Brian Reese of Sharpsburg, Ga.; Daniel Baggerly of Rural Retreat, Va.; Kennie Compton Jr. of Bland, Va., plus several more.

Also expect to “possibly” see in action from around East Tennessee five-time Volunteer Speedway Super Late Model champion Vic Hill of Morristown (1997, ’98, 2000, ’05 and ’09 champion), Greeneville’s Jeff Maupin (2008 and ’10 champion), Kerry Jones of Bristol (2001 and ’07 champion), Mark Douglas of Knoxville (2002 and ’03 champion) — along with Knoxville’s Billy Ogle Jr., Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Powell’s Mark Vineyard, Randy Weaver of Crossville, Sevierville’s Chad Ogle, Brett Miller of Greeneville, Knoxville’s Bryan Hendrix, Jeff Neubert of Rockford, Powell’s Steve Smith, Mike Weeks of Friendsville, Clinton’s Jeff Wolfenbarger, Powell’s Terry Wolfenbarger, Ross White of Knoxville, along with others.

Southern Nationals Series purse: 1) $5,300, 2) $2,500, 3) $1,500, 4) $1,000, 5) $900, 6) $800, 7) $750, 8 ) $725, 9) $700, 10) $675, 11) $650, 12) $630, 13) $620, 14) $610, 15) $600, 16) $590, 17) $580, 18) $570, 19) $560, 20) $550, 21) $540, 22) $530

Adult grandstand admission on Friday, July 22 is $15, youth (ages 11-15) $10, with kids 10-and-under admitted free in the grandstands. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $30, regardless of age.

The pit gate will open Friday, July 22 at 4 p.m. and the grandstands at 5 p.m. Hotlaps are tentatively scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. (once the sun begins to set over the track), to be followed by qualifying and then racing action beginning around 9 p.m.

Tell your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers all about racing at Volunteer Speedway. You can’t beat the excitement of an action-packed night of racing at “The Gap!”

Directions to Volunteer Speedway: South on Interstate 81 from Tennessee/Virginia state lines, take Exit 23 (Bulls Gap/Greeneville), then turn right onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Look for track entrance approximately 200 yards on left.

North on Interstate 81 from I-81/I-40 split (East of Knoxville, TN), take Exit 23, then turn left onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Continue underneath the interstate over-pass and track entrance approximately 300 yards ahead on left.
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Contact info for the Southern Nationals Series and Volunteer Speedway is below:

Ray Cook (Southern Nationals Series Promoter): (828) 837-0379 – Shop; (706) 835-7503 – Cell
Southern Nationals Series: www.SouthernNationalsSerie​s.com

Volunteer Speedway (Recording Only): (423) 235-5020 www.VolunteerSpeedway.com
Track Office – Weekdays Only 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: (423) 378-5942
Phyllis Loven (Track Owner): (423) 676-9081
Robert Walden – Media/Public Relations: (423) 928-9644

[dee81fan]

Also expect Chip Brindle and Aaron Ridley to make a show of it at Phenix City... Give em hell boys... Its always great to see two local young talents run up front with best in the business....

[R-W]

After talking with Mike Dillon on Tuesday, it's confirmed that Ty Dillon of Lewisville, N.C., who currently leads the ARCA Racing Series point standings and has won five races in 2011, will be racing Friday, July 22 at Volunteer Speedway in the Southern Nationals Series.