Volunteer Speedway 'Spring Thaw' scheduled Friday and Saturday, March 15-16

[R-W]

'12th annual Spring Thaw' opens Volunteer Speedway 2013 racing season on Friday and Saturday, March 15-16

BULLS GAP, Tenn. — The start of the 40th year of exciting dirt-track racing at Volunteer Speedway will see the season’s first green flag wave on Friday and Saturday, March 15-16 for the "12th annual Spring Thaw."

With sanctioning from highly respected dirt late model racer Ray Cook showcasing his inaugural Spring Nationals Series, on Friday, March 15 will feature a $4,000-to-win Super Late Model 40-lap event along with Modified Hobby racing. Adult grandstand admission on Friday, March 15 is $15, youth (ages 11-15) $5, with kids 10-and-under admitted free. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $30 per person (regardless of age).

Highlighting the Saturday, March 16 racing program will be running of the 12th annual Spring Thaw, paying $10,000 to the Super Late Model winner, along with the Crate Late Models competing in a 30-lap event. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racers Ty Dillon and Joey Coulter, along with Rick Hendrick Motorsports Development Driver Chase Elliott (son of 1988 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bill Elliott) will be racing at Volunteer Speedway.

There will be Super Late Model qualifying, heat races, last chance B-mains and the 60-lap, $10,000-to-win Spring Thaw on Saturday, March 16. Expect to see many of the country’s top dirt Super Late Model racers in action such as Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn.; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn.; Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind.; Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga.; Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C.; Jared Landers of Batesville, Ark.; John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.; Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga.; Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind.; Eric Jacobsen of Sea Cliff Beach, Calif.; Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga.; Brian Reese of Sharpsburg, Ga.; Devin Friese of Chambersburg, Pa.; Tyler Millwood of Kingston, Ga. — plus East Tennessee chauffeurs Vic Hill of Morristown, Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Mark Douglas of Knoxville, Powell’s Mark Vineyard, Ryan King of Seymour, Josh Henry of Newport, along with others. Adult grandstand admission on Saturday, March 16 is $25, youth (ages 11-15) $10, with kids 10-and-under admitted free. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $35 per person (regardless of age).

The pit gate will open on both Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 at 3 p.m., with the grandstand gate opening each day at 5:30 p.m.

Drivers' meeting scheduled each night at 7 p.m. Hotlaps begin at 7:30 p.m., to be followed by qualifying and then green flag racing action beginning around 8:30 p.m.

A night of open practice is scheduled Thursday, March 14 from 7-10 p.m. Pit admission will be $20 per person (regardless of age).

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Spring Thaw – Friday, March 15 Purse (40 Laps): 1) $4000, 2) $2000, 3) $1400, 4) $800, 5) $700, 6) $675, 7) $650, 8) $625, 9) $600, 10) $580, 11) $560, 12) $540, 13) $520, 14) $500, 15) $480, 16) $460, 17) $440, 18) $420, 19) $400, 20) $400, 21) $400, 22) $400

Spring Thaw – Saturday, March 16 Purse (60 Laps): 1) $10,000, 2) $5000, 3) $2500, 4) $2000, 5) $1500, 6) $1300, 7) $1200, 8) $1100, 9) $1050, 10) $1000, 11) $950, 12) $900, 13) $850, 14) $800, 15) $750, 16) $700, 17) $650, 18) $600, 19) $600, 20) $600, 21) $600, 22) $600

*** The Super Late Model tire rule for each night will be Hoosier 1300, 1350, 1600 – American Racer 44, 48, 56.

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No coolers and no outside drinks/food permitted in front straightaway grandstands. Also, no lawn chairs (seat-back cushions allowed).

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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Ray Cook (Spring Nationals Series Promoter): (828) 360-5353
Volunteer Speedway: (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
Robbie Williams – Race Director: (423) 483-4055

[i-go-racin]

Will be attending the spring thaw 2013....Hope the first of many great races this year!! Always a great show at the gap....

[hustler t4]

Looks like Ray only promoting the Friday race, is that correct>

[rcmaster]

no, both nights