FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Payne leads Southern Nationals Bonus Series into Tri-County Race Track This Thursday July 9th

By Chris Tilley, Series P.R. Coordinator

BRASSTOWN, NC (July 5, 2015)—David Payne of nearby Murphy, N.C. currently leads the points in the Southern Nationals Bonus Series by Collins Signs as they roll into Tri-County Race Track this Thursday Night for the Annual Independence Championship race.

Payne leads Cedartown, GA driver Austin Smith by just four markers heading into this Thursday Night July 9th. Smith, who won a few weeks ago at the race track located in Brasstown, NC, is the defending Perfect Attendance champion of all three tours from last season.

The Southern Nationals Bonus Series will take to the Western North Carolina oval at Tri-County Race Track during the Independence Championship special racing for $3,000-to-win and $300-to-start. The Crate Late Models ($800-to-win), Interstate Welding Modified Street ($400-to-win), Street Stocks ($300-to-win) and the Pony class ($300-to-win) will all be racing during the night’s activities. A Fireworks show will light up the evening sky during intermission. On July 9th at Tri-County the pit gates open at 4:00 pm, grandstand gates swing open at 5:00 pm and the drivers meeting will be at 7:00 pm with hot laps to follow. Adult general admission is $18.00 while Adult pit passes are $30.00.

The series is looking forward to a mega event coming up on Saturday Night July 18th at Richmond (Ky.) Raceway as the tour will sanction the 28th Annual Sunoco Race Fuels Paul “Butterball” Wooldridge Memorial race paying $10,028-to-win and $500-to-start. The track will host a tune-up event this Saturday July 11th paying $2,000-to-win and the winner has a guaranteed starting spot in the “Butterball” Memorial. An open practice session will also be held at Richmond on Friday Night July 17th.

The Southern Nationals Bonus Series made two previous visits to Tri-County Race Track in 2014 with Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga. taking both events wins that came during the Independence Day Championship race in July and the Tarheel 50 in October. The events that were scheduled for March 27, May 25 and July 3 were cancelled due to rain.

Randy Weaver dominated the season opening event for the Southern Nationals Bonus Series on March 21st at Boyd’s (Ga.) Speedway claiming the $4,000 payday over Donald McIntosh, Jason Hiett, Bub McCool and David Payne.

Shane Clanton won the most recent series event on July 4th at Senoia (Ga.) Raceway during his father’s Memorial race over Joe Armistead Jr., Mark Whitener, Clint Smith and Austin Smith.

The Southern Nationals Bonus Series by Collins Signs will utilize the following Tire Rule for Tri-County: American Racer 44, 48 & 56 and Hoosier 1300, 1350 & 1600. At each Old Man’s Garage Spring Nationals, Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals and Southern Nationals Bonus Series event in 2015, the highest finishing CT525 engine in the main event will receive a $200 bonus and the highest finishing Steel Head/SPEC engine will also receive a $200 bonus.

Further information on the Tri-County Race Track can be obtained by calling the track Hotline at (828) 837-3815 or Ray Cook (@RayCook53) at (828) 360-5353 or log on to www.TriCountyRaceTrack.com .

Further information on the Spring Nationals, Southern Nationals and Southern Nationals Bonus Series can be obtained by calling Promoter Ray Cook at (828) 360-5353 or Series P.R. Coordinator Chris Tilley at (606) 219-1723 or visit the official website located at www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com .

Southern Nationals Bonus Series/Tri-County Payoff: 1) $3,000, 2) $1,500, 3) $1,000, 4) $900, 5) $800, 6) $700, 7) $600, 8) $550, 9) $500, 10) $480, 11) $460, 12) $440, 13) $420, 14) $400, 15) $380, 16) $360, 17) $340, 18) $320, 19) $300, 20) $300, 21) $300, 22) $300.

Current Southern Nationals Bonus Series Points (after July 4th)
1. David Payne-372 (Murphy, NC)
2. Austin Smith-368 (Cedartown, GA)
3. Randy Weaver-200 (Crossville, TN)
3. Shane Clanton-200 (Zebulon, GA)
5. Donald McIntosh-196 (Dawsonville, GA)
5. Joe Armistead Jr.-196 (Senoia, GA)
7. Jason Hiett-194 (Oxford, AL)
7. Mark Whitener-194 (Middleburg, FL)
9. Clint Smith-192 (Senoia, GA)
9. Bub McCool-192 (Vicksburg, MS)

Upcoming Southern Nationals Bonus Series Races & Winners:
March 21-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA (Randy Weaver)
July 4-Senoia Raceway-Senoia, GA (Shane Clanton)
July 9-Tri-County Race Track-Brasstown, NC-$3,000 to win
July 18-Richmond Raceway-Richmond, KY-$10,028 to win