SYLVANIA, GA – Lifelong friends Mark Miner and Ken Schrader of Fenton, MO in Modifieds, Cameron Holloway of Sumter, SC and Banjo Duke of Manning, SC in Street Stocks took $2,000 wins in the Savannah Car Rentals Winter Freeze XIII events Presented by Vaden Chevrolet on Friday and Saturday nights at Screven Motor Speedway.

Miner came out of a five-year retirement from racing competition to climb in the Mike Vaughn Racing Vaden Chevrolet/Wren’s Body Shop Modified for the Winter Freeze XIII. Miner, also known as Mad Dog, moved to Georgia in 1982 to become a legend in Late Model racing in the 1980s and 90s before moving back to Missouri in 1999.

The 62-year-old quickly knocked off the ring rust, qualified third quick and came from the inside of row two at the start of the 25-lap Savannah Car Rentals Feature Race Presented by Vaden Chevrolet on Friday night to take the lead on a lap three restart. Miner then found a groove to his liking on the inside of the 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval to lead the rest of the way with a 3.483 second margin of victory.

There were smiles abound in Victory Lane, not only from Miner and his crew of Don Jenkins and Wesley Brown after the $2,000 victory, but also from the second-place finisher. Schrader came from the fourth starting position to finish second in his Federated Auto Parts/Vaden Chevrolet Special. Miner and Schrader had grown up together in Missouri, and had competed against each other in the 1970s as teenagers.

While Miner went on to race Late Models on both dirt and pavement in the Southeast, Schrader went a different route and raced Midgets, Sprint Cars, and Silver Crown cars to earn a couple of United States Auto Clue National Championships. Schrader was then one of the first drivers to come out of open-wheel racing in the mid-1980s to make it big in NASCAR.

Rounding out the Modified top five on Friday night were 2019 Crate Racin’ USA National Modified Champion Luke Riddle of Hartselle, AL in the Morgan Machine Special in third, Billy Thompson of Gastonia, NC was fourth in the Crossroads Grading Special, and Chuckie Gipson of Tuscumbia, AL in the Dowdy Welding and Fabrication Special took the fifth spot. Riddle was the Fast Qualifier with a lap in 17.916 seconds.

While Miner picked up where he left off on Friday night by setting Fast Time on Saturday night with a lap in 17.482 seconds, it was Schrader that put on the show from his fifth starting spot on the inside of the third row in the 25-lap Savannah Car Rentals Feature Race Presented by Vaden Chevrolet.

J.P. Blalock of Clemons, NC in the Ryan’s Detailing Special, took the lead at the start of the race from the outside of the front row followed by Miner, Gipson, Schrader and Thompson. A lap two restart saw Schrader move from fourth to second before the next caution flag slowed the field for a Dixie-Style Double-File Restart on lap three.

When the green flag came out, Schrader stepped to the outside groove and rode the rim through turns one and two. The 67-year-old veteran got a run on Blalock down the backstretch and took the lead going into the third turn.

Schrader then checked out on the field to take the $2,000 win with a 2.190 margin of victory. Gipson put on a show after a late-race spin to rally through the field to take the second spot. Thompson finished third, and Miner took the fourth spot. Casey Lee of Savannah, GA rounded out the top five driving the Vintage Home Restoration Special.

Holloway, driving the Carolina Collision Centers Monte Carlo held off an early race challenge from Devon Morgan of Easley, SC in the Henderson’s Body Shop Monte Carlo to win the 25-lap Savannah Car Rentals Street Stock Race Presented by Vaden Chevrolet on Friday night. Holloway took the lead from his outside front row starting spot and led all 25 laps for the $2,000 win.

Roger McKenzie of Swainsboro, GA finished second in the Extreme Construction Monte Carlo, 1.661 seconds behind Holloway. Banjo Duke of Manning, SC was third in the State Tree Service Monte Carlo, and Morgan took the fourth spot. Andrew Stone of Savannah, GA rounded out the top five in the Stone Industrial Camaro.

Duke was the dominate force on Saturday night as he swept the program. He started on the pole of the Savannah Car Rentals Street Stock Feature Race Presented by Vaden Chevrolet. Duke set Fast Time in Qualifying with a lap in 17.483 seconds, and then led all 25 lap to take a 2.166 second margin of victory over Morgan. Duke pocketed $2,000 for the win.

McKenzie took the third spot, followed by Donnie Bazemore of Brooklet, GA in fourth driving the D&S Auto Brokers Camaro. Tyler Davis of Portal, GA rounded out the top five driving the J&T Trucking Monte Carlo.

The drivers that competed both nights in both the Modified and Street Stock Divisions were eligible for a special drawing to win a 350 horsepower all-steel Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engine from Vaden Chevrolet of Savannah, GA. Street Stock competitor Andy Stewart of Evans, GA won the engine to put in his Mary’s Fine Treasures Monte Carlo.

Savannah Car Rentals is a Division of Vaden Chevrolet of Savannah, GA located at 9393 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31406. They can offer the best rates for you vehicle rental needs. For more information call 912-920-5431, or visit their website at www.danvadenchevrolet.com

Vaden Chevrolet of Savannah, GA is the Southeast’s Headquarters for Chevrolet Performance Circle Track Engines including the economical 350 horsepower all-steel 602 Engine, the engine of choice for both the Winter Freeze Street Stock and Modified Divisions.

The Chevrolet Performance 602 Circle Track Engines are built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. Vaden Chevrolet offers free next-day delivery anywhere in the Southeast. Call Rick Freeman at 833-823-3678 to place an order from Vaden Chevrolet.

Screven Motor Speedway is located at 6118 Savannah Highway, Sylvania, GA 30467. For more information call 912-547-1463, or visit their website at screven-motorsports.com. You can also Follow their Facebook Page at Screven Motor Sports Complex.

OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE SAVANNAH CAR RENTALS WINTER FREEZE XIII EVENTS PRESENTED BY VADEN CHEVROLET AT SCREVEN MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN SYLVANIA, GA ON 2/3-4/2023:

MODIFIEDS:

Friday, February 3, 2023 – 25 Laps: 1. Mark Miner, Fenton, MO; 2. Ken Schrader, Fenton, MO; 3. Luke Riddle, Hartselle, AL; 4. Billy Thompson, Gastonia, NC; 5. Chuckie Gipson, Tuscumbia, AL; 6. J.P. Blalock, Clemons, NC; 7. Russell Baker, Winterville, GA; 8. Michael Stuart, Lexington, SC; 9. J. Jay Reich, Eden, GA; 10. Casey Lee, Savannah, GA; 11. Robbie Moody, Statesboro, GA; 12. Willie Baughman, Warrenville, SC DNS.

Saturday, February 4, 2023 – 25 Laps: 1. Schrader; 2. Gipson; 3. Thompson; 4. Miner; 5. Lee; 6. Blalock; 7. Stewart; 8. Reich; 9. Travis Young, Rincon, GA; 10. Baker; 11. Moody; 12. Riddle.

STREET STOCKS:

Friday, February 3, 2023 – 25 Laps: 1. Cameron Holloway, Sumter, SC; 2. Roger McKenzie, Swainsboro, GA; 3. Banjo Duke, Manning, SC; 4. Devon Morgan, Easley, SC; 5. Andrew Stone, Savannah, GA; 6. Donnie Bazemore, Brooklet, GA; 7. Andy Stewart, Evans, GA; 8. Luke Scott, Swainsboro, GA; 9. Tyler Davis, Portal, GA; 10. Caleb Stroble, Walterboro, SC; 11. Connor Morgan, Camden, NC; 12. Clay Collins, Augusta, GA; 13. Chris Jackson, Rutherfordton, NC; 14. Josh Nelms, Ellabell, GA; 15. Greg Parks, Lincolnton, GA; 16. Kyle Livingood, Bristol, GA; 17. Austin Rodonis, Sumter, SC; 18. Daniel Nelms, Meldrim, GA; 19, Bandon Grimsley, Sumter, SC; 20. Gary Dorsey, Brunswick, GA DNS; 21. Colt Bedenbaugh, Lexington, SC DNS; 22. Michael Smith, Pembroke, GA DNS.

Saturday, February 4, 2023 – 25 Laps: 1, Duke; 2. Morgan; 3. McKenzie; 4. Bazemore; 5. Davis; 6. Holloway; 7. Stone; 8. Stroble; 9. Scott; 10. Bobby Morris, Bloomingdale, GA; 11. Rodonis; 12. Smith; 13. Jordan Fowler, Jacksonville, FL; 14. Morgan; 15. D. Nelms; 16. Collins; 17. Stewart; 18. Grimsley; 19. Parks; 20. Livingood; 21. J. Nelms.