Volunteer Speedway

 

Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series headed to Volunteer Speedway

9-13-99

By Robert Walden

RACE FANS … GET READY! "Rockin’ and Roarin’ and Smokin’ to the Finish," they’re coming, the "Outlaws, Renegades, Rebels on the Run" from the United Dirt Track Racing Association (UDTRA) Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series are scheduled to invade Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17 & 18 for the $15,000 to win Loven Ready Mix 100.

The Bulls Gap stop will be the last opportunity for race fans in the region to see the Hav-A-Tampa competitors in action in the state of Tennessee before the new millennium. Only four events remain on the 1999 schedule before the season-ending 10^th Annual Hav-A-Tampa Shootout at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga., and the battle for the national championship of dirt Late Model racing on the Hav-A-Tampa tour is heated.

The Hav-A-Tampa Loven Ready Mix 100, paying the race winner $15,000 from the $70,000 purse, is shaping up to be one of the biggest events ever at the "World’s Fastest Dirt Track." All of the "top guns" from the nation’s premier dirt Late Model sanctioning body will be present chasing points towards the season long national championship crown.

Heading the list of entries is current point leader (and Volunteer Speedway track record holder … 12:004-seconds) Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., with $172,825 in season earnings, Dale McDowell of Rossville, Ga., three-time and defending series champion Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., fresh off the biggest victory of his career last Saturday in the World 100 at Eldora (OH) Speedway, Freddy Smith of Knoxville, Tenn., Bill Frye of Greenbrier, Ark., Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Skip Arp of Georgetown, Tenn., Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., Marshall Green of Dalton, Ga., the winner of the Hav-A-Tampa event at "The Gap" in June, Clint Smith of Griffin, Ga., Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., Rick Aukland of Fargo, N.D., Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., Terry English of Benton, Ky., Rex Richey of Ringgold, Ga., Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, Shannon Babb of Decatur, Ill., Brandon Ball of West Plains, Mo., Jack Pennington of Winston, Ga., Brandon Kinzer of Allen, Ky., David Payne of Murphy, N.C., plus many more.

The list of local East Tennessee drivers trying to defend their home turf includes; 1997 & 1998 Volunteer Speedway track champion Vic "The Thrill" Hill of Knoxville, Scott Sexton of Pigeon Forge, Herman Goddard of Knoxville, Dale Ball of Johnson City, Kerry Jones of Bristol, Tommy Kerr of Rockford, Billy "The Kid" Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Duayne Hommel of Newport, Randle Chupp of Knoxville, Dave Burks of Abingdon, Va., Rick Norris of Kingsport, Steve Smith of Powell, Roger Best of Maryville, Carlos Campbell of Jonesborough, David Crabtree of Maryville, Gary Blanken of Whitesburg, John A. Utsman of Bluff City, Greg Burchett of Church Hill, Michael Jackson of Greeneville, Jerry Broyles of Jonesborough, Casey Huffman of Newport, Terry Wolfenbarger of Knoxville, Rick Rogers of Knoxville, and several others.

The Hav-A-Tampa Super Late Models will qualify and run heat races Friday, along with the Sportsman competitors, while the Super Stock division will run a feature event. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday, with practice scheduled at 6:30 p.m., to be followed by qualifying.

Saturday’s racing program is highlighted by the $15,000 to win Loven Ready Mix 100 for the Hav-A-Tampa Super Late Models, along with consolation races to complete the 24-car starting lineup. The Sportsman competitors will run for $1,000 to win, while the UMP (Open-Wheel) Modifieds will run a 25-lap feature. Gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday, with practice set for 6:30 p.m., followed by racing at 8 o’clock.

Friday grandstand admission is $15 with pit passes and back-tier parking $25. Saturday grandstand admission is $25 with pit passes and back-tier parking $30. Special offer on two-day admission tickets for the grandstands is $35, while two-day pit passes and back-tier parking is $50.

Hav-A-Tampa point standings heading into Volunteer Speedway for the Loven Ready Mix 100: 1. Wendell Wallace, 4992; 2. Dale McDowell, 4890; 3. Scott Bloomquist, 4853; 4. Steve Francis, 4825; 5. Freddy Smith, 4696; 6. Bill Frye, 4597; 7. Rick Eckert, 4528; 8. Ray Cook, 4452; 8. Skip Arp, 4452; 10. Dan Schlieper, 4024; 11. Earl Pearson Jr., 3767; 12. Billy Moyer, 3303; 13. Dennis Erb Jr. (R), 3243; 14. Rick Aukland, 3065; 15. Brandon Ball (R), 2976; 16. Brian Birkhofer, 2865; 17. Marshall Green, 2812; 18. Clayton Christenberry, 2704; 19. Brandon Kinzer (R), 2157; 20. Clint Smith, 2067.

For more information, call Volunteer Speedway (423) 235-5020, Track Office (423) 288-5992, or Robert Walden-Public Relations/Media Contact (423) 928-9644.