Albany Motor Speedway is set to have a big race weekend with the Nesmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division coming to town. Both Friday and Saturday are set to be full of excitement. I wanted to get a more in depth look at everything that is going to be happening at AMS so I called race director, Ben Sumner Jr., to get an idea.
I was greeted on the phone by a very pleasant sounding voice on the other line who, to my relief, was Ben Sumner Jr. I explained who I was and what I was calling for and was immediately put at ease when he let me know my questions were more than welcome and he was enthusiastic to share the news of Albany's big race weekend. This weekend, April 27 and 28, Albany Motor Speedway will host the Nesmith Chevrolet Series with Friday consisting of a full late model show that will include qualifying, a B main, and a 40 lap main event. They will also have a mini stock main event and qualifying for limited sportsman, pure stock, and enduro. Saturday will include a full late model program with the exception of the main event being 50 laps and also the features for pure stocks, limiteds, and enduros.
There will be other events at the track for the fans to be involved in. There will be clowns and goody bags for the children, a 50/50 raffle drawing to ride in a two seater late model, and a dunking booth which will include Ben Sumner himself as a dunk victim and other track officials. All money raised from these fan events will benefit the Cancer Society. A very worth while cause and made me respect a track with a heart. What could be better than helping others and having a good time doing it?
Approximately 40 late models are expected from over 6 different states for the series race. The Nesmith series is made up of dirt late models that compete on Hoosier tires and they can choose between two engine choices. The first, a 602 steel head crate Chevrolet motor or a 604 aluminum head Chevrolet crate motor. The drivers who run the 602 steel heads are given a 100 pound weight break to compensate for horsepower. The complete rules can be found here. Some of the drivers expected to attend are, Larry Harrod of Plains, Ga. who won the last event at Albany. Also, Kit Sealey, Kelly Walker, Phillip Cobb, and Chase Edge will be some of the drivers expected to attend. Albany Motor Speedway became involved with Nesmith during the last off season. They met with Nesmith officials and signed an aggreement for weekly shows under the Nesmith umbrella. The reasoning is that the motors don't cost as much and everyone runs the same tires and if you run the weekly series at your track you get a national event. Drivers on the weekly series run regional points and have a chance to win $10,000 for winning region points.
I found out from Mr. Sumner that so far this season at Albany the racing has been outstanding. There has been a big fan turn out and fan involvement. In the 5 different classes they run at the track and of the 4 races they've run so far there have been 19, count them, 19 different winners. That has me hooked already. It also sounds like May 12th will be another exciting night for Albany with a mini stock shootout and a powerwheel race for the kids with all other classes running a regular schedule. I have to say things are really busy over in Albany so if you get a chance, go check them out. They are keeping things exciting. If any drivers or fans have any extra questions you can call Ben Sumner at 229-406-2167 or check out their website here.
I was greeted on the phone by a very pleasant sounding voice on the other line who, to my relief, was Ben Sumner Jr. I explained who I was and what I was calling for and was immediately put at ease when he let me know my questions were more than welcome and he was enthusiastic to share the news of Albany's big race weekend. This weekend, April 27 and 28, Albany Motor Speedway will host the Nesmith Chevrolet Series with Friday consisting of a full late model show that will include qualifying, a B main, and a 40 lap main event. They will also have a mini stock main event and qualifying for limited sportsman, pure stock, and enduro. Saturday will include a full late model program with the exception of the main event being 50 laps and also the features for pure stocks, limiteds, and enduros.
There will be other events at the track for the fans to be involved in. There will be clowns and goody bags for the children, a 50/50 raffle drawing to ride in a two seater late model, and a dunking booth which will include Ben Sumner himself as a dunk victim and other track officials. All money raised from these fan events will benefit the Cancer Society. A very worth while cause and made me respect a track with a heart. What could be better than helping others and having a good time doing it?
Approximately 40 late models are expected from over 6 different states for the series race. The Nesmith series is made up of dirt late models that compete on Hoosier tires and they can choose between two engine choices. The first, a 602 steel head crate Chevrolet motor or a 604 aluminum head Chevrolet crate motor. The drivers who run the 602 steel heads are given a 100 pound weight break to compensate for horsepower. The complete rules can be found here. Some of the drivers expected to attend are, Larry Harrod of Plains, Ga. who won the last event at Albany. Also, Kit Sealey, Kelly Walker, Phillip Cobb, and Chase Edge will be some of the drivers expected to attend. Albany Motor Speedway became involved with Nesmith during the last off season. They met with Nesmith officials and signed an aggreement for weekly shows under the Nesmith umbrella. The reasoning is that the motors don't cost as much and everyone runs the same tires and if you run the weekly series at your track you get a national event. Drivers on the weekly series run regional points and have a chance to win $10,000 for winning region points.
I found out from Mr. Sumner that so far this season at Albany the racing has been outstanding. There has been a big fan turn out and fan involvement. In the 5 different classes they run at the track and of the 4 races they've run so far there have been 19, count them, 19 different winners. That has me hooked already. It also sounds like May 12th will be another exciting night for Albany with a mini stock shootout and a powerwheel race for the kids with all other classes running a regular schedule. I have to say things are really busy over in Albany so if you get a chance, go check them out. They are keeping things exciting. If any drivers or fans have any extra questions you can call Ben Sumner at 229-406-2167 or check out their website here.
