By ROB LEE
WAYNESVILLE, Ga. (Aug. 24) – The stroll down pit road at Golden Isles Speedway this Saturday evening may provide evidence of increased intensity by the NeSmith Performance Street Stock race teams.
Preparation will jump into high gear after the announcement this week to bring the NeSmith Performance Street Stock World Championship to GIS. The 100-lap event will be part of the third annual Showdown On the Coast Oct. 13-15 and will send $10,000 home with the winner.
Saturday’s $2,000-to-win Super Challenge 5 Series will be a powerful preparation on the 4/10-mile, red gumbo red clay oval.
Shaun Washam leads the SC5 after three races. Brian Wooten’s stellar season has him atop the regular NPSS points.
“Our season has been up and down,” Washam said of his Auto Dispatch, Inc./H and S Car Carriers/Queen Enterprises Chevrolet racing out of Nahunta, Ga. “We started off real good, started trying new things on the car and it hasn’t worked out the way we hoped. But we learned some things and what not to do. All in all it’s been a good season.”
“Season has been better than we ever imagined,” Wooten said. “We’ve won six out of nine races, including a couple big shows. I’m just blessed beyond measure.”
Wooten’s Glynn Radiator/Jack’s Tire and Brake/First Coast Hydraulic/Allen’s Pro Trailer Service/Rocketman Race Cars/Chancey and Meyers Motorsports Chevy has one of the three SC5 wins so far. Donnie Ashford and Kyle Livingood have the others.
Both have the one-race-at-a-time mentality, but know it is hard not to look ahead to the big race for big bucks in October.
“I think it’s a huge deal for GIS,” Washam said. “To have that much money on the line you will have a big car count and plenty of good racing.”
“I love the fact the biggest race of the year is coming to my home track,” the Brunswick B-Dub Express said. “I’d love to see 100-plus cars show up. Racing in the south doesn’t get any better. To make the show would be the goal and accomplishment on that weekend.”
Washam, Ashford, Wooten and Livingood are separated by only five SC5 points. Wooten tops Brian Grantham for the track title so far.
The NPSS are joined this Saturday by race four for the Limited Late Model SC5.
Ace Adam Collins was just glad to drive the car on the trailer last time at GIS.
The Hoboken, Ga. driver’s third place Limited Late Model finish on July 23 was the complete opposite of his DNF two weeks earlier. at Golden Isles Speedway. The run also was a good tune up for this SC5 line with the winner also paid $2,000.
“I think there’s going to be a stout group of cars for this Challenge race,” Collins said. “Maybe we will have some good weather and some great racing like all of the Challenge races have been.”
The show position finish jumped him to eighth in the SC5 heading into series race number four and he runs third in overall track points wheeling the Century Metal Roofing Supply/Hills Lawn Service Russell Brown Race Car chassis.
“I would rate my season as a 5,” Collins added. “I’ve had a rough start to the year compared to where we left off at the end of last year, but it is steadily picking back up.”
Scott Waters leads Woodrow Mullis and the tie for third of Lonnie Roberts and Cecil Eunice. Collins trails Mullis and Waters in regular track points.
Collins will try to become the fourth different SC5 winner after Michael Lloyd, Eunice and Ryan Carter.
EMods, Super Streets, Enduros and 440s also are on the card.
Hot laps are set for 7 p.m. with qualifying and racing to follow.
For more information log on to goldenislesspeedway.com, the track’s Facebook page or call 912-778-3767
