DIRT LATE MODELS AND BLACKSHEAR, GA ARE SYNONYMOUS IN SOUTH GEORGIA

Rhett Carter
By Roby Helm

SAVANNAH, GA – Whenever there is a big dirt late model race in South Georgia, the starting line-up will feature a good portion of the field filled by drivers from Blackshear, GA.  The 2016 Showdown In Savannah on October 6-8 at Oglethorpe Speedway Park should be no exception in its 75-lap $10,000-to-win $400-to-start Crate Late Model race.

   Cecil Eunice of Blackshear, GA is the defending and two-time champion that will be back to defend his Showdown In Savannah championship and take his third straight title after winning the coastal Festival of Speed last two years.  As in most races that Eunice competes in, several of his neighbors, all with the last name of Carter, will be making the trip to OSP.

“I’ve been racing longer than any of the Carters, and I live right in the middle of all of them,” Eunice said.  “We all live either on or close to Highway 84.  Rhett Carter is a half-mile in one direction of me, and Mike and Mark Carter live a half-mile on the other side of me.”

  Car owner Mike Carter, who for many years was a top South Georgia dirt late model pilot known as The Blackshear Bandit, will field a car for the Showdown in Savannah for Keith Tuten of Waycross, GA.  Mike’s brother Mark has his shop just 600 feet from Mike’s shop, and he will field two cars for his sons Hunter and Ryan Carter. 
   Another Carter, Rhett Carter, who is no relation to the other Carters of Blackshear, has nine wins this season, and is looking for better results at the Showdown In Savannah than he had in his last visit to OSP.

    “I’ve had a good year this season with nine wins, and we hope we can carry that momentum on to the Showdown In Savannah,” Rhett Carter said.  “I’m at least hoping for a better result than my last trip to Oglethorpe Speedway Park.  I got in a wreck on the first lap and broke my hand, but I continued in the race and still finished sixth.”

A    long with the Crate Late Models, the Super Stocks and the Super 4s will be in action for the 19^th Annual Showdown In Savannah with each Division competing in a 50-lap $5,000-to-win main event.  The Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks will each compete for 20 Laps and $1,500-to-win in their respective main events.  The Amateur 4 Division will also be in action with a 10-lap main event each night.

The Showdown In Savannah gives race fans an opportunity to see big track racing on a dirt surface, as Oglethorpe Speedway Park is the last standing half-mile dirt track in South Georgia and North Florida.  There have other dirt tracks in each area that have been half-mile in length, but they have either reduced in length or closed.  Only OSP has stood the test of time as a half-mile race track.

The on track action begins on Thursday night, October 6 with an Open Practice Session.  Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with practice from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Pit passes are $20 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under, and Grandstand admission will be $5.

Friday night, October 7 will feature Qualifying and Heat Races as preliminary events for the big show.  The Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks will run Heat and Feature Races on Friday night.  Gates open at 5 p.m. with Hot Laps and Qualifying for Crate Late Models and Super Stocks will be at 6:15 p.m.  Racing action is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

Pit passes on Friday night will be $30 for Adults, and $15 for children 12 and under.  General Admission Grandstand tickets will be $15 for Adults, $13 for Seniors and Military, and $5 for children 12 and under.

Saturday night, October 8 will see B-Main races and the big money feature events.  Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with Hot Laps at 6:20 p.m. and Racing scheduled for 7:30 p.m.  Pit passes are $40 for Adults and $20 for Children 12 and younger.  The Grandstand ticket prices are $20 for Adults, $18 for Seniors and Military, and $5 for children 12 and under.

                Oglethorpe Speedway Park is located Northwest of Savannah, GA at 200 Jesup Road, Pooler, GA  31322, or three miles east of I-95 at Exit 102 on U.S. Highway 80.  For more information call 912-964-8200, or visit them online at www.ospracing.net.  You can also like their Facebook page at Oglethorpe Speedway Park.