Is The Crate Invasion Coming ?

Opinions Are Like Buttholes, Here's Mine
by: Leo Johnson

 In 2012 Albany Motor Speedway made the change from the traditional NLMS engines to the Crate 604 Nesmith sanction late models for their top class of  late models and it was looking to be the start of a trend. After a year, the crates were dropped and things looked to have went back to normal in the traditional NLMS area but five years have passed and things are looking to change again. Remember, as I write this, I'm not looking to bash a track or series, nor am I trying to say one or the other is a better or more cost effective way to race. Its just my opinion, and you know what they say about those.

Crate racing has a great following all over the southeast. For example, I went live on Deep Dixie at the Ground Hog race at EAMS during the Nesmith Crate race. The live feed had over three hundred comments and before it was done it had over one hundred shares and one hundred thousand people had been reached. It was one of our most viewed non- advertised  races ever. Crate racing has taken to most of the southeast with the exception of South Georgia and Mid- South Florida. But Crates are moving in.

What Do You Think Is Wrong With Today's Nascar?

For What It's Worth, My 2 Cents
by: Dale Hall

I read a Wall Street Journal article today titled "Nascar, Once A Cultural Icon, Hits the Skids". That article got me to thinking about how, even though I still enjoy Nascar and it's products, racing at the highest level isn't as important to me as it once was. I suspect that many of you are in the same boat. The question is why? After a little bit of introspection, I came up with a few reasons as to why I think Nascar is in the it's current predicament. Before I share my thoughts on this subject, I was wanting to get the thoughts of any of you who may be concerned about the direction Nascar is headed in. Please, in a constructive way, let me know what your concerns are and what you think could and should be done to correct the situation. Please refrain from making derogatory and off-base comments. I will post this on the Deep Dixie Racing Facebook page. Please leave your comments there.

Wanted And Needed: Public Relations People To Help Promote Racing

For What It's Worth, My 2 Cents (Originally written in February 2018)
by: Dale Hall

This is just my opinion and mine only. I see a glaring absence of any organized effort to promote stock car racing and that needs to be rectified for the good of the sport. Too many tracks and racing series do not have dedicated public relations people and, if they do, they most often resort to a hodgepodge of efforts to get information about their track or series out to the public. The most prominent of those efforts rely on social media and even those efforts often have no rhyme or reason. Just think about how many different ways the tracks or series each of you know about disseminate information regarding their upcoming events.

I am not saying that social media doesn't have it's place in this day and age of electronic media. For sure it does. What I am saying is that the way we done things twenty or thirty years ago doesn't necessarily work anymore and we need to adapt with the changing and evolving technology if we want to see stock car racing survive and continue to grow, hopefully, in a coordinated effort.

Recap of the 3rd Annual Groundhog Classic at EAMS February 4, 2017

Submitted by Lamar McClellan
Photo Credits: Eric Gano, EPA-Photography

Cory Hedgecock

NESMITH Crate LM:
1 - #23 Corey Hedgcock - from 7th starting spot to the lead by lap 6 - worked the top right to the lead.
2 - #18E Chase Edge - started 4th, fell back to 8th, steadily worked his way back up to 2nd.
3 - #12 Ashton Winger - lead early, fell back to 4th, back up to 2nd, then 3rd.
4 - #55 Montana Dudley - started 6th, ran as high as 2nd, pushed high off 2 and dropped back to 4th.
5 - #101 Forrest Trent - started 3rd, dropped back to 9th early, then steadily moved back into the top 5.

Joseph Brown

EAMS LM:
1 - #92 Joseph Brown - this race was over when JB took the green flag, though #5T Thomas Lewis made a good run near the end to make it look good.
2 - #5T Thomas Lewis - started 8th and was up to P2 by lap 6.
3 - #55 Montana Dudley - started 6th, up to 3rd early, then back to 5th, then back to 3rd.
4 - #1D Dalton Cook - started 4th, ran as high as 3rd, as low as 5th, then back up to 4th.
5 - #47 Tyler Crowder - started an uncharacteristic 11th, was in the top 5 by lap 15.

Donovan Singer

602 LM Sportsman:
1 - #6 Donovan Singer - started 2nd and lead every lap
2 - #25 Wiley McDaniel, Jr. - started 5th, moved up steadily to P2
3 - #23 Ahnna Parkhurst - RCR development driver started 6th, settled into P3 by lap 5
4 - #22 Danny Stroud - started 3rd, fell back to 6th, then moved back up
5 - #17 Kevin Bennett - started 11th, up to P6 by lap 6, with 2 to go had moved into the top 5

Jason Price

Hobby:
1 - #17 Jason Price - dominated this class same as Joseph Brown did his class, though #21 Corey Dunn made it interesting at the end.
2 - #21 Corey Dunn - started 4th and was up to 2nd within 5 laps where he got stronger and stronger as the race went on, actually reaching Price's bumper late in the going
3 - #1 Ben Steele - started 2nd but gave way to Dunn early and ran P3 the rest of the way.
4 - #31 Richie Grantham - started 5th, fell back to 7th, then settled into P4 by lap 7.
5 - #0 Blake Harmon - started 9th, had altercation with #92 on lap 2 and again on lap 6, but settled down and moved into the top 5 with 2 to go.

Steve Pate

Street Stock:
1 - #07 Steve Pate - started 4th, up to P3 on lap 2, P2 on lap 3, and the lead on lap 7.
2 - #4 Tyler Brown - started 2nd, lead the 1st 6 laps, the P2 the remainder
3 - #3 Larry Faulk - started last after DQ in his heat, broke into the top 5 by lap 6, P4 on lap 10, and P3 on lap 12.
4 - #69 Jason Harrison - started 3rd, took 2nd on the start, back to P3 on lap 5, then P4 on lap 12
5 - #2 Brian Hansford - started 8th, moved up to P5 on lap 13

Chandler Diem

Road Warrior:
1 - #999 Chandler Diem - started on the pole, but was involved in a wreck on lap 1 and restarted last, was back up to P5 by lap 4, spun on lap 5 and back to the rear, back to P5 by lap 10, moved to 2nd on lap 12, took the lead on lap 14 and never looked back.
2 - #16 Robert Price - started 2nd, lead from lap 1 to lap 14
3 - #17 Bo Robinson - started 3rd, lead the 1st aborted start, ran 2nd early but fell little by little back to 5th before moving back up to 3rd.
4 - #41 Wesley Burke - started 5th, ran as high as 2nd, as low as 5th
5 - #113 Josh Childers - started 11th, persevered up to top 5 by lap 13

Jonathan Merritt

Hot Shots:
1 - #5J  Johnathan Merritt - started outside pole and lead every lap
2 - #5M Terry Merritt - started 6th, P5 on lap 1, P4 on lap 3, P3 on lap 6, and P2 just past half way
3 - #1 Lee Hutchinson - started on the pole, ran P2 until just past half way
4 - #8 Victoria Purcell - started 8th, moved up to P5 by lap 3 and P4 by lap 6.
5 - #2 - Patrick Harrelson - started 9th and moved into the top 5 by lap 6.

That's a wrap on the 3rd Annual Groundhog Classic.

Ben Sumner Talks About The Upcoming Rhino AG Super Bowl Of Racing

Just A Little Racing Action To Whet The Appetite

Many of us are getting racing fever this time of year. Having been deprived of any significant racing action in and around the area one lives is responsible for said fever. Alas, hope is just around the corner. Speed weeks will be kicking off soon and a lot of racing events will soon be available to all the stock car racing fans. Just this past weekend, we at Deep Dixie Racing were able to take in the Hangover Classic at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala. Here is video of one of the features which was run this past Saturday night.

Fastrak Champion Knight Ready For Showdown In Savannah At OSP

Cla Knight of North Augusta, SC celebrates winning his second Fastrak Pro Late Model Championship with his family and crew at Lavonia Speedway in Lavonia, GA on November 20.  Knight made Fastrak history in 2016 by becoming the first driver to win the Southeast Region and Mid-Ohio Valley Region Championships in the same season driving the Augusta Aquatics Longhorn.  (Photo By Jule Coffee )  

SAVANNAH, GA – The 2016 Fastrak Pro Late Model Southeast and Mid-Ohio Valley Champion Cla Knight of North Augusta, SC will be one of the top entrants at the $10,000-to-win 19th Annual Showdown In Savannah for Crate Late Models this Thursday through Saturday at Oglethorpe Speedway Park.

Knight is a driver that has come into his own in the second half of the 2016 season with wins and top five finishes in some of the biggest Crate Late Model Races in the Southeastern United States. Knight made Fastrak history this season by becoming the first driver to win both the Southeast Region and the Mid-Ohio Valley Region Championships in the same season.

 “After winning the Rookie of the Year and placing fourth in points in two Regions last year, to back it up with Championships in both Regions made it a fun and satisfying season,” Knight said. “This season, I had more experience with a full notebook from the 2015 season to take back to tracks, we upgraded our equipment, and I made better decisions as a driver.”

 Knight won four Fastrak Weekly Racing Series events in 2016, but he seemed to come into his own during the Labor Day Weekend three-race Fastrak East Coast Rumble. Knight opened the trio of races with a Regional win at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN, and then followed that up with his second win in three days at Wythe Raceway in Wytheville, VA.

 In two trips to East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL, Knight finished fourth in the Alabama State Championship Race in October, and followed that up with a second-place finish in the National 100 in November. Knight has experience, and more importantly, success at Oglethorpe Speedway Park.

 “I like Oglethorpe Speedway Park and I’ve had some good runs there in the past,” Knight said. “I’ve got a lot of top three finishes there and I finished second last year in the Showdown In Savannah. We run a different compound of tire at the Showdown than we run with Fastrak, so I’m looking forward to getting down there on Thursday to get everything dialed in.”

 Knight will face some tough competition for the 19th Annual Showdown In Savannah. Top entrants will include World of Outlaw hot shoe Brandon Overton of Anderson, SC, who will be driving for former Showdown winning car owner Bobby Kay who had Tuck Trentham driving. Superman Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA will also be looking for the $10,000 top prize.

 The defending Showdown In Savannah winner Cecil Eunice of Blackshear, GA will return to defend his title. Also entered is Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL, Robert Diekemper of Bloomingdale, GA, Travis Pennington of Stapleton, GA, and Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL.

 Along with the Crate Late Models, the Super Stocks and the Super 4s will be in action for the 19th 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 Crate Late Models are powered by economical Chevrolet Performance 604 Circle Track Engines that are built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. Kelcar Motorsports will provide the personnel to scrutinize the Crate Engines and collect tire samples in the Tech Area during the post-race inspection.

 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, December 1 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 action 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 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.