HUNTSVILLE, AL (November 10, 2011)—The rich tradition of the ‘Gobbler’ continues with the 24th annual running of the East Tennessee classic on Saturday November 17th at Cleveland Speedway.

The Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series will once again sanction the annual event which pays tribute to track founder Joe Lee Johnson and pays $5,000 to win / $300 to start. There will be a complete show of Practice, VP Racing Fuels Time Trials, Hoosier Racing Tire Last Chance Showdowns and the 50-lap main event. Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC is the defending race winner while Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA picked up the 2010 event win.

This will mark the fifth and final appearance to the Cleveland Speedway by the Alabama-based racing series. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN won the Shamrock event that paid the two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion a cool $10,000 back in April. On May 12th Skip Arp of Georgetown, TN claimed the Tennessee Memorial event win then Billy Ogle Jr. claimed back-to-back wins for both the SAS and Cleveland Speedway by taking the Budweiser Jean Johnson Memorial event and the Stars & Stripes 40 event in August and September respectively.

In addition to the SAS Late Models, the Steel Head/LLM’s, Crate Late Models, A-Hobby, B-Hobby, Pony’s and Front Wheel Drives will compete on the racing card that night. The pit gates will open at 2:00 pm on November 17th with the grandstand gates opening at 3:00 pm and Driver’s Meeting will be slated for 6:00 pm.

After the Southern All Stars makes the Gobbler run, the series will roll East towards Gaffney, SC to Cherokee Speedway for the 22nd Annual Blue/Grey 100 paying $10,000 to win / $500 to start with over $34,000 in Late Model feature prize money going out the door on Sunday Afternoon November 18th.

Further information on the Cleveland Speedway can be obtained by calling the track at (423) 479-8574 or by visiting www.clevelandspeedway.net .Directions to Cleveland Speedway are to take I-75 to the first Cleveland Exit (if you’re coming south from Knoxville, it’s the Third Cleveland Exit), go east (away from Fireworks Bldg.) about a mile (first exit ramp) to Hwy. 11. Turn left (back under the overpass) on Hwy. 11, and go two blocks (past the car lots & Mr. Zip,) the Speedway is on the left.

Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN holds a 110 point lead over current runner-up and Rookie of the Year leader Mike Weeks of Friendsville, TN in the championship point standings. Shan Smith of Dade City, FL, Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, TN and Skip Arp of Georgetown, TN reside in third through fifth in series points. David Payne of Murphy, NC won the series’ most recent event at the Toccoa (GA) Speedway during the Georgia State Championship race on October 27th where he collected his first-career SAS victory over Casey Roberts of Toccoa, GA and Mike Weeks of Friendsville, TN.

Further information on the Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series can be obtained by calling General Manager Lynn Acklin at (256) 509-6603 or PR/Race Director Chris Tilley at (606) 219-1723 or you can log on to the official series website at www.sasdirt.com . Also, LIKE the Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series on Facebook or be a FOLLOWER on Twitter @SASDIRT.

SAS $5,000 to win Purse: 1) $5000, 2) $2500, 3) $1200, 4) $1000, 5) $800, 6) $700, 7) $600, 8) $550, 9) $500, 10) $475, 11) $450, 12) $425, 13) $400, 14) $350, 15) $300, 16) $300, 17) $300, 18) $300, 19) $300, 20) $300, 21) $300, 22) $300, 23) $300, 24) $300.

2012 Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series Sponsors
*Hoosier Racing Tire “The Official Race Tire” of the Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series
*VP Racing Fuels “The Official Fuel” of the Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series
*Arizona Sport Shirts “The Official Merchandise Vendor” of the Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series

2012 Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series Supporters Include: Schaeffer’s Racing Oil by Elaine White, Gotta Race, AR Bodies, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Cruise with the Champions, MSR Mafia Web Design and Service and H3 Performance Graphics.

Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series Championship Points (after October 27th)
1. Randy Weaver-1,148 (Crossville, TN)
2. Mike Weeks-1,038 (Friendsville, TN)
3. Shan Smith-818 (Dade City, FL)
4. Billy Ogle Jr.-672 (Knoxville, TN)
5. Skip Arp-544 (Georgetown, TN)
6. Riley Hickman-512 (Chattanooga, TN)
7. William Thomas-500 (Phenix City, AL)
8. Jake Knowles-458 (Tyrone, GA)
9. Mark Vineyard-454 (Powell, TN)
10. Ray Cook-440 (Brasstown, NC)

2012 Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series event winners:
# 1-April 7-Jimmy Owens-Newport, TN (Cleveland Speedway)
# 2-April 14-Vic Hill-Mosheim, TN (Smoky Mountain Speedway)
# 3-May 5-William Thomas-Phenix City, AL (Talladega Short Track)
# 4-May 12-Skip Arp-Georgetown, TN (Cleveland Speedway)
# 5-May 26-Randy Weaver-Crossville, TN (Whynot Motorsports Park)
# 6-May 27-Randy Weaver-Crossville, TN (Magnolia Motor Speedway)
# 7-June 16-Vic Hill-Mosheim, TN (Smoky Mountain Speedway)
# 8-June 23-Randy Weaver-Crossville, TN (Talladega Short Track)
# 9-July 28-Randy Weaver-Crossville, TN (Talladega Short Track)
# 10-August 18-Billy Ogle Jr.-Knoxville, TN (Cleveland Speedway)
# 11-September 15-Billy Ogle Jr.-Knoxville, TN (Cleveland Speedway)
# 12-September 22-Billy Ogle Jr.-Knoxville, TN (Smoky Mountain Speedway)
# 13-October 6-Randy Weaver-Crossville, TN (Talladega Short Track)
# 14-October 27-David Payne-Murphy, NC (Toccoa Speedway)

Remaining Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series events:
November 17-Cleveland Speedway-Cleveland, TN-$5,000 to win GOBBLER
November 18-Cherokee Speedway-Gaffney, SC-$10,000 BLUE/GREY 100