HUNTSVILLE, AL (May 1, 2013)—The Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series will add another crew member to the tour after the official hiring of Michael Despain this week.
Despain, a native of Campbellsville, KY will join Owner Matt Wagner (Huntsville, AL), General Manager Lynn Acklin (Huntsville, AL), Race Director Chris Tilley (Somerset, KY) and series officials Rick Owens (Clinton, TN), Lynn Palmer (Knoxville, TN), Chris Wagner (Huntsville, AL) and Wayne Maybrier (Somerset, KY) as member of the SAS crew beginning this weekend as the series visits Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL on Saturday May 4th for a 40-lap $4,000 to win event in conjunction with the NASCAR Weekend events at Talladega Super Speedway. Despain has already called the Smoky Mountain (March 23rd) and Tazewell (April 6th) series events from behind the microphone.
Despain’s long tenure in dirt track racing goes back to the early 1990’s in which he started at Mannsville (KY) Kart Raceway and also a stint with the Kentucky Karting Association. His dirt Late Model background goes back to the mid-90’s with stints at Barren County (KY) Speedway and Bluegrass (KY) Speedway then it was off to Brownstown (IN) Speedway for three seasons before returning to his home state of Kentucky to work at Bluegrass Speedway for ten years until the track closed in 2011. Despain has done work for various organizations including the Battle of the Bluegrass Series, National All Star Racing Association, Lake Cumberland (KY) Speedway and former internet broadcasts for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series from 2005-2007.
Despain will continue his duties as P.R. Director and Announcer on Friday Night’s at Larry, Chad and Sarah Yantz’s Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY and P.R. Director duties with the Summit Racing Equipment American Modified Series. Further information can be obtained by calling Despain at (270) 572-1227, e-mail him at mgdespain@windstream.net or follow him on Twitter @MichaelDespain.