Series | Karnac Racing News

Donny Schatz Brings Out The Broom At Bubba Raceway Park!

Jim Rouse, BRP Media, Ocala, FL – The UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions and UMP DirtCar Modifieds made it an exciting week-end for fans with 3 different winners in 4 feature races. Kyle Strickler was quickest of the week-end in the Modifieds and set a record of 16.244 (83.11 MPH) around the 3/8 mile while Donny Schatz was Kistler Engines Fast Qualifier for the ASCOC at 11.982 (112.67 MPH). Over the course of the week-end Strickler and Daryn Pittman set new track records when Pittman went 11.840 (114.02 MPH) and Strickler set his 16.244.
In feature race action Kyle Strickler made easy work of pole sitter Nick Hoffman and went to work setting the pace. A couple of minor cautions kept the field bunched up but drivers such as Jeff Mathews found themselves a lap down by night’s end. On lap 22 of 30 Dalton Meyers spun his #33X in turn 1 with Strickler and team-mate Nate Caruth in front of Hoffman, Friday night winner Rodney Sanders, and Dave Hess, Jr. The top 4 stayed the same to the checkers but Matt Westfall jumped into the top 5 as Hess fell to 6th. Strickler, “The High Side Tickler” went to work and made some donuts before going to Coors Light Winners Circle $5000 richer!
Dale “Lowrider” Blaney won the Dash for the All Stars and took a massive lead from his pole position. Tim Shaffer led a lap for a brief moment before Blaney used lapped traffic, which had just slowed him down, to take a lead bigger than what he had before. However, with 10 to go “The King” Steve Kinser saw a right rear tire go flat- adding to his woeful 2 nights at Bubba Raceway Park- and he hindered Blaney as he tried to exit the track. Donny Schatz seized the chance to overtake Shaffer and Blaney and he pulled away in his STP #15. Shaffer would stay 2nd while Tony Stewart jumped into 3rd. Schatz nearly lost the lead in traffic but Shaffer couldn’t attack and allowed 5-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz to sweep the week-end at Bubba Raceway Park and grab a cool $7000. (more…)

By Scott|2013-02-10T21:57:00-05:00February 10th, 2013|Artic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, Bubba Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News|Comments Off

Competition is Stout at UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit

The five-day sprint car event begins on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Volusia Speedway Park

BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Feb. 6, 2013 – The Florida freeways are littered with a variety of multicolored rigs headed for the sun to kick off the 2013 season.

Approximately 40 sprint cars are expected at Volusia Speedway Park for the 42^nd annual UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment, which starts with a practice session on Tuesday, Feb. 12, before two nights of UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions competition and three nights of World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series action on the world’s fastest half mile.

While the usual Outlaws are set to begin another chase at the championship, a group of top-notch talent from across the country isn’t racing for points. They’re after the loot and the unique gator trophy.

Former World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series champion Danny Lasoski heads the drivers who will compete on the tour sparingly. Lasoski, who claimed two of the five features and the series’ season opener last year, has earned a record 19 feature victories at Volusia Speedway Park.

“I don’t know if its pep in our step, but it’s definitely confidence,” he said. “You’ve been cooped up all winter and you’re just excited to be here. As luck would have it we run pretty well there, too.

“Mostly, the race track fits my driving. I love the big, fast half miles.”

Lasoski isn’t the only former winner headed to Volusia Speedway Park.

Dale Blaney won twice last season – the Commonwealth Clash at Lernerville Speedway and the Sixth annual PEAK Motor Oil World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by NAPA Auto Parts at The Dirt Track at Charlotte – to give the 1998 Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year eight career victories. (more…)

By Scott|2013-02-07T00:36:29-05:00February 7th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Sprint Cars, Upcoming Events, Volusia Speedway Park|Comments Off

Volusia Speedway Park Is Ready For 12 Nights Of Action During UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment

Stage Will Be Set For Sunshine State’s Festival Of Speed Feb. 12-23 After Saturday’s Open Practice Session

BARBERVILLE, FL – Feb. 1, 2013 – The time has come for engines to fire, wheels to turn and clay to fly at Volusia Speedway Park.

This Saturday (Feb. 2) the famed D-shaped, half-mile oval outside Daytona Beach springs to life for the first time in 2013, hosting a four-hour practice session (3-7 p.m.) open to racers from all divisions that will set the stage for the 42^nd UNOH DIRTcar Nationals Presented by Summit Racing Equipment. The track’s blockbuster meet featuring Sprint Cars, dirt Late Models, Big-Block Modifieds and UMP Modifieds runs from Feb. 12-23.

“We can’t wait to get rolling,” said DIRTcar Northeast marketing director Jeff Hachmann, who migrated south to Florida in December to oversee marketing efforts and other details of the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit. “A lot of people have been working hard for a couple months to get the facility ready for one of the country’s biggest dirt-track events of the season, so it’s going to be exciting for all of us to finally see cars get back out there on the track this Saturday.”

A group of World Racing Group staffers – led by Lernerville Speedway general manager Gary Risch Jr. and also including track-prep specialists Larry Fink and Chad Alchier, World of Outlaws Late Model Series pit steward Tyler Bachman, DIRTcar Northeast electrician Dave Dixon, Lernerville employee Jeremy Timko and Volusia office manager Shelly Minchew – have joined together to spearhead preparation of Volusia’s track surface, grounds and infrastructure for February’s racing spectacular. Among the improvements that visitors to the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals by Summit will notice are improved lighting in the lower ‘Gator Pond’ pit area and newly-erected bleachers in the upper pit area. (more…)

By Scott|2013-02-03T22:31:30-05:00February 3rd, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, World of Outlaws|Comments Off

Southern All Stars opens Money Month of March with opener at Cherokee Speedway March 3rd

HUNTSVILLE, AL (February 1, 2013)—The Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series will open a four-race stretch in March with four events totaling nearly $100,000 in prize money.

On Sunday March 3^rd the series will roll back into Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC for their 11^th annual March Madness event paying $10,000 to win / $500 to start as the SAS Late Models will co-sanction the event with the Battle of the Eastern All Stars Tour (BEAST). Over $31,000 in prize money will be paid out for this event. The series last visited Cherokee in November 2012 when Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN scored his first-career SAS event win with the annual Blue/Grey 100.

The series will then race on Saturday March 9^th at Cleveland Speedway in Cleveland, TN for the 18^th Annual Shamrock 50 paying $10,000 to win / $500 to start. After the Shamrock, the series races on March 16^th at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL for the 28^th Annual Jimmy Thomas Memorial paying $4,000 to win. The series then winds down a busy March schedule with a 40-lap $5,000 to win event at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN on Saturday March 23^rd for the annual Rockin’ with the Stars event. (more…)

By Scott|2013-02-03T22:28:29-05:00February 3rd, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Southern All Stars|Comments Off

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Drivers Steve Francis and Jimmy Owens Dominate Down Under

WAYCROSS, GA (February 1, 2013) – A pair of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers have dominated the racing action “down under” in Australia over the past month. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY are undefeated in feature competition, with Owens wrapping up his trip this weekend.

Francis captured the Australian National Title a year ago, and won every preliminary and feature event he participated in. He began this season’s trip back in December and ended his trip in late January. In commanding fashion, he led every lap in all of his events. Francis, who will be piloting the Georgia Boot-sponsored, Barry Wright Race Cars #15, for Clint Bowyer Racing on the LOLMDS tour in 2013, drove for both Michael Holmes and Bruce McKenzie in Australia.

The “Kentucky Colonel” kicked off the Wild West Tour on December 26th at Perth Motorplex in Kwinana, Western Australia. He quickly captured the opening preliminary feature event and then followed it up the following night by winning the main event. Francis then ventured to Manjimup Speedway in Middlesex, Western Australia on December 29th. He ended up in victory lane once again after winning the feature event. He wrapped up the Wild West Tour title by winning at Collie Speedway in Collie, Western Australia on January 5th, staying undefeated at that point of his trip. (more…)

By Scott|2013-02-03T21:59:32-05:00February 3rd, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series|Comments Off

PASS North To Be Well Represented By Young New Englanders at Florida Winter Meltdown

NAPLES, ME (January 31) – There’s something about Florida in February that’s been attracting the best drivers in racing for the better part of a century. From the “North Turn” at Daytona’s world famous beach to short tracks stretching from the Panhandle to Miami, racers have flocked to the Sunshine State every winter. And 2013 will be no different. Florida’s “big race” season is set to begin in just over a week as some of the best of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) make the trek down to Auburndale Speedway for the Winter Meltdown. The first PASS National Series race of the year is attracting Super Late Model drivers from all over North America in the hopes of wrestling the checkered flag away from the top short track hot shoes in Florida.
PASS North will be represented well by a trio of young drivers joining two-time PASS National Series Champion Ben Rowe in making the long trip down South. D.J. Shaw, Kyle Desousza, and Joey Doiron have all found success racing in New England’s top short track series. Shaw is coming off a successful return to the PASS North Series in 2012 that saw him score two wins and finish third in points. Evidence that the Precision JLM/Mulkern Excavating team could be poised for a PASS National Championship this year.
“We’re really looking forward to getting the season started in Florida,” said Shaw. “Auburndale looks like a driver’s track and I’m really anxious to see if we can continue the momentum we ended with last year.”

(more…)

By Scott|2013-02-03T07:12:56-05:00February 3rd, 2013|Auburndale Speedway, Featured, Front Page News, Pro All Stars Series|Comments Off

RIGHT FOOT RONNY BACK IN VICTORY LANE AFTER THIRD NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS WIN

OCALA, FL – Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, AL returned to familiar ground on Friday night at Bubba Raceway Park as he pulled his Sparks Motorsports Special into victory lane for the third time in four nights after winning the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented By Racecar Engineering 40-lap main event.

Hollingsworth started fifth and worked his way to the front of the pack to take the lead on the sixth lap. Right Foot Ronny then held off a late race challenge from Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA to take the $2,000 victory.

“We’ve been good here since we unloaded for practice on Monday, and tonight we just tried to stay out of trouble in the early laps,” Hollingsworth said. “Once we took the lead we were committed to the bottom of the race track. I got into Davenport one time, and I apologize for that, but I guess that’s just part of racing trying to hold your ground.”

(more…)

By Scott|2013-02-03T01:02:48-05:00February 3rd, 2013|Bubba Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series|Comments Off

BRONSON WINS WILD NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS BRP SPEEDWEEKS NIGHT THREE RACE

OCALA, FL – Kyle Bronson of Brandon, FL survived a wild NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 40-lap main event on Thursday night to win the Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented By Racecar Engineering event at Bubba Raceway Park. Bronson swapped the lead on several occasions before taking the $2,000 win driving the Brandon Ford Warrior.

Bronson led the first 14 laps of the race before dropping back to the fourth spot, but he rallied back to survive a tangle in front of him between the top two cars. That incident led to Bronson reclaiming the lead on lap 32.

Bronson then held off a challenge from two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN to take his first series career win with a 1.216 second margin of victory. Bronson finished second in the 40-lap NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented By Racecar Engineering event on Tuesday night.

“There were slid jobs being thrown all over the place tonight, so when I saw how we were going to race, I got in there with them,” Bronson said. “There is some great competition here, so it feels great to win and we’re looking forward to the rest of the week.”

(more…)

By Scott|2013-02-03T01:09:16-05:00February 1st, 2013|Bubba Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series|Comments Off

RIGHT FOOT RONNY ON A ROLL IN NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS BRP ACTION

OCALA, FL – Ronny Lee Hollingsworth is on a roll in NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Rock Auto.com Speedweeks Presented By Racecar Engineering action at Bubba Raceway Park. Right Foot Ronny made it two straight on Wednesday night with a win in the 40-lap main event driving the Sparks Motorsports Special.

Hollingsworth claimed his ground in the Bubba Raceway Park Victory Lane and hoisted the $2,000 check after taking a 2.340 second margin of victory over Walker Arthur of Forest, VA, who finished second in the Cecil B. Arthur Beef Farms Special. Justin McRee of Cottondale, AL took the third spot in the High Roller Race Cars Special.

After the first two nights of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series competition, Hollingsworth has a perfect 200 points and holds a 14 point advantage over McRee, who is in the second spot in the points chase with 186. Hollingsworth made it a “clean sweep” on Wednesday night by setting fast time honors, winning his ten-lap heat race, and taking the main event.

Shan Smith of Dade City, FL was fourth in the Outlaw Race Parts TNT and defending NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Champion Chase Washington of Houlka, MS finished fifth in the Jerry Inmon Racing Special. Ryan Montgomery of Fairmount, WV started 18^th in the Central Supply Warrior and finished sixth to earn the Hedman Husler of the Race Award.

Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, FL took the seventh spot in the Harrod Logging Special and two-time NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Champion David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN was eighth in the Eads Farms/Hardy & Associates Warrior. Jeff Mathews of Valrico, FL drove the CURS Warrior to a ninth-place finish. Austin Kirkpatrick of Ocala, FL rounded out the top ten in the Sonny’s BBQ Special and was the Rookie of the Race. (more…)

By Scott|2013-01-31T16:18:08-05:00January 31st, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series|Comments Off

EAGLE JET JOINS TOP GUN SPRINTS IN 2013

01/30/2013 – Top Gun Sprint Series is very proud to welcome Rick Gabor and Eagle Jet International on board as our title sponsor in 2013. Rick has long been a sponsor and supporter of auto racing in many venues. His experience and knowledge will be an invaluable asset.

Eagle Jet International’s association with the National Center for Prevention and Research Solutions (NCPRS) will also be involved with TGSS with their Race Against Drugs Stay on Track Activity Books. These will be presented to the tracks for distribution to children attending the races to encourage them to live drug free and healthier lives.

Since the inception of the company in 1996, Eagle Jet International has become the largest Airline Pilot First Officer training company in the world. Eagle Jet International has trained pilots to fly for every U.S. regional airline, as well as several European and Sky Team Alliance airlines throughout the world. Eagle Jet, through their three year commitment of support, will take the Top Gun Sprint Series to another level and allow many more opportunities to promote dirt sprint car racing.

For more information about Eagle Jet International, please visit www.eaglejet.com

By Scott|2013-01-31T03:20:30-05:00January 31st, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Racing News, Top Gun Sprints|Comments Off