Series | Karnac Racing News

$5K-TO-WIN GREENVILLE SPEEDWAY GUMBO NATIONALS UP NEXT FOR THE NeSMITH CHEVROLET DLMS

CARTERSVILLE, GA – The red hot 2012 NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Touring Division $20,000 Championship battle returns to Greenville Speedway in Greenville, MS this Friday night and Saturday night for the $5,000-to-win 60-lap 6^th Annual Gumbo Nationals. Just 18 points separate the top two drivers in the point standings with two races left in the season.

Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series standings with 1,688 points based on one win, eight top five finishes, 15 top ten finishes and one fast time award in 20 starts driving the Hedman Husler Special. Turner has three NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS career wins, and two of those have come at Greenville Speedway.

Turner is looking for his first NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series title after being the only driver to have competed in every series event held since its inception in 2005. Turner has had a runner-up, and two thirds in the point standings, and would like to celebrate in his hometown at the head table of the NeSmith Chevrolet Awards Banquet in January at the Thunder Road Museum and Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville, GA. (more…)

By Scott|2012-10-03T02:53:12-04:00October 3rd, 2012|Featured, Front Page News, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series|Comments Off

Campbell, Hemric, Bice and Atkinson Win at the CRA Fall Brawl

Clermont, IN (September 30, 2012) – On a bright sunny fall afternoon at CRA’s MEP Fall Brawl 2012 presented by Ultra Cool Brake Fans one driver lead 85 of 100 laps and did not win, in another race a driver lead 56 of 100 laps, and did not win, while two drivers lead over 90% of the laps in their races on their way to win. The day also had two of the CRA divisions Season Championships decided, one lead grew slightly and one lead changed hands in a very tight battle.

In the Jack Links Beef Jerky 100 presented by Assembly Products and Great Deals ARCA/CRA Super Series, John Hunter Nemechek jumped out to the lead on the fifth lap and held it until a caution on lap 90. On the restart Brian Campbell took the lead while Nemechek and Johnny VanDoorn came together with Nemechek spinning while VanDoorn continued. Series point leader VanDoorn had started on the tail of the race after finishing second in the Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway on Saturday night and missing ARCA/CRA Super Series practice and qualifying. (more…)

By Scott|2012-10-02T15:12:24-04:00October 2nd, 2012|CRA Racing Series, Featured, Front Page News|Comments Off

NASCAR Weekend at Talladega Means Return by Southern All Stars for HUGE Weekend

HUNTSVILLE, AL (September 30, 2012)—Randy Weaver wants a third win at Talladega!

In two previous visits by the 30-year-old Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series to “The Hornet’s Nest” the Crossville, TN driver and two-time series Champ has visited victory lane in a good track record. Weaver’s first win came on June 23^rd during the Inaugural B.J. Parker Memorial when he rallied from a 12^th starting spot to capture the $3,500 victory. Then on July 28^th, he came from his fourth starting spot to capture the 15^th Annual Michael Head Jr. Memorial event win and $3,500.

This weekend, the SAS rolls back into TST as the track presents their second weekend of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Weekend specials in conjunction with Talladega Super Speedway next door. The track will host an un-sanctioned $2,000 to win event on Friday Night October 5^th then the SAS drivers will do battle on Saturday Night October 6^th paying $3,500 to win / $300 to start the 40-lap event. This is the series’ fourth and final visit of the season. William Thomas of Phenix City, AL won the series’ previous NASCAR weekend visit on May 5^th in another exciting battle. (more…)

By Scott|2012-10-01T20:21:17-04:00October 1st, 2012|Featured, Front Page News, Southern All Stars|Comments Off

UARA Championship Contenders Turn Up the Heat for Anderson

Hendersonville, NC (10/1/12) –With time running out for the 2012 racing season, UARA-STARS have turned up the heat for the final three event of the season. Having the top four championship contenders finish in the top four of the last event, things are getting tense as they travel to Anderson Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 6^th.

Current Points leader, Travis Swaim, dominated the last event at Lonesome Pine. Not only did he win his seventh Sunoco Pole, but brought home his first UARA career win. His win came from patience, talent, and the determination not to give up. When he crossed that finish line, two determine Rookie drivers were right behind him in his rear view mirror, Dillon Bassett and Sean Rayhall.

Bassett’s flawless performance was a perfect reflection of his rookie season. He adds the pressure to Swaim by only being 93 points behind him in the points standings. Rayhall has really stepped up his game during the second half of the season. His two wins and consistent top finishes have placed him third in championship points.

During the last visit to Anderson, Scott Turlington won the pole along with his first UARA win. With his past success at Anderson, his 58 point gap behind Rayhall could tighten up. (more…)

By Scott|2012-10-01T20:14:31-04:00October 1st, 2012|Featured, Front Page News, UARA-STARS|Comments Off

NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week Begins This Week!

41st year of award-winning event promises to be bigger than ever

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Oct. 1, 2011 -Thousands of race fans and race teams are eagerly awaiting the gates to open for the 41^st NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week, which runs Wednesday through Sunday at the New York State Fairgrounds.

One of the most historic events in dirt racing, NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week received the National Speedway Directory Award for Outstanding Annual Short Track Event in 2011 , and this year promises to have even more energy. Together with longtime sponsor VP Racing Fuels, new partners NAPA Auto Parts and Gander Mountain are helping to make this year’s Super DIRT Week bigger than ever.

The “Moody Mile” puts man and machine to the limit. It’s where Buzzie Reutimann claimed the first two Syracuse titles in the early ’70s, where Gary Balough and the Batmobile sparked debate and domination, where Kenny Brightbill took advantage of a late-race mistake by two-time winner Jimmy Horton in 1988, where Alan Johnson won from last starting position after a late race crash involving the top-two in 1989, it’s where Kenny Tremont ran out of gas twice on the final lap while leading, where Vic Coffey pulled off the biggest upset of them all in 2002, and where Billy Decker, Frank Cozze and Stewart Friesen have exceeded the limits of gas mileage on their quests to victory. (more…)

By Scott|2012-10-01T13:41:21-04:00October 1st, 2012|Featured, Front Page News, Super DirtCar Series|Comments Off

Schatz Snags Record Fifth National Open in 50th Edition

Dollansky crashes while leading with 16 laps remaining in the $50,000-to-win event

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Sept. 29, 2012 – As he rolled down the frontstretch toward Victory Lane, his cockpit opening facing the packed grandstands, Donny Schatz issued a slight grin as a chorus of boos echoed around Williams Grove Speedway.

The smile widened on a chilly Saturday as he was showered in confetti for claiming his record fifth National Open in the 50^th edition of the famed World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series event, which paid $50,000 to win.

“This is huge,” he said. “Pretty awesome to be the only one with five National Open wins. It’s fun to be able to get to Victory Lane at this place.”

It was Schatz’s first World of Outlaws win at Williams Grove Speedway since 2008 and his 12^th career Outlaws victory at the half-mile track. It also marked his second win this season in one of the three “big money” races.

While the victories and money are significant, Schatz now holds a 158-point advantage in the World of Outlaws championship race with only five features remaining this season.

“It says a lot about the team,” said Schatz, who also won his sixth $150,000-to-win Goodyear Knoxville Nationals in August. “Earlier in the summer we couldn’t see rock bottom from where we were. We picked ourselves up. We’ve done everything we’ve needed to do. We’ve won the races. We’ve finished second or third when we can’t win the races, and that’s what you’ve got to do to put yourself in a championship position and we’re in a good position right now.” (more…)

By Scott|2012-09-30T18:18:19-04:00September 30th, 2012|Featured, Front Page News, Sprint Cars|Comments Off

Fuller Eyes World of Outlaws Late Model Series Triumph At Rolling Wheels Raceway Park On Thursday Night (Oct. 4)

Return To Victory Lane On National Tour High On Fuller’s To-Do List For NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week

ELBRIGE, NY – Sept. 30, 2012 – Tim Fuller’s primary objective for NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week XLI is claiming the $50,000 prize for winning the DIRTcar big-block Modified VP Small Engine Fuels 200 at the one-mile New York State Fairgrounds oval.

But make no mistake – there’s another race Fuller has on his to-do list during one of the country’s biggest short-track extravaganzas, which runs from Oct. 3-7 in central New York. He wants to stand in Victory Lane after the 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series A-Main on Thursday night (Oct. 4) at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park.

“I would love to win that race,” Fuller said of the mid-week program at the five-eighths-mile Rolling Wheels oval, which hosts the WoO LMS during NAPA Super DIRT Week for the second consecutive year. “That’s a show I’m really looking forward to.”

Fuller, 44, of Watertown, N.Y., has reason to be excited about the NAPA Super DIRT Week satellite event. For starters, the race will mark his first WoO LMS appearance at an Empire State track he frequented as a DIRTcar big-block Modified regular since he joined the top-notch Kennedy Motorsports dirt Late Model team in late July. He also happens to run very well at the ‘Fast Track,’ owning multiple DIRTcar big-block Modified feature wins and recent WoO LMS finishes of fourth (2010) and fifth (’11) there. (more…)

By Scott|2012-09-30T18:07:48-04:00September 30th, 2012|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models|Comments Off

Steve Francis Superior in Winning Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals

KNOXVILLE, IA (September 29, 2012) – Steve Francis of Ashland, KY grabbed the lead from Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI on lap 71 and cruised on to win the 9th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals on Saturday Night at Knoxville, IA. Before the biggest crowd in the history of the event, Francis and team owner Barry Wright took home $40,000 for the victory in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned event.

The 100-lap event saw five different drivers taking their place at the front of the pack, but Francis, who started fifth, stormed by Smith in traffic and battled even more traffic the rest of the way to pick up the victory for the series regular. Smith finished second followed by Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA; Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN; and Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN.

“This is the best track for Late Models in the country, no disrespect to any other track, but this is just a phenomenal place to race, the payoff is awesome, you can start anywhere here and win, I don’t know what else to say, this is fantastic,” said the 45-year-old who added the win at Knoxville to his $40,000 victory in the COMP Cams Topless 10 at Batesville (AR) Motor Speedway back in August. (more…)

By Scott|2012-09-30T17:38:55-04:00September 30th, 2012|Featured, Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series|Comments Off

TERRY SENNEKER VICTORIOUS IN GREAT LAKES HELICOPTER GLASS CITY 200

Toledo, Ohio-September 29, 2012: Wayland, MI driver Terry Senneker made a great save on lap 173, then took the lead for the first time with just 4 laps to go when race leader Steve Needles engine let go, paving the way to the win for Terry at the 24^thrunning of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Late Model race Saturday night at Toledo Speedway. Meloney Lojko and her son, Brandon, representing Great Lakes Helicopter, presented the 5 foot trophy to Terry in the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle.

Perhaps the strongest field in several years assembled for the event, with 33 cars on the grounds. A total of 32 cars started the 200 lap grind, the longest race of the season for the outlaw-bodied Late Models. Mike Luberda withdrew from the race after having engine trouble during Friday’s practice session. Track record holder JR Roahrig lowered his mark in the PASSTIME time trials, clicking off a lap of 14:628 to set a new 1 lap record and picking up the $500 bonus. JR pulled the 10 chip for the inversion, putting North Carolina driver Brad Rogers and Johnny Belott on the front row. (more…)

By Scott|2012-09-30T17:13:24-04:00September 30th, 2012|ARCA, Featured, Front Page News|Comments Off

Marlar Makes Quick Work of Knoxville Field on Friday Night

KNOXVILLE, IA (September 28, 2012) – Scoring his first career win at Knoxville Raceway, Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN completed a 25-lap journey to the checkered flag, leading all the way. Marlar, who started third in the event, bolted to the lead on the opening circuit and never looked back in taking his second Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event of the season.

Steve Francis of Ashland, KY came home in second followed by Brady Smith of Solon Springs, WI; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; and Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA.

“I have to thank Norman Bryson for giving me this opportunity to drive his race car, we won the Hillbilly 100 after starting last and to come here tonight and win at Knoxville, it’s sweet, it is one of the historic tracks in racing and to bring this Rocket Chassis to victory lane here is something I will never forget.”

“The car took off great at the start, it felt like it kind of slowed down there a little bit at the end, but I guess I had a big enough of a lead, that it didn’t really matter, but it is something to work on for tomorrow night’s 100-lapper,” said the 34-year-old racer. “I have to thank my sponsors SEG, LLC, Keyser Mfg, Integra Shocks, VP Fuels, GW Performance, Clements Race Engines and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for all of their support.”

Francis, who finished third on Thursday Night, finished one spot higher in Friday’s preliminary to set-up a good starting spot for Saturday’s $40,000 to win finale. “We have really run well here this week, there are a few things we need to tweak on the car to get it to turn better, it’s Barry’s (Wright) birthday today and I was hoping to bring home a victory for him said the driver of the Valvoline, Barry Wright Race Cars Chevrolet. (more…)

By Scott|2012-09-29T22:54:24-04:00September 29th, 2012|Featured, Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series|Comments Off