It wasn’t that long ago when there were some big money races in east Tennessee on Labor Day weekends. Now, those days are gone and the weekend is just another weekend of racing.
For a number of years, the big events of Labor Day weekend were the unofficial end to summer in east Tennessee. It was a good way to cap off a summer of racing. It was also a build up to the World 100 that took place on the following weekend.
My time of big money Labor Day races goes back to the mid 90’s when the old Hav-a-Tampa Dirt Racing Series paid a visit to Atomic Speedway. Those events usually drew many of dirt late model racing’s top drivers. Drivers like Billy Moyer, Jimmy Mars, and Donnie Moran were regular fixtures at those events.
In 1997, Billy Moyer won at Atomic on his way to the Hav-a-Tampa championship. Then in 1998, Marshall Green won that event as part of his incredible 1998 season.
The highlights for me were the last three major events on Labor Day weekend. In 2002, Skip Arp came from 18th starting spot to pass both Scott Bloomquist and Duayne Hommell in one of the best races to ever take place at Atomic Speedway.
The packed grandstands at Atomic Speedway prior to the 2002 UDTRA race.
In 2003, the race drew a stout field of drivers and a huge crowd only to be dampened by a big rain storm the night of the feature. Because of scheduling conflicts, the race was ran on Monday afternoon. Dan Schlieper held off Patrick Duggan in what was the last TV race to be held at Atomic.
Some three-wide racing in the Xtreme race at Atomic in 2003.
The 2004 race turned out to be another biggie and the last of the really big events. The revived World of Outlaws Late Model Series were at Atomic for a $20,000 to win race. Not only were the original Dirty Dozen drivers on hand (such as Bloomquist, Moyer, Blazano, Hartman, and Lannigan), but other standouts such as Chris Madden, Josh Richards, and Dale McDowell were there. Though the race was rather ho-hum with a locked down racing surface for the feature, it turned out to be the last win at Atomic for Bloomquist.
Mike Balzano and Dan Schlieper battle at the World of Outlaws race at Atomic in 2004.
In 2005 when Ed Adams owned Atomic, he tried to keep big money races alive by hosting a two-day, $10,000 to win race. Since most $10,000 to win races were going the route of single-day shows, the race only drew the top local and regional drivers. The biggest name was an up-and-coming driver named Jimmy Owens who won the race that night.
Atomic closed after the 2006 season. And with it, went the spectacular big money Labor Day weekend events. Tazewell Speedway attempted to keep those races alive, but ran into scheduling conflicts as the World of Outlaws and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series found their niche in other parts of the country. And with that, Labor Day weekend racing is just another racing weekend here in east Tennessee.
It is hard to believe it has been a long as it has for those big money races at Atomic. I was hoping another area track would step up and bring back the excitement of that weekend. But as noted earlier, the two major national touring series have established their own traditional dates. It would be impossible to draw a top-flight drivers list not having one of those series involved. At least we have our memories and races on other weekends of the year to help fill that void.
