FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Tilley
Old Man’s Garage Spring Nationals Series P.R. Coordinator
BULLS GAP, Tenn. – Apr. 8, 2016 – Volunteer (Tenn.) Speedway is gearing up for a huge weekend of racing action Friday April 15 and Saturday April 16 as the Old Man’s Garage Spring Nationals Series presented by Schaeffer’s Oil will visit the East-Tennessee oval for the third and fourth points paying races of the season.
On Friday Night April 15th the Spring Nationals competitors will take to the Joe & Phyllis Loven-owned track for a 40-lap $4,000-to-win and $400-to-start event. The Sportsman Late Models will join in for Friday’s action paying $1,000-to-win.
Saturday Night’s 15th Annual Spring Thaw finale will see the Spring Nationals Series Late Models compete for $10,000-to-win and $500-to-start while the Modified Street division will race for $700-to-win.
On both Friday and Saturday the pits open at 4:00 pm, the grandstands open at 5:00 pm, the driver’s meeting will be at 7:00 pm and hot laps will roll out at around 7:30 pm. Friday’s adult general admission is $18.00 while all pit passes and backside tier parking is $30.00 per person. Saturday’s adult general admission is $25.00 while all pit passes ad backside tier parking is $35.00 per person.
The Spring Nationals Super Late Model entry fee for the Volunteer Speedway events is $100.00. The Super Late Model tire rule for this event is as follows: Hoosier 1350 and 1600 along with the American Racer 48 and 56 compounds.
Also, the highest finishing driver using a CT525 engine package will receive a $200 bonus and the highest finishing driver using a Steel Head/SPEC engine package will receive a $200 bonus courtesy of the series. There will be a complete show each night of practice, FK Rod End’s Qualifying, Heat Races and the main events for the Spring Nationals Late Models. Saturday Night’s event will see Heats and Last Chance races to make the starting field of 22 for the 60-lap main event.
Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C. is the defending race winner of last year’s running of the Carolina Clash Series-sanctioned Spring Thaw event. Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN is the only four-time winner. Dale McDowell, Jimmy Owens and Chris Madden are the only other repeat winners of the storied event.
Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga. is atop of the point standings after two events with an 18-point lead over David Payne of Murphy, N.C. Completing the top five include Shanon Buckingham of Morristown, Tenn., Stacy Boles of Clinton, Tenn., and Robby Moses of Maryville, Tenn. Buckingham and Moses are the two drivers vying for the Rookie of the Year honors. Scott Bloomquist won the season opening event at Smoky Mountain (Tenn.) Speedway March 12th while Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga. claimed the $4,000 prize at Senoia (Ga.) Raceway in the second event. In just a little over three seasons there have been 19 different winners on the tour and next weekend will mark the 29th and 30th points races.
Friday April 15 Payoff: 1) $4,000, 2) $2,000, 3) $1,400, 4) $1,000, 5) $800, 6) $700, 7) $600, 8) $550, 9) $525, 10) $500, 11) $480, 12) $470, 13) $460, 14) $450, 15) $440, 16) $430, 17) $420, 18) $410, 19) $400, 20) $400, 21) $400, 22) $400.
Saturday April 16 Payoff: 1) $10,000, 2) $5,000, 3) $2,500, 4) $2,000, 5) $1,500, 6) $1,100, 7) $1,000, 8) $950, 9) $900, 10) $850, 11) $800, 12) $750, 13) $650, 14) $600, 15) $550, 16) $530, 17) $520, 18) $500, 19) $500, 20) $500, 21) $500, 22) $500.
Directions to Volunteer Speedway: South on Interstate 81 from Tennessee/Virginia state lines, take Exit 23 (Bulls Gap/Greeneville), then turn right onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Look for track entrance approximately 200 yards on left. North on Interstate 81 from I-81/I-40 split (East of Knoxville, TN), take Exit 23, then turn left onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Continue underneath the interstate over-pass and track entrance approximately 300 yards ahead on left.
For more information on Volunteer Speedway, please call the track at (423) 235-5020, Phyllis Loven (Promoter) at (423) 676-9081, Vic Hill (Vic Hill Racing Engines) at (423) 312-4206 or log on to www.VolunteerSpeedway.com .
Further information on the Spring Nationals, Southern Nationals and Southern Nationals Bonus Series can be obtained by calling Promoter Ray Cook at (828) 360-5353 or Series P.R. Coordinator Chris Tilley at (606) 219-1723 or visit the official website located at www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com .
Previous Spring Thaw Winners:
1999-Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN
2000-Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN
2001-Scott Sexton of Pigeon Forge, TN
2002-Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN
2003-Rained Out
2004-Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA
2005-Rained Out
2006-Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN
2007-Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN
2008-Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN
2009-Rained Out
2010-Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC
2011-Chris Madden of Gray Court, SC
2012-Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA
2013-Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA & John Blankenship of Williamson, WV
2014-Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN & Chris Madden of Gray Court, SC
2015-Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC
2016 Old Man’s Garage Spring Nationals Series Schedule:
March 12-Smoky Mountain Speedway-SCOTT BLOOMQUIST
March 25-Senoia Raceway-Senoia, GA-JONATHAN DAVENPORT
April 15-Volunteer Speedway-Bulls Gap, TN-$4,000 to win
April 16-Volunteer Speedway-Bulls Gap, TN-$10,000 to win
April 23-Senoia Raceway-Senoia, GA-$6,000 to win
April 29-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$4,000 to win
April 30-Florence Speedway-Union, KY-$5,000 to win
May 27-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$4,000 to win
May 28-Dixie Speedway-Woodstock, GA-$4,000 to win
May 29-Rome Speedway-Rome, GA-$6,000 to win
Current Spring Nationals Series Points (after March 25):
1. Donald McIntosh-362 (Dawsonville, GA)
2. David Payne-344 (Murphy, NC)
3. Shanon Buckingham-336 (Morristown, TN) ®
4. Stacy Boles-334 (Clinton, TN)
5. Robby Moses-322 (Maryville, TN) ®
6. Scott Bloomquist-275 (Mooresburg, TN)
7. Mack McCarter-235 (Gatlinburg, TN)
8. Jonathan Davenport-200 (Blairsville, GA)
9. Randy Weaver-196 (Crossville, TN)
9. Chris Madden-196 (Gray Court, SC)
