*Story submitted by Chris Tilley
BRASSTOWN, N.C. – Apr. 9, 2017 – The Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels and Tennessee R.V. will travel north to Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky. on Friday April 14th and Florence Speedway in Union, Ky. on Saturday April 15th.
This will mark the third-ever appearance to the Ponderosa Speedway on Friday Night April 14th for a 40-lap $4,000-to-win and $400-to-start Fifth Annual Spring Showdown. The Open Wheel Modifieds, Crate Late Models, KDRA Super Stocks, Four Cylinders and the Mini-Cup/Cyclones will all be on the racing card for the evening’s events at the Jamie Stumph-promoted oval. The Pit Gates and Grandstand Gates will swing open at 4:00 pm, the Driver’s Meeting is set for 6:30 pm and Hot Laps will begin at 7:00 pm. Adult General Admission is $20.00 and Pit Passes are $35.00. Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn. won the Spring Nationals Series event at Ponderosa Speedway back in 2014. The 2015 event was rained out. Michael Chilton of Salvisa, Ky. is the defending event winner.
The King Family owned Florence Speedway in Union, Ky. will host the second weekend event paying $5,000 to win and $450 to start on Saturday Night April 15th. This will mark the second-ever visit to the track located in Northern Kentucky. Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky. won the Spring Nationals-sanctioned Spring 50 in 2014 in thrilling fashion over fellow national competitor Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn. The 2015 and 2016 events were rained out. The Slicker Graphics UMP Open Wheel Modifieds, Crate Late Models and UMP Hornets will also be on the racing card that night. The Pit Gates will open at 4:00 pm with the Main & back gates swinging open at 5:00 pm and Hot Laps are slated for 5:30 pm on April 15th. Racing is set to begin at 7:00 pm. Adult General Admission is $22.00 while Pit Passes are $35.00.
At each Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals, Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals and Schaeffer’s Oil Southern Nationals Bonus Series event in 2017, the highest finishing CT525 engine in the main event will receive a $200 bonus and the highest finishing Steel Head/SPEC engine will also receive a $200 bonus.
Each night’s events will feature a complete show of Practice, Time Trials, Heat Races, Last Chance Races and the main event. The entry fee is $100 at all series events plus transponder rental that will be used to time and score the cars (per series rules). The tire rule for the Ponderosa and Florence events will be as follows: Hoosier- 1350 (LO3), 1600 (LO6), LM 40; American Racer- 48, 56. Tires will also be checked for soaking and by durometer for hardness before each car goes on the track for qualifying or any racing action.
The car and driver weight rules for this event will be as follows: 2350 lbs. for an Open Motor, 2300 lbs. for a Steel Block/Aluminum Head – Spec Motor Only (8″ spoiler allowed, 12″ sides), 2250 lbs. for a CT525 Motor (8″ spoiler allowed) and 2250 lbs. for an all Steel Motor or Crate Motor (8″ spoiler allowed, 12″ sides). There will be a pound per lap burnoff plus 5 lbs. in Heats, Last Chance races and in the Feature.
Ponderosa Speedway Purse (40 Laps): 1) $4000, 2) $2000, 3) $1400, 4) $1000,
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.
Florence Speedway Purse (50 Laps): 1) $5000, 2) $2500, 3) $1600, 4) $1200, 5) $900, 6) $700, 7) $675, 8) $650, 9) $625, 10) $600, 11) $580, 12) $560, 13) $540, 14) $520, 15) $500, 16) $480, 17) $470, 18) $460, 19) $450, 20) $450, 21) $450, 22) $450, 23) $450, 24) $450.
Further information on Ponderosa Speedway can be obtained by calling (859) 854-6808 on race day or log on to the official track website at www.PonderosaSpeedway.net . Ponderosa Speedway is located at 365 Phillips Lane on the Boyle/Lincoln County border, outside of Junction City, KY, is only minutes from Danville, Ky. Track is located less than an hour South of Lexington, KY and around 2 ½ hours North of Knoxville, TN.
Florence Speedway is located off of Interstate 75 at Exit 180, then West on US 42 to the track for nine miles, which is located on the left. Further information can be obtained by calling the Track at (859) 485-7591 or log on to www.FlorenceSpeedway.com .
Current Spring Nationals Points (after March 25, 2017)
1. Donald McIntosh-394 (Dawsonville, GA)
2. Dale McDowell-390 (Chickamauga, GA)
3. Brandon Overton-386 (Evans, GA)
4. Michael Page-384 (Douglasville, GA)
4. Casey Roberts-384 (Toccoa, GA)
6. Jonathan Davenport-368 (Blairsville, GA)
7. Jason Hiett-364 (Oxford, AL)
7. Michael Chilton-364 (Salvisa, KY)
9. Clint Smith-360 (Senoia, GA)
9. Austin Horton-360 (Whitesburg, GA)
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Winners:
Michael Page (Douglasville, GA) March 24th
Donald McIntosh (Dawsonville, GA) March 25th
Upcoming Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series Events:
April 14-Ponderosa Speedway-Junction City, KY-$4,000 to win
April 15-Florence Speedway-Union, KY-$5,000 to win
April 21-Crossville Speedway-Crossville, TN-$4,000 to win
April 22-Volunteer Speedway-Bulls Gap, TN-$10,052 to win
May 4-Smoky Mountain Speedway-Maryville, TN-$15,000 to win
May 26-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$4,000 to win
May 27-Dixie Speedway-Woodstock, GA-$5,000 to win
May 28-Rome Speedway-Rome, GA-$6,000 to win
