MARYVILLE, Tenn. – Mar. 2, 2017 – It’s March Madness time for basketball fans, and this is especially true for dirt track racing fans. A must-see event that will jump start dirt track racing in the East-Tennessee area will be March 9-10-11 at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. during the running of the Fourth Annual Tennessee Tipoff Classic.
The Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series presented by Sunoco Race Fuels and Tennessee R.V. will sanction the Fourth Annual Tennessee Tipoff Classic at the Maryville, Tenn. oval. The event pays $15,000-to-win and $750-to-start and boasts a purse in excess of $50,000. The feature distance is 75 laps.
Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn. is the defending race winner which was sanctioned by the Spring Nationals Series. Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga. and Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C. shared Tennessee Tipoff Classic victories during the event in 2014. Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga. claimed the rescheduled 2015 race after a rain out forced the postponement of the event. There have been three different Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series champions with Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind. taking the championship in 2013. Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn. won the series title in 2014 while driving the Blount Motorsports Rocket Chassis and Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga. again drove the Blount Motorsports entry to the title in 2015 and last season. The nation’s best drivers will square off against the region’s best during this must-see event.
On Thursday March 9, there will be an open practice session for all divisions from 6:00 until 9:00 pm. The price per person in the pit area is $20.00 while the grandstand will remain closed. Tier parking will be open and free to any spectators. The pits will open at 5:00 pm on Thursday night.
On Friday March 10, the pits will open at 2:00 pm, grandstands and tier parking open at 4:00 pm and the driver’s meeting is set for 6:30 pm. Hot laps will roll out at 7:00 pm. Friday’s program will feature practice, time trials and heat races for the Spring Nationals Series Late Models. The Sportsman Late Models will practice, qualify, heat race and compete 25 laps for $2,000-to-win and $125-to-start in their main event. There is a $50.00 entry fee and includes the transponder rental for the Sportsman division. A 20-car field minimum must be present for advertised purse.
On Saturday March 11, the pits will be cleared and gates secured at 1:00 pm. The pits will re-open at 2:00 pm. Grandstand and tier parking gates open at 4:00 pm, the driver’s meeting is slated for 6:00 pm and hot laps will begin at around 6:30 pm. Saturday’s program includes practice, 12-lap last chance races and the 75-lap $15,000-to-win Spring Nationals main event. The Street Stocks will practice, qualify, heat race and compete 25 laps for $2,000-to-win and $125-to-start. There is a $40.00 entry fee and includes the transponder rental for the Sportsman division. A 20-car field minimum must be present for advertised purse.
If 40 or more Super Late Models are signed in for the weekend’s action, there will be a Non-Qualifiers race for cars that have not transferred into the feature event. The race will be 15 laps in distance and the winner plus the second place finisher will have a choice to make. The winner can choose to take $1,000 for the win and load their car or start 23rd in the main event. The second place finisher in the Non-Qualifier race will also have the option of taking $750.00 for the finish or taking the 24th starting spot in the feature event. All drivers that attempt to start the Non-Qualifiers race will receive $100 in tow money. The Spring Nationals Super Late Model entry fee for the Tennessee Tipoff Classic is $125.00. The Super Late Model tire rule for this event is as follows: Hoosier 1350 and 1600 along with the American Racer 48 and 56.
Friday’s grandstand admission is $15.00 for adults. Adult tier parking admission is $20.00 and adult pit passes are $30.00. Saturday’s grandstand admission is $30.00 for adults. Adult tier parking is $35.00 and adult pit passes are $40.00. A two-day adult general admission pass for Friday and Saturday is $40.00 and a two-day adult tier parking ticket is $50.00 and both must be purchased on Friday.
Tennessee Tipoff Classic Purse (75 Laps): 1) $15,000, 2) $7,500, 3) $4,500, 4) $3,200, 5) $2,400, 6) $1,800, 7) $1,600, 8) $1,500, 9) $1,400, 10) $1,300, 11) $1,000, 12) $975, 13) $900, 14) $850, 15) $800, 16) $775, 17) $750, 18) $750, 19) $750, 20) $750, 21) $750, 22) $750.
The Smoky Mountain Speedway is located at 809 Brickmill Road in Maryville, TN 37801. The track phone number is (865) 856-8989. You can obtain further information on Smoky Mountain Speedway by logging on to www.smokymountainspeedway.com. Be a follower of Smoky Mountain Speedway on Twitter by following @SMOKYMTNSPEED.
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.
Contact: Chris Tilley
Schaeffer’s Oil Spring Nationals Series P.R. Coordinator
606-219-1723 | tilleyracing@gmail.com
