Hollowell
08-12-2005, 02:22 PM
SUMTER, S. C. - The most anxiously awaited racing program of the season is scheduled for Sumter Speedway Saturday night with the O'Reilly United Sprint Car Series making its way to the 3/8-mile dirt oval for the first time. Another sprint car series competed at the ancient oval several years ago, but this is the first time for the USCS.
In addition to the sprint cars, the fourth and final bike races for the kids will be presented by Joey's Auto Sales. Also, the regular six classes of competitors seen at the local track on a weekly basis will compete.
Since this is a national points event, most of the top sprint car drivers in the country will be on hand in their 700-horsepower, alcohol burning bullets capable of turning laps of more than 100-miles-per hour. Four-time USCS champion Terry Gray of Bartlett, Tenn. is the headline driver and the defending champion will have his hands full with Kenny Adams from Malabar, Fla. who has recorded 124 feature wins in the past four years.
Almost half the field is expected to made up of drivers under the age of 20. Nineteen-year-old Danny "Hammer" Martin is second in the season points standings and recorded his first dirt track feature win last month in Swainsboro, Ga.
Many of the local fans will have their eyes on local drivers competing in the support classes and with only three points races remaining on the season, at least four of the division championships are not likely to be decided until the last points race of the season on August 27.
Banjo Duke has wrapped up the Super Stock 4 title while Chad Morris and Tony Coker, Jr will be battling for the runner-up slot in the season championship. James Yost only has to make the field in one of the remaining three races to win the Pure Stock championship, but three-time winner William Disher trails Karen Cooper by 43 points for the runner-up slot.
The other four divisions are different stories, however as the championships are headed for the wire with no set favorite in the group. Defending champion Tony Rabon leads fellow Mini Stock 4 driver Cody McAllister by only eight points while Lane Cox is in third position, 92 points behind McAllister and an even 100 behind Rabon.
Joey Ayers remains ahead of the pack in the Pro Stock competition as he leads James Stephens by 81 points and Johnny Welch by 260 markers. Ayers has recorded one win on the season, but has been among the top five at the finish of almost every race this season.
The Pure Street division race is still up for grabs with Matt Holland holding an 18-point advantage on veteran driver Pete McKenzie. Marty Horne holds onto third place, 58 points behind McKenzie.
Four drivers still have a chance at winning the Late Model T&L championship as Robert "Duck" Pack remains out front with a 27-point lead over three-time winner Randy Hill. Brandon Hodge is only 28 points out of first place and Jody Truett is 29 points back.
Pit gates open Saturday at 4 p. m. with the grandstands opening at 5 p. m. The first race is slated to get underway at 7:30 p. m.
In addition to the sprint cars, the fourth and final bike races for the kids will be presented by Joey's Auto Sales. Also, the regular six classes of competitors seen at the local track on a weekly basis will compete.
Since this is a national points event, most of the top sprint car drivers in the country will be on hand in their 700-horsepower, alcohol burning bullets capable of turning laps of more than 100-miles-per hour. Four-time USCS champion Terry Gray of Bartlett, Tenn. is the headline driver and the defending champion will have his hands full with Kenny Adams from Malabar, Fla. who has recorded 124 feature wins in the past four years.
Almost half the field is expected to made up of drivers under the age of 20. Nineteen-year-old Danny "Hammer" Martin is second in the season points standings and recorded his first dirt track feature win last month in Swainsboro, Ga.
Many of the local fans will have their eyes on local drivers competing in the support classes and with only three points races remaining on the season, at least four of the division championships are not likely to be decided until the last points race of the season on August 27.
Banjo Duke has wrapped up the Super Stock 4 title while Chad Morris and Tony Coker, Jr will be battling for the runner-up slot in the season championship. James Yost only has to make the field in one of the remaining three races to win the Pure Stock championship, but three-time winner William Disher trails Karen Cooper by 43 points for the runner-up slot.
The other four divisions are different stories, however as the championships are headed for the wire with no set favorite in the group. Defending champion Tony Rabon leads fellow Mini Stock 4 driver Cody McAllister by only eight points while Lane Cox is in third position, 92 points behind McAllister and an even 100 behind Rabon.
Joey Ayers remains ahead of the pack in the Pro Stock competition as he leads James Stephens by 81 points and Johnny Welch by 260 markers. Ayers has recorded one win on the season, but has been among the top five at the finish of almost every race this season.
The Pure Street division race is still up for grabs with Matt Holland holding an 18-point advantage on veteran driver Pete McKenzie. Marty Horne holds onto third place, 58 points behind McKenzie.
Four drivers still have a chance at winning the Late Model T&L championship as Robert "Duck" Pack remains out front with a 27-point lead over three-time winner Randy Hill. Brandon Hodge is only 28 points out of first place and Jody Truett is 29 points back.
Pit gates open Saturday at 4 p. m. with the grandstands opening at 5 p. m. The first race is slated to get underway at 7:30 p. m.