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LATEMODELRACER >> SOUTH REGION >> SAS EAST 4th Annual $6,000 Robert Pursley & Friends Memorial
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Message started by LMR on 06/22/10 at 10:17pm

Title: SAS EAST 4th Annual $6,000 Robert Pursley & Friends Memorial
Post by LMR on 06/22/10 at 10:17pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2010

SAS EAST 4th Annual $6,000 Robert Pursley & Friends Memorial Race set for Saturday June 26th at I-77 Speedway, Chester SC

Gaffney, South Carolina - The ‘Stars and Cars’ of the Southern All Stars EAST Series will make its first visit to the track known as the ‘Little Diamond of the South’ at I-77 Speedway in Chester, S. C. for the much anticipated 4th Annual $6,000 to win Robert Pursley & Friends Memorial Race. Fans around the Carolinas flock to this race each year to pay tribute to a family who has contributed so much to local racing. There will be music, giveaways and fun for all ages. With the SAS East running a $7,000 race in the area the night before, many of those drivers will make the short trip to I-77 on Saturday night. I-77 Speedway is doing a special low price $10 Grandstand Ticket, so make your plans to get there early as they are expecting a full house.

Robert “Pop” Pursley, the father of John Pursley, and the grandfather of Johnny Pursley Jr. was a fixture atop the grandstand anytime John and Jr. were racing. He was a devoted family man that was well liked in the community. ‘Pop’ was a friend to many of John and Johnny’s competitors, and a few of their heated rivals too. Many say he never met a stranger at the race track, and it’s only fitting that a race this big carries on his legacy.

Announcer and long time promoter Duane Goins reflects on Mr. Pop Pursley, "At Chester I’d see Mr. Pursley come in right before hot laps, with that blue shirt and those red suspenders. I’d go into a part of my act, saying the family section is over here, drinking section over there, and all with RED SUSPENDERS need to sit WAAAYYY down there on the end BEHIND the LIGHT POLE. He'd just keep walking, slowly throwing up that hand. He knew it was all an act; he was part of the show. Sometimes that hand would be flashing a sign that said I was 'number one'! I'd play off of that, and we would have fun with it. Before the night was over, I'd take time to go and shake that hand. He was a true 'fan in the stands’. I miss those race nights, and I miss Mr. 'Pops' Pursley. I'm very sure a lot more folks do also. He was a great one."

Past winners of the Pursley Memorial Race include Jeff Smith, Furman Parton, Chris Smokey Madden and Chad Paxton. EAST Series Points Leader Casey Roberts will have his hands full with another expected stellar field with the likes of John and Johnny Pursley, Jonathan Davenport, Jeff Smith, Rambo Franklin, Jeff Cooke, Chris Ferguson and many more already having this date penciled in their schedules.

Saturday Night’s 50 lap Southern All Stars EAST Robert Pursley & Friends Memorial Race will pay $6,000 to the winner with bonus money spread through the field and to fastest qualifiers. Support divisions racing for increased purses on Saturday will include Super Street, NDRA Crate Late Models, and Crate Sportsman Divisions. Saturdays Gates will open at 2pm. Wall of Heroes Opening Ceremony begins at 4:30pm. Drivers Meeting at 6:45pm and racing to promptly follow. More info online at I-77 Speedway’s website: www.mosleyi77speedway.com. Track Phone (803)789-7223.

For schedule, point standings and more information on the Southern All Stars EAST Racing Series please visit online at www.southernallstareastseries.com or email Series Director at jammer50@charter.net. The Southern All Stars EAST series would like to thank the following sponsors: Hoosier Racing Tire South, NASCAR Technical Institute (www.ntievents.com), Bearden Oil, Cruise of Champions, ASI Sportswear, Big A’s Custom Graphics, Bailes Construction, Dominator Race Products and Carolina Driveline.

Prepared by JCRacing Promotions