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Robert Walden
BULLS GAP, Tenn. (February 25) - Volunteer Speedway will begin its 35th season of exciting dirt-track racing by hosting the Knoxville, Tenn.-based Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series in its inaugural visit to the track for the running of the $10,000-to-win "10th Annual Spring Thaw 100" presented by Branch Banking & Trust Co. (BB&T), Phil Bachman Honda of Kingsport and event support sponsor Pizza Plus on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 29-March 1. The Spring Thaw 100 will be the first of three scheduled Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series events at "The Gap" in 2008.
Defending and four-time Spring Thaw 100 race winner Scott Bloomquist from nearby Mooresburg will be present to defend his title, along with fellow Team Zero (Bloomquist Race Cars) members Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., Eric Jacobsen of Santa Cruz, Calif., Michael England of Glasgow, Ky., Kerry Jones of Bristol, Tenn. (2001 & '07 Volunteer Speedway track champion), Shanon Buckingham of Morristown, Tenn., and John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.
Leading the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series contingent of regional drivers from the Volunteer State will be three-time series champion Anthony White of Clinton, Rick Rogers of Knoxville, Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Randy Weaver of Crossville, Kayne Hickman of Soddy Daisy, Mike Weeks of Friendsville, Stacy Boles of Claxton, Brad Coffey of Friendsville, Dan Tipton of Kingston and April Farmer of Livingston; plus out-of-state competitors Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Dan Schlieper of Pewaukee, Wis., Ivedent Lloyd of Ocala, Fla. (2007 O'Reilly Auto Parts Southern All-Star Series champion), Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., Bart Hartman of Zanesville, Ohio, Brandon Kinzer of Allen, Ky., Damon Eller of Crumpler, N.C., Tommy Bailey of Corbin, Ky., David Payne of Murphy, N.C., and others.
East Tennessee drivers tentatively scheduled to be present include four-time Volunteer Speedway track champion Vic "The Thrill" Hill of Morristown (1997, '98, 2000 & '05), Mike Smith of Rogersville, Dale Ball of Johnson City, Jeff Maupin of Greeneville, Bryan Hendrix of Knoxville, Herman Goddard of Knoxville, Mark Douglas of Knoxville, Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Mike Marlar of Winfield, Mark Vineyard of Powell, Michael Jackson of Greeneville, Greg Burchett of Church Hill, Shane Roberts of Blountville, Bobby Mays of Jonesborough, Bobby Giffin of Maryville, David Crabtree of Maryville, and many more.
On Friday, Feb. 29 the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series Super Late Models will qualify (Powermaster Time Trials) and run heat races, along with Crate Late Model and Mini Stock features. Adult grandstand admission on Friday is $12, youth ages 7-14 $4, with 6-and-under admitted free. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $30.
Highlighting the Saturday, March 1 racing program will be the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series Super Late Model $10,000-to-win 10th Annual Spring Thaw 100. Two Sunoco Dashes from preliminary qualifying events (heat races) on Friday night will determine the first six rows of the Spring Thaw 100, with two last chance West Haven Speed Equipment B-mains determining starting positions 18-22, and the final two (23-24) starting berths series provisionals based on 2007 final point standings. Also racing will be Hobby Stocks in a 25-lap feature. Adult grandstand admission on Saturday is $25, youth ages 7-14 $5, with 6-and-under admitted free. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $35.
The pit gate will open each day at 3 p.m., with the grandstands opening daily at 5 p.m. Hotlaps are tentatively scheduled to begin each evening around 6 p.m., followed by qualifying and then racing action.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Indy 500 Fan Tour, will bring the excitement of the legendary Indianapolis 500 to Volunteer Speedway during the Spring Thaw 100 racing weekend. A full-size IndyCar Series racing simulator will allow fans to experience the thrill of driving an IndyCar around the famed "Brickyard." Fans will also be able to look over various items from drivers who have competed in the Indianapolis 500, including a collection of helmets from past and current drivers and a pair of driving gloves from two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves. An IndyCar Series safety display complete with in-car crash box with warning lights will be on display, along with pieces of brick and asphalt from the famed 2.5-mile oval. A lucky fan will win two tickets to the 2008 Indianapolis 500!
To learn more about the Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series, visit their official Web site at www.AdvanceAutoPartsThunderSeries.com
For more information about Volunteer Speedway visit the Web site at www.VolunteerSpeedway.com ... contact the track at (423) 235-5020, Phyllis Loven in the track office at (423) 378-5942, or Media/Public Relations Director Robert Walden at (423) 928-9644.
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