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Ben Shelton
COLUMBUS, Miss. (April 8) - This Saturday, April 12th, the 16th Annual James King Memorial Presented By Larry Clark Chevrolet gets underway at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi.
Over the past 15 years, many of the nation's top drivers have found their way into victory lane in the illustrious event. Previous winners include Byron Michael (2007), Chris Wall (2006), Shane Clanton (2005), Dale McDowell (2004), Freddy Smith ( 2003 & 1999), Don O'Neal (2002), Billy Moyer (2001), James Cline (2000), Robbie Starnes (1998), Donnie Barnhart (1997), Johnny Stokes (1996), Mike Head (1995), Wendell Wallace (1994), and Bill Frye (1993).
In 2008, the famed event will once again be 64 laps and pay $5,000 to win for Super Late Models as many of the top regional racers will be on hand to try and tame "The Baddest Bullring in the South", while simultaneously adding their name to the elite winner's list.
Fans from across the country will converge on Columbus, Mississippi this Saturday, April 12th to witness action-packed racing as many of the top drivers in the southeast and the country wage war around the 1/3 mile, high banked oval in search of the coveted, feature win. As the event has drawn closer, calls have been coming in from drivers from several different states including Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and more. With only one event completed at Columbus Speedway thus far in 2008, due to Mother Nature, many of the local Super Late Model competitors are hungrier than ever to keep the money at home in the Magnolia state, and the invading travelers will be facing a formidable challenge.
All of the Columbus Speedway Weekly Racing Series divisions will be in action and will be battling for special purses. Open Wheel Modifieds will be competing for a minimum purse of $600 to win and $30 to start. Late Model Stocks will be battling for at least $450 to win and $30 to start. The NeSmith Weekly Racing Series Late Models will be waging war for at least $450 to win and $30 to start, while the Street Stocks will be racing for at least $300 to win and $30 to start.
Also, new for 2008 will be a very special autograph session featuring many of the region's all-time greatest dirt track racers. Driver's who will be on hand for the autograph session include Don Hester (Tupelo, MS), Jerry Inmon (Bruce, MS), Tommy Doty (Tupelo, MS), Eddie Rickman (Columbus, MS), Johnny Stokes (Columbus, MS), John Hanna (Aberdeen, MS), Clyde McCain (Eupora, MS), Johnny Williams (Lexington, TN), Junior Lemmings (Lexington, TN), Hershel Perry (Columbus, MS), Ed Atkins (Columbus, MS), and Shay Higdon (Columbus, MS). More drivers will likely be added to the autograph session over the next week. The session will be held at 5:00 in the grandstand area on Saturday afternoon, so please make plans to arrive early and salute many of the forefathers of dirt track racing in the southeast.
As always sponsors are a key component of having a successful event and event promoter Terry King and crew are proud welcome aboard the 2008 title sponsors in the form of Gerry Holliman and Crystal Honeycutt with CRYE-Leike Properties, the Glass Doctor, Larry Clark Chevrolet, and a brand new sponsor for 2008, NAPA Auto Parts. In addition Penske Truck Rentals has stepped up to sponsor the fireworks display on Saturday night, and Rod's Auto Sales in Baldwyn, Mississippi is sponsoring a $300 fast qualifier award for the Super Late Models.
Pit Gates will open at 2pm with grandstands opening at 5:30pm. The driver's meeting is scheduled for 5:30pm with action scheduled for 7:30pm.
Grandstand admission is $20 for adults. Seniors, active military, and students (ages 11-18) will receive Grandstand admission for $15 with children 10 and under getting in free.
Pit admission is $30 for adults, $10 for children 7-10 years of age, and children 6 years and under free.
For more information on the event as well as an event flyer please visit www.ColumbusSpeedway.net or call the Columbus Speedway event hotline at 662-241-5004. More information can be obtained by calling Terry King at 662-327-4054 or Johnny Stokes at 662-574-2572.
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