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Kingsport Speedway ready to crank up 2001 racing season

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (March 6) - Excitement is at an all-time high as Galaxy Kingsport Speedway gears up for the 2001 racing season at America's only weekly, concrete-surfaced NASCAR sanctioned facility. The season-opening Car Quest Auto Parts "Road to Charlotte Qualifier" is scheduled Friday, March 16 at the 3/8-mile oval. The 2001 campaign will mark the 40th year of racing at the "tradition-rich" track.

The track's Late Model Stock Car drivers will be competing in NASCAR's Weekly Racing Series Blue Ridge Region, where they will battle not only for track points, but for regional points against drivers from tracks in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. The Blue Ridge regional champion will be eligible for the NASCAR WRS national championship.

Over the past five years Kingsport Speedway Late Model Stock track championships have been claimed by Jeff Agnew of Floyd, Va., in 1996 and '97, while Grundy, Va.'s Keith Stiltner won titles in '98 and '99. Wade Day of Blountville, not only won the 2000 track championship, but he captured the prestigious NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Blue Ridge Region title.

Among the drivers looking to capture the Late Model Stock championship in 2001 will be Stiltner, Wayne Hale of Piney Flats, Kingsport's Jeff Berry, Mark Ketron, Bill Lane and Rick Pannell, Robbie Ferguson of Jonesborough, Dave Burks and Wade Lopez, both of Abingdon, Va., Mike Potter and Bill Garrett, both of Johnson City, Bristol's Larry Utsman and R.J. Stanley, Brian Ramsey of Newport, Paul Shull of Clintwood, Va., Butch Jarvis and Phil Tuell, both of Blountville, Donnie Henry of Church Hill, Mike Memmer of Fall Branch, plus several others.

The battle to see who will be crowned the Late Model Stock "Rookie-of-the-Year" in 2001 should prove to be quite intense, as several drivers will be moving up to the LMS division. They include Jeff Gilder, Reece Milton and Adam Dean of Kingsport, Danny O'Quinn Jr. of Coeburn, Va., Nate Montieth of Bristol, and Kres Vandyke of Abingdon, Va.

Be sure to catch a "Friday Night Thunder" racing program during the 2001 season at the 3/8-mile Galaxy Kingsport Speedway – a home to "racing champions." Each weekly racing program will feature the headlining NASCAR Late Model Stocks, plus the Sportsman, Street Stock, UMP Modified, Chargers, Galaxy Pro Challenge Cup Series Cars and Trucks, Legends and Modified Lites.

A fun time was enjoyed by all who came out to the Galaxy Kingsport Speedway RaceDay at the Fort Henry Mall last weekend in Kingsport, but more importantly, over $3,500 was raised for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Best Appearing Car awards went to the following drivers: Wayne Hale of Piney Flats, Late Model Stock; Michael Lathrop of Kingsport, Sportsman; Billy Babb of Kingsport, Street Stock; Robby Perkins of Big Stone Gap, Va., UMP Modified; Justin Guy of Kingsport, Charger; Ronnie McCarty of Kingsport, Legends; Garland Worley of Blountville, Galaxy Pro Challenge Cup; Kelly Glass of Blountville, Modified Lites; and Hank Hall of Kingsport, Sprint Car.

Jamie Brown of Greeneville was crowned Ms Galaxy Kingsport Speedway for the 2001 racing season, with Bristol’s Rachael Gilbert being crowned Ms Teen GKS. Winning titles in their respective age groups were: 0-17 months, Schuyler Weatherly of Kingsport; 18-35 months, Alexis Ray of Rogersville and Brandy Kane of Limestone; 3-4 years old, Alexandra Estep of Bluff City and Whitney Snapp of Kingsport; 5-7 years old, Summer Jackson of Rogersville and Haley Litton of Marion, Va.; and 8-10 years old, Emily Long of Kingsport.

An open practice for all divisions is scheduled from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 at the track. Fans wishing to attend will be admitted free of charge in the front straightaway grandstands.

The March 16 season-opening Car Quest Auto Parts "Road to Charlotte Qualifier" will be the first event under the guidance of track General Manager Brian Vance. Adult grandstand and tier-parking admission will be $10, with children 12-and-under admitted free. Pit passes are $20. The pit gate will open at 3 p.m., Grandstand A and B gates at 5 p.m., with qualifying at 6 o’clock and racing at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, contact the track office at (423) 288-5992.