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Earnhardt Memorial Planned As Southern All Stars Kick off 2001 Season at Birmingham Sunday

BIRMINGHAM, AL--The 2001 Southern All Stars Asphalt Racing Series season will kick off this Sunday afternoon at the famous Birmingham Int'l Raceway in Birmingham, AL, for the 8th Annual Earlybird 100 for the Southern All Star Asphalt Series cars as well as a full racing program in the Mini Modified, Late Model Sportsman and Hobby divisons.

Defending Southern All Star Asphalt Series Champion Ricky Turner of Dawsonville, GA, will be back to defend his title in 2001 as he head up the entry list for the first event of the season. Second place driver Ronnie Sanders of Fayetteville, GA, the defending race winner will also be in action and try to defend his crown by winning the event for the third time.

2000 GRIPP Tire Prep Rookie of the Year Charlie Bradberry of Chelsea, AL, will be in action also as he scored two win with the series last year and will be one of the top driver to grab the win Sunday at BIR. Jason Hogan of Cleveland, GA, will also be another driver that will be looking for his first career win at BIR as he finished fourth in series points and should be a contender for the 2001 title.

Other drivers that will also be in action will be the 1999 series Champion Gary Helton of Sevierville, TN, the 2000 World Classic winner David Hole of Cumming, GA, two time series Champion Johnny Brazier of Lickskillet, AL, Johnny Wall of Huntsville, AL, J R Dudley of Conyers, GA and Johnny Henderson of Conyers, GA. Local drivers that will also be in action include 2000 BIR Track Champion J R Norris of Hueytown, AL, Darrell Brown of Dora, AL, John Wilkinson III of Hueytown, AL, Jackie McGuire of Pelham, AL, Terry Mason Jr of Lincoln, AL, Ken McFarland of Hueytown, AL, and Andy Antinoro of Hueytown, AL.

Also in a tribute to Dale Earnhardt the Birmingham Int'l Raceway and the Southern All Star Racing Series will have a memorial service at the track Sunday afternoon with Southern All Stars Chaplain Eddie Barton and others speaking about the life and times of the 7 time Winston Cup Champion and also there will be memorials that the fans can sign and they will be taken to the Earnhardt's and to all the employees of Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Saturday afternoon will be a special practice session with all divisons from 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. with pit gates opening at 11 a.m. Grandstand admission is free.

Sunday afternoon pit gates open at 9 a.m. with practice starting at 12 noon and qualifying will start at 1:15 p.m. and race time set for 2 p.m.