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Southampton Motor Speedway Celebrates 2000 Season

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Jan.13) — Heading into the 2000 racing season at Southampton Motor Speedway in Capron, Va., Late Model Stock Car driver Nick Woodward of High Point, N.C., had made only a handful of starts at the 4/10-mile tri-oval — three in 1997 and two in 1998. A pair of sixth-place finishes represented his best outings.

Nick Woodward

By the end of the 2000 campaign, SMS’s first under the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series (NWRS) banner, Woodward, wheeling the potent, Hills Bros. Coffee-sponsored Chevy for veteran car owner Steve James of Clarksville, Va., had rolled up 16 feature wins and claimed the track and NWRS Atlantic Seaboard Region crowns, thrusting both himself and SMS into the national limelight.

On Saturday night, Woodward, who also bagged the 2000 South Boston Speedway Late Model title, added a couple more lines to his growing resume at SMS’s Annual Awards Banquet, taking home the Driver of the Year Award. The honor was presented by SMS Late Model division sponsor Navy Yard Credit Union during ceremonies at the Chesapeake Conference Center.

In addition to the track’s Driver of the Year Award, Woodward was also lauded as the Motorsports Magazine 2000 Racer of the Year. MM President/Publisher Jerry Reid was on hand to bestow that award.

Other 2000 divisional champions recognized during Saturday’s festivities included: Bubba Hubbard of Richmond, Va., Sentry Food Mart Grand Stock; Brad Higginbotham of Chesapeake, RaceRap.com By Tamco Pure Stock; Keith Edwards of Pendleton, N.C., Mike Duman Auto Sales Mini Stock; Joey Cohen of Chesapeake, Mini Truck; and, Max Smith of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., INEX Legends Car.

Special achievement award winners were:

• True Value Mechanic of the Year Awards, presented by NASCAR — Steve James, Late Model; Barry Williams of Capron, Grand Stock; Joe Higginbotham of Chesapeake, Pure Stock; Joe Hutcheson of Virginia Beach, Va., Mini Stock; and, Kevin Gilbert of Williamsburg, Va., Mini Truck.

• Borg-Warner Crew Chief of the Year Award, presented by NASCAR — Steve James.

• SMS Best Pit Crew Award — The Rudd Racing team of Suffolk, Va.’s Jason Rudd, who was the runner-up to Woodward in the Late Model title chase.

• Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards — Jim Williams of Chesapeake, Late Model; Irvin Stephens Jr. of Franklin, Va., Grand Stock; Danny Martin of Milwaukee, N.C., Pure Stock; Wayne Bradley of Sutherland, Va., Mini Stock; Wayne Schmuck of Virginia Beach, Mini Truck; and, Phil Bess of Suffolk, Legends Car.

• Most Improved Driver Awards — Bud Kenny of Virginia Beach, Late Model; Chris Mueller of Chester, Va., Grand Stock; Tommy Pittman of Ivor, Va., Pure Stock; Bruce Kimmel of Chesapeake, Mini Stock; J.M. McDonald II of Virginia Beach, Mini Truck; and, Owen Strickler of Emporia, Va., Legends Car.

• Rookie of the Year Awards, presented by Chesapeake Center — Terry Allison of South Mills, N.C., Late Model; Ken Rountree of Gates, N.C., Grand Stock; Robert Stell of Corapeake, N.C., Pure Stock; Rickie Waters of Virginia Beach, Mini Stock; and, Bobby Ourada of Gloucester, Va., Mini Truck.

• Best-Appearing Car Award — Late Model driver Mike Shearin of Emporia.

Longtime track announcer Neal Steele was the master of ceremonies for the evening. Musical entertainment was provided by Astro Disc Jockeys of Virginia Beach.

With the 2000 season now officially in the books, drivers, teams and fans can begin looking forward to Friday, March 30 — the kickoff date for Southampton Motor Speedway’s 2001 schedule.

The Late Model, Grand Stock, Pure Stock and Mini Stock divisions appear each week on the 26-event, weekly slate, while the Legends Car and Open-Wheel Modified classes appear on alternating weeks. The Mid-Atlantic Champ Kart series will make seven visits to SMS during the season.

NASCAR Late Model Stock Cars will close out the ‘01 campaign with the Second Annual OktoberFAST 350 Weekend, scheduled for Oct. 19-21.

As in years past, the track will be closed on May 4 and Sept. 7 in deference to NASCAR activities at Richmond International Raceway.