Racers Near & Far Getting Ready for Thanksgiving Classic
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By: Wesley Outland - SNRP PR/Race22.com Correspondent
Kenly, NC ~ It's time for the holidays ounce again..Spending time with family and friends,fellowship with new ones,going shopping and of course if you live in this area and you love racing you know it's also time for the 2008 Thanksgiving Classic at Del Richards' Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly,NC!!! Every year after the Thanksgiving holiday teams and drivers and fans converge to the 4/10th mile facility for some of the best racing of the year. Unfortunately this years Thanksgiving Classic will have to be put on the back burner for another week as the threat of rain come true early Saturday Morning and has
Kenly, NC ~ It's time for the holidays ounce again..Spending time with family and friends,fellowship with new ones,going shopping and of course if you live in this area and you love racing you know it's also time for the 2008 Thanksgiving Classic at Del Richards' Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly,NC!!! Every year after the Thanksgiving holiday teams and drivers and fans converge to the 4/10th mile facility for some of the best racing of the year. Unfortunately this years Thanksgiving Classic will have to be put on the back burner for another week as the threat of rain come true early Saturday Morning and has
postponed the 2008 edition of the Thanksgiving Classic.
Del Richards said he thought it was best to go ahead and postpone the event and run it for the following weekend when he was upstairs in the Race Control Tower at SNRP after the conclusion of Friday's successful practice day at the park looking at the radar and how the forecast went from 30% to 80% in 12 hours he thought it would be in
Del Richards said he thought it was best to go ahead and postpone the event and run it for the following weekend when he was upstairs in the Race Control Tower at SNRP after the conclusion of Friday's successful practice day at the park looking at the radar and how the forecast went from 30% to 80% in 12 hours he thought it would be in
the best interest to postpone instead of trying to run the event all weekend and deal with rain showers as well as a low car count and fan count for that matter. However there was some action this Thanksgiving weekend and that was Open Practice for the Late Model Stocks and Super Late Models and I was down there getting the scoop on all the activities and chatting with some drivers too.
Drivers from all over come to run the Thanksgiving Classic for instance some big names include Scott Riggs, Elliot Sadler, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mike Garvey, Timothy Peters, Frank Deiny Jr. and last years winner Denny Hamlin plus many more. It's still the same today as the 2008 UARA Stars Champion car #1 Jake "the snake" Crum was practicing Friday and said he's very excited about coming to SNRP for the Classic.
Crum stated "He's very proud of the team and his self on winning the UARA title for 2008 but it hasn't changed him in anyway and his focus for next weekend is to be smart on the race track take his time and hopefully be there in the end." He did state he was fighting a shock mount early Friday morning rubbing the right rear tire that was giving problems but the crew did resolve the problem and he was turning 15.50's around the track by the end of the day.
The "Forest City Bad Boy" was at Kenly as well for the Thanksgiving Classic and he looked strong too. #8 of Jamie Yelton was turning laps around the 15.40's and was running all over the board in the morning and looked real strong during his qualifying set up run and said he felt he would be able to lock himself into the show next Saturday for Qualifying but running the race on Sunday will be a totally different story. He said the biggest difference on the car was the Hoosier tires he was running at Myrtle Beach last weekend compared to the Practice day on Friday and he really likes the tires he's practicing with at SNRP for the Thanksgiving Classic!!
Driver #76, Darrell Wallace Jr. had a pretty bad start at the beginning of the 2008 season but he pulled it together along with his team and family and he went on to be the 2008 UARA Stars Rookie of the Year as well as carry home his first career win at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro,NC in Mid-October so as you can tell he really turned around to end the season on a high note after a rough start came home to finish outside the top 5 in 6th for the year in UARA.Now it's all about the money and Darrell Wallace Jr. felt he was going to have a great car for the Thanksgiving Classic.
"When we unloaded off the trailer in the morning we kept the same Hoosier tires on that we ran at Myrtle Beach last weekend and we were consistent 15.50-60's after 15 or so laps we fell off about a tenth of a second" Wallace stated. "When we put on new Hoosier Radials we picked it up to the 15.40-50's so we fell confident we'll make the race next weekend." Fans be sure to check this young superstar next weekend at the Thanksgiving Classic at SNRP he truly is very talented and can get the job done come race time Sunday.
Fayetteville's #28 Sherman Davis Jr. has had problems before coming back to Kenly for the Thanksgiving Classic. After running the Seneca 400 at Myrtle Beach last weekend he broke the rear-end and the clutch on the Chevy and him and the crew had to work all week before the Holiday to get the car ready for his home track event next Sunday. I also talked to Davis Jr. about him having home field advantage for the Classic and he stated about it being tit for tat for all the other teams that come from all over and he said "There's a lot of BIG money and knowledge teams coming in but were gonna do our home work just like they have to also and we'll give it our best and hope lady luck is on our side."
Of course if you look at the top of the list for all the Late Model Stock practice sessions Friday you will see non-other than car #50 of Four Oaks,NC Jamey Caudill as the fastest car running as fast as 15.30's consistently around the 4/10th speed bowl and he is also carrying a lot of momentum coming into the Thanksgiving Classic after winning the Seneca 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina last Sunday evening. Caudill runs for the Jr. Motorsports stable based in Mooresville,NC and runs full time with the UARA Stars Series and finished 3rd in the points this year to end the 2008 season. Caudill has also won many track championships at SNRP and considers the facility his home track. He is always a threat when he comes to Kenly or any track for that matter and he'll be ready to go on the wheel for the $10,000 prize next Sunday in the 2008 Thanksgiving Classic.
So there's just some of the drivers thoughts for the Thanksgiving Classic after a busy Friday afternoon in the pit area. Also the Super Late Models took to the track for Practice on Friday and Chris Bowers,Shelton McNair,Jeff Fultz all looked very strong for the 150 lap affair on Sunday December 7th. Tickets are still available and also Drivers can still Pre-Register for the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Raceway Park.
It's the season ending blowout finale so you don't won't to miss this event to end the 2008 racing season in eastern North Carolina here is the Schedule of events for the 2008 Thanksgiving Classic December 4th-7th 2008 at Southern National Raceway Park...Hope to see you this weekend for more details call the track office (919) 284-1114 or go online www.southernnational.net BE THERE!!!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008
9:00 am- 5:00 pm Support Division Practice - LLM, STS, SS, Mod 4s, 4 Cyl, Legends
Price will be $50 per car including driver - $10 per person
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2008
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Late Model Stock and Super Late Models Practice Only - $50 per car including driver - $10 per person
Concessions Will Be Open For Practice
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2008
7:00 am Gates Open -Late Model Stock and Super Late Model Tech Opens
9:00 am - 11:00 am Practice for Late Model Stock and Super Late Models
11:00 am Pit Gates open for support Classes - NO EARLY PARKING
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm Practice - Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Stocks, 4Cylinders
3:15 pm Mandatory Drivers Meeting
3:30 pm Qualifying - Limited Late Model, 4Cylinder and Super Stock
Late Model Stock and Super Late Model
Race Time - IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING QUALIFYING
Street Stock 40 laps - $1000 to Win
Super Stocks 50 laps - $1500 to Win
4 Cylinder 40 laps - $1500 to Win
PURE Stock UCARS - 35 laps - $300 to Win
Limited Late Model 125 laps - $3000 to Win $200 to Start
Modified 4s 35 laps - $750 to Win
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2008
9:00 am Pit Gates open
10:15 AM Chapel Service
10:45 am Mandatory Drivers Meeting/Roll Call
11:00 - 12:00 pm On Track Late Model Stock and Super Late Model Autograph Session
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm Legends Practice
12:45 pm Pre- Race Ceremonies
1:00 pm Green Flag
2 - 25 lap Late Model Stock Heat Races
Super Late Models - 150 laps
$5000 to Win $500 to Start
Legends - 30 laps - $1000 to Win
Late Model Stocks - 200 laps
$10,000 to win - $500 to Start
Schedule Subject to Change
Divisions and Race Laps Subject to Change
One Day Pit Pass- $35
Weekend Pit Pass - $50
Grandstands/Trackside Saturday
$15 for Adults
$12 for Military/Seniors
$25 for Individual Suite Seat
$5 for ages 11-15
10 and Under FREE
Grandstands/Trackside Sunday
$25 for Adults
$22 for Military/Seniors
$35 for Individual Suite Seat
$5 for ages 11-16
10 and Under FREE
Drivers from all over come to run the Thanksgiving Classic for instance some big names include Scott Riggs, Elliot Sadler, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mike Garvey, Timothy Peters, Frank Deiny Jr. and last years winner Denny Hamlin plus many more. It's still the same today as the 2008 UARA Stars Champion car #1 Jake "the snake" Crum was practicing Friday and said he's very excited about coming to SNRP for the Classic.
Crum stated "He's very proud of the team and his self on winning the UARA title for 2008 but it hasn't changed him in anyway and his focus for next weekend is to be smart on the race track take his time and hopefully be there in the end." He did state he was fighting a shock mount early Friday morning rubbing the right rear tire that was giving problems but the crew did resolve the problem and he was turning 15.50's around the track by the end of the day.
The "Forest City Bad Boy" was at Kenly as well for the Thanksgiving Classic and he looked strong too. #8 of Jamie Yelton was turning laps around the 15.40's and was running all over the board in the morning and looked real strong during his qualifying set up run and said he felt he would be able to lock himself into the show next Saturday for Qualifying but running the race on Sunday will be a totally different story. He said the biggest difference on the car was the Hoosier tires he was running at Myrtle Beach last weekend compared to the Practice day on Friday and he really likes the tires he's practicing with at SNRP for the Thanksgiving Classic!!
Driver #76, Darrell Wallace Jr. had a pretty bad start at the beginning of the 2008 season but he pulled it together along with his team and family and he went on to be the 2008 UARA Stars Rookie of the Year as well as carry home his first career win at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro,NC in Mid-October so as you can tell he really turned around to end the season on a high note after a rough start came home to finish outside the top 5 in 6th for the year in UARA.Now it's all about the money and Darrell Wallace Jr. felt he was going to have a great car for the Thanksgiving Classic.
"When we unloaded off the trailer in the morning we kept the same Hoosier tires on that we ran at Myrtle Beach last weekend and we were consistent 15.50-60's after 15 or so laps we fell off about a tenth of a second" Wallace stated. "When we put on new Hoosier Radials we picked it up to the 15.40-50's so we fell confident we'll make the race next weekend." Fans be sure to check this young superstar next weekend at the Thanksgiving Classic at SNRP he truly is very talented and can get the job done come race time Sunday.
Fayetteville's #28 Sherman Davis Jr. has had problems before coming back to Kenly for the Thanksgiving Classic. After running the Seneca 400 at Myrtle Beach last weekend he broke the rear-end and the clutch on the Chevy and him and the crew had to work all week before the Holiday to get the car ready for his home track event next Sunday. I also talked to Davis Jr. about him having home field advantage for the Classic and he stated about it being tit for tat for all the other teams that come from all over and he said "There's a lot of BIG money and knowledge teams coming in but were gonna do our home work just like they have to also and we'll give it our best and hope lady luck is on our side."
Of course if you look at the top of the list for all the Late Model Stock practice sessions Friday you will see non-other than car #50 of Four Oaks,NC Jamey Caudill as the fastest car running as fast as 15.30's consistently around the 4/10th speed bowl and he is also carrying a lot of momentum coming into the Thanksgiving Classic after winning the Seneca 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina last Sunday evening. Caudill runs for the Jr. Motorsports stable based in Mooresville,NC and runs full time with the UARA Stars Series and finished 3rd in the points this year to end the 2008 season. Caudill has also won many track championships at SNRP and considers the facility his home track. He is always a threat when he comes to Kenly or any track for that matter and he'll be ready to go on the wheel for the $10,000 prize next Sunday in the 2008 Thanksgiving Classic.
So there's just some of the drivers thoughts for the Thanksgiving Classic after a busy Friday afternoon in the pit area. Also the Super Late Models took to the track for Practice on Friday and Chris Bowers,Shelton McNair,Jeff Fultz all looked very strong for the 150 lap affair on Sunday December 7th. Tickets are still available and also Drivers can still Pre-Register for the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Raceway Park.
It's the season ending blowout finale so you don't won't to miss this event to end the 2008 racing season in eastern North Carolina here is the Schedule of events for the 2008 Thanksgiving Classic December 4th-7th 2008 at Southern National Raceway Park...Hope to see you this weekend for more details call the track office (919) 284-1114 or go online www.southernnational.net BE THERE!!!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008
9:00 am- 5:00 pm Support Division Practice - LLM, STS, SS, Mod 4s, 4 Cyl, Legends
Price will be $50 per car including driver - $10 per person
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2008
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Late Model Stock and Super Late Models Practice Only - $50 per car including driver - $10 per person
Concessions Will Be Open For Practice
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2008
7:00 am Gates Open -Late Model Stock and Super Late Model Tech Opens
9:00 am - 11:00 am Practice for Late Model Stock and Super Late Models
11:00 am Pit Gates open for support Classes - NO EARLY PARKING
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm Practice - Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Stocks, 4Cylinders
3:15 pm Mandatory Drivers Meeting
3:30 pm Qualifying - Limited Late Model, 4Cylinder and Super Stock
Late Model Stock and Super Late Model
Race Time - IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING QUALIFYING
Street Stock 40 laps - $1000 to Win
Super Stocks 50 laps - $1500 to Win
4 Cylinder 40 laps - $1500 to Win
PURE Stock UCARS - 35 laps - $300 to Win
Limited Late Model 125 laps - $3000 to Win $200 to Start
Modified 4s 35 laps - $750 to Win
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2008
9:00 am Pit Gates open
10:15 AM Chapel Service
10:45 am Mandatory Drivers Meeting/Roll Call
11:00 - 12:00 pm On Track Late Model Stock and Super Late Model Autograph Session
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm Legends Practice
12:45 pm Pre- Race Ceremonies
1:00 pm Green Flag
2 - 25 lap Late Model Stock Heat Races
Super Late Models - 150 laps
$5000 to Win $500 to Start
Legends - 30 laps - $1000 to Win
Late Model Stocks - 200 laps
$10,000 to win - $500 to Start
Schedule Subject to Change
Divisions and Race Laps Subject to Change
One Day Pit Pass- $35
Weekend Pit Pass - $50
Grandstands/Trackside Saturday
$15 for Adults
$12 for Military/Seniors
$25 for Individual Suite Seat
$5 for ages 11-15
10 and Under FREE
Grandstands/Trackside Sunday
$25 for Adults
$22 for Military/Seniors
$35 for Individual Suite Seat
$5 for ages 11-16
10 and Under FREE