HMS Point Season Opens April 13 (I2)
Contact: Todd Fisher (843) 784-RACE -- For Immediate Release Points Season Begins at HMS on Saturday Night HARDEEVILLE, S.C. (April 12, 2002) - The Hardeeville Motor Speedway will feature more great racing action on its 1/3 mile high-banked oval this Saturday Night, April 13th as the HMS Track Points Season begins. The Lightning Lawnmowers will return to HMS the O.C. Welch Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Late Models, Legends Cars, Mini Stocks and Xtreme Stock Cars. Children ages three to eight years old will also compete in the exciting Coca Cola Kid's Pedal Car Races at intermission. The Lawnmower racing will feature the B.C. Championship Lawnmower Racing Team headed up by Alan Elder of Gainesville, Ga. Since their last visit to HMS, some of the vehicles are now equipped with asphalt racing slicks and wings that will allow them to go in excess of 70 mph on the 1/3-mile high banked action track. With the opening of the 2002 HMS Points Season, Tommy Porter of Savannah, Ga. looks to defend his 2001 track championship in the O.C. Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Late Models. Ellis Huggins of Pembroke, Ga., the 2001 HMS Street Stock champion, Mark Terry of Rincon, Ga., the 2001 HMS Mini Stock champion, and Corey Fletcher of Bllomingdale, Ga., the 2001 Semi-Pro Legends Cars champion, will look to dethrone Porter as they have all moved up to the Late Model division for 2002. Other strong contenders in Late Model division will be Leland Prewitt of Savannah, Ga., Shane Jenkins from Statesboro, Ga. and Corey Hendrix also from Statesboro, Ga. With Terry moving to the Late Models, a new champion will be crowned in the Mini Stock division for 2002. Stephen Moore from St. George, S.C. appears to be the pre-season favorite to win the division, but not without some stiff competition from Johnny Brown of Bluffton, S.C. and Randy Day of Beaufort, S.C. The Xtreme Stock Car division will be close again this year as Timmy Dasher of Bluffton, S.C. will defend his 2001 title against the likes of Don Dean of Sheldon, S.C. and Scott "The Problem Child" Thorne this year. Both Thorne and Dean have won more races than Dasher last season, but consistency paid off for Dasher as he claimed the championship. Other contenders for the championship will include Keith Sanchez and rookie sensation Jimmy "The Jet" Tuten , both from Hardeeville, S.C. Randy Crews of Estill, S.C. and Ray Smith of Early Branch, S.C. will also be in the thick of the points battle at the end of the season. 2000 and 2001 Pro Legends Cars champion Bob Gossett of Hilton Head, S.C. has indicated that he will not return to HMS to defend his title as he pursues other interests. This leaves the door open for Kevin O'Brien of Burton, S.C., Garrett Shurling of Ellabell, Ga. and A.J. Frank from Bluffton, S.C. to battle for the 2002 Pro championship. With Fletcher moving up to Late Models, a new Semi Pro champion will be crowned. Pre-season favorites include Jimmy Land of Bluffton, S.C., Billy Tysinger of Hardeeville, S.C. and Andrew Smith of Savannah, Ga. James Dent of Hinesville, Ga., Darren Gordon of Hilton Head, S.C. and Matt Harter of Jesup, Ga. may also figure into the championship battle at the end of the year. 2001 Masters Division champion dave Sondles of Johns Island, S.C. will battle with front runners Randy Forehand of Sylvania, Ga. and Steve Desimone of Hilton Head, S.C. 2000 Masters Division champion, Steve Johnson from Hampton, S.C. will return to HMS in his quest for two championships in three years. Newcomers Frank Fegel, Jr. of Kingsland, Ga. and Tom Oliva of Port Royal, S.C. may give the favorites fits for the championship. Gates open at 4:00 p.m., qualifying begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by the National Anthem at 7:00 p.m. General admission ticket prices are $10.00 for adults; $6.00 for Juniors (ages 13-16), Seniors (55 and older) and Military (with proper I.D.); $2.00 for children (ages 6-12); and children under 5 are free. On Saturday night, April 27th, the Hardeeville Motor Speedway will host the Southern All Star Pro truck Series for the first time ever. Truck racing starts from Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina will be on hand for the 100 lap main events. Along with the Trucks will be the Legends Cars, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and Xtreme Stock Cars. The Hardeeville Motor Speedway is located three miles south of I-95 (exit 5 in SC) on Highway 17 or just ten miles north of Savannah on Highway 17. For more information, contact (843) 784 RACE (7223) or visit online at www.hardeevillespeedway.com. # # # Saturday, April 13th Time Schedule: 4:00 p.m. Pits & Grandstands Open 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Practice Mini Stocks Xtreme Stock Cars Late Models Legends Cars Lawnmowers 5:45 p.m. Drivers Meeting 6:00 p.m. Time Trials for Legends Cars (1 lap) Time Trials for Late Models (1 lap) Lady Legends Feature (15 laps) Young Lions Feature (15 Laps) Lawnmowers on 1/5 mile 7:00 p.m. Invocation & National Anthem Legends Cars B-Main (15 laps) Xtreme Stock Car Feature (40, 30 or 20 laps) Lawnmowers on 1/3 mile (6 laps) Legends Cars A-Main (40, 30 or 20 laps) Intermission (Coca Cola Kid’s Pedal Car Races) Late Models (75, 50 or 30 laps) Mini Stocks (40, 30 or 20 laps) 10:15 p.m. Racing Completed