HMS Races and Fireworks on Saturday, October 12th (I1)
HARDEEVILLE, S.C. (October 9, 2002) A rarity will occur at the Hardeeville Motor Speedway this Saturday night, October 12th as the Florida Pro Series Late Models invade, lead by the all-time leader in short track career victories, Dick Anderson. Unlike many sports, auto racing does not have a “home team,” just individuals who compete for fame and fortune on the track. However, when the Florida Pro Series comes to town, local race fans will be able to support and cheer for the “hometown boys” lead by Shane Jenkins, the 2002 HMS Late Model track champion. After last Saturday’s victory, Jenkins was asked about his feelings about the Florida Pro Series coming to town and taking on the local Late Model drivers, Jenkins replied “bring it on, we’ll show ‘em how its done in our house!” Following Jenkins into battle on the “Home team” will be Walter Reardon of Savannah, GA and Skeeter Godbee of Sylvania, GA. Chris Beach, former HMS Legends champion and 2002 Concord (NC) Motor Speedway NASCAR champion has indicated that he may return to HMS for the first time this year and steal the $2,500 top prize from the Florida regulars. Fans and media will be able to see the cars practice on Friday night, October 11th in the Florida Pro Series Preview. A fireworks spectacular has been added as part of the season finale this Saturday. The Legends Cars, Mini Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars and Road Warriors will also be in action. The fireworks display will conclude the events on Saturday night. This is one show that fans will not want to miss. Gates open on Saturday at 4:00 p.m., qualifying begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by the National Anthem at 7:05 p.m. General admission ticket prices are $15.00 for adults; $10.00 for Juniors (ages 13-16), Seniors (55 and older) and Military (with proper I.D.); and children 12 years of age and younger are free. 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 for discount coupons for the race event. HMS Pit Notes - Lady Legends competitor, Wanda Sondles from Johns Island, SC, passed away at her home on Sunday, October 6th. Wanda has been a strong supporter of the Lady Legends divisions and a fierce competitor. Her husband, Dave, was the 2001 Legends Cars Masters Division Track Champion. A moment of silence will be observed for Wanda just before the playing of the National Anthem this Saturday night. - The Motorama Car Show originally scheduled for Saturday, October 19th has been rescheduled for Tuesday night, November 26th. The event will be called “Turkey Rod Run Pit Stop” as cars, trucks, tractors, motorcycles and racecars will be shown “UNDER THE LIGHTS” at the Hardeeville Motor Speedway. HMS will also have space available to sell used boats, RV’s, motorcycles, cars, trucks and more. Contact 843-784-7223 for more details. - The IPRA Pro Rodeo comes to town again on Friday and Saturday night, October 25th and 26th. Cowboys and cowgirls from all across the United States will compete in seven events that include bullriding, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc, team roping, steer wrestling, calf roping and barrel racing. Gates open at 5 p.m., exhibition and pre-event activities at 6:00 p.m. and the rodeo begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices for general admission are $12 for adults with reduced rates for seniors, military and children. Advance tickets on sale for reduced rates from day-of-show prices. A special VIP trackside seat is also available on both nights. - Track Points Update: O.C. Welch Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Late Models (Points are Final): By claiming the feature win last Saturday night, Shane Jenkins from Statesboro, GA put an exclamation point on his first HMS track championship. He dethrones 2001 track champion Tommy Porter Jr. from Savannah, GA. Shawn Pritchard from Port Wentworth, GA was the 2000 HMS Late Model champion. Legends Cars (Remaining Point Races: October 12): In the Pro division, Kevin O’Brien from Burton, SC, has clinched the Pro division championship. Jim Reyburn of Charleston, SC has clinched the Masters division. This is the first track championship at HMS for both O’Brien and Reyburn. A new Semi-Pro champion will also be crowned this Saturday as the battle at the top between Jimmy Lang of Bluffton, SC and Jonathan Haidon of Hilton Head, SC will conclude. Haidon holds a slim 9-point lead over Lang going into the final race. If the two drivers should tie in points, Lang will be declared the champion as the tiebreaker of most wins will go to him. The only hope for Andrew Smith of Savannah, GA, who is currently third, is for both Haidon and Lang to not show up to the event. Xtreme Stock Cars (Remaining Point Races: October 12): With one race remaining, Don Dean from Sheldon, SC, looks to claim his first Xtreme Stock Car track championship as he holds a 21-point lead of 2001 champion Timmy Dasher from Bluffton, SC. As long as Dean finishes the final feature, Dasher should not be a threat to Dean, but stranger things have happened in this division. Mini Stocks (Remaining Point Races: October 12): Steven Moore from St. George, SC can clinch his first track championship by taking the green flag in the final feature event of the season this Saturday. All David Carr, Jr. from Martinez, GA can do is hope for bad luck for Moore in order to have a shot at the title. Coastal Medical Associates Street Stocks (Points are Final): Glenn Mappus of Ridgeville, SC clinched the championship by 6 points over James Beckett of Ridgeland, SC. Robert Myers of Ridgeville, SC finished in third. Hardeeville Motor Speedway October 11, 2002 (Friday) Florida Pro Series Preview /Open Practice Time Schedule (Subject to Change) 5:00 p.m. Pit Gates Open (Pit Passes: 12 & older - $15.00; Under 12 - Not permitted in the pits) 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Practice Begins (all divisions in the following order) - THIS IS NOT A RACE! Rotation: Based upon Cars in the Pit Areas on 1/3 mile oval October 12, 2002 (Saturday) Florida Pro Series Late Models Race Time Schedule (Subject to Change) 4:00 p.m. Pit Gates Open (Pit Passes: 12 & older - $25.00; Under 12 - Not permitted in the pits) 4:00 p.m. Grandstands Open (Tickets: Adults ages 17 to 54- $15.00; Juniors ages 13-16, Seniors ages 55+ and Military with i.d. - $10.00; Children under 12 Free) 4:30 p.m. 5:45 p.m. Open Practice (all divisions in the following order) Rotation: Legends Cars Xtreme Stock Cars Florida Pro Series Late Models Mini Stocks 5:50 p.m. HMS Local Divisions Driver’s Meeting (Mandatory) - A random role call may be taken. Failure to report to the driver’s meeting may result in disqualification for the entire event that night). 6:00 p.m. Time Trials for Legends Cars (2 laps each) - ½ field locked into A-Main, Remainder to the B-Main. Time Trials for Florida Pro Series Late Models (2 laps each) 7:00 p.m. Invocation and National Anthem 7:05 p.m. Feature Events - Victory Lane @ Finish Line for Top 3 in each division except for B-Main. * Number of laps depends on car counts. Road Warriors Feature #1 - Laps and Event to be announced Legends Cars B-Main - (15 laps) - Trophy to the winner. # of qualifiers for A-Main to be determined (max. 24 cars in A-Main). Florida Pro Series Late Models Feature - (100 laps) Xtreme Stock Cars Feature - (20 laps) Legends Cars A-Main Feature - (30 laps) Mini Stocks Feature - (20 laps) Road Warriors Feature #2 - Laps and Event to be announced FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR 10:15 p.m. Racing Completed 11:00 p.m. Pit Area Closes (Lights out) INCLEMENT WEATHER / CANCELLATION OF AN EVENT: In the event of rain or other conditions, it may be necessary for the Race Director/Promoter to adjust the order of the event schedule, length of races, practices and qualifying sessions, or to stop the program completely. Should this occur, the Race Director/Promoter shall make every effort to resume the schedule in a timely fashion if conditions improve. It is their sole discretion as to what decision they make and their decision is final. Rain Check Policy (Pits): Cancellation or delay of an event will be the speedway management’s decision. No money will be refunded for tickets or pit passes purchased. The armband with the appropriate numbers shall be used as the rain check. In the event that an event is canceled, rain checks will only be honored if all qualifying races for all divisions have not been completed. All races completed will be scratched and will not be rescheduled (EIRI special events). Rain checks for the pits will be honored for one of the next two events of equal or lesser value. If the rain check is used for an event of greater value, then the holder will be responsible for making up the difference in value. If the event is rained out or canceled after one feature race for any division has been completed, then the remaining feature events will be run at a later announced date. This date will probably be the next race event scheduled and the make-up features will be first on the program (before any qualifying heats scheduled for the regular event). Only cars qualified for the canceled event will be eligible for the make-up feature. Rain checks will not be issued for events when the make-up features are held. One lap past the halfway point in a feature shall constitute a complete race in the event a race is stopped due to bad weather. If a race is stopped by use of the red flag and is ruled complete (no matter how many laps are complete), the finishing positions will be paid according to the last officially scored lap by the leader prior to the red flag.