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Hav-A-Tampa: 10th Anniversary Season Takes Shape at Dixie Speedway

25 February 1999

WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The 1999 United Dirt Track Racing Association's Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series season has taken a new shape. The nation's top dirt Late Model drivers are preparing for the fourth race of the $3-Million 10th Anniversary Hav-A-Tampa schedule with the Carl Black Buick, Pontiac, GMC 100 at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, GA on February 27-28.

The first of three Dixie Speedway HAT events on the 1999 schedule will pay $15,000-to-win, but the race could be worth as much as $87,000 by season's end courtesy of Dixie Speedway owner Mickey Swims via "Mickey's Big $20,000 Bonus."

If the driver that wins the Carl Black Buick Pontiac, GMC 100 can come back and win the season finale 10th Annual Hav-A-Tampa Shootout at Dixie Speedway on October 8-9, that driver will pocket another $52,000 for winning the Shootout, plus collect Mickey's Big Bonus of $20,000. In the nine previous editions of the Shootout, no driver has ever collected Mickey's Big Bonus.

With the level of HAT competition at an all-time high, Mickey Swims' 20 grand could be safe for another year.

After the first three HAT point races of 1999, there are some new names gracing the top ten in the point standings. Top ten drivers from the 1998 points chase have all struggled in one form or another in the first three events of the 1999 HAT season.

Rick Eckert of York, PA leads the HAT point standings after the first three events with 452 points followed by Dale McDowell of Rossville, GA in second with 435 points. Defending and three-time HAT Champion Scott Bloomquist is tied with Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC for third with 414 points apiece.

The 1996 HAT Champion Freddy Smith of Knoxville, TN is fifth in the 1999 points chase with 396 points, and sixth spot belongs to Steve Francis of Ashland, KY with 385 points. Wendell Wallace of Batesville, AR is seventh with 366 points, and eighth is last year's HAT Rookie of the Year Dan Schlieper of Pewaukee, WI.

The ninth place driver is defending HAT Shootout Champion Tim Hitt of Weston, WV, and tenth is another former Shootout Champion Bill Frye of Greenbrier, AR.

Four drivers who finished in the top ten in last year's point standings are currently outside the top ten. Those drivers include 1997 HAT Champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, AR who is currently 11th, Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL is 13th, last year's championship runner-up Skip Arp of Georgetown, TN is 15th, and Marshall Green of Dalton, GA is currently 19th in the points chase.

In the first three races of 1999 four top ten drivers from last season, including Bloomquist, Arp, Cook and Green have had to use provisionals to get into at least one of the first three races. Top ten drivers from last season that have failed to make at least one of the first three events of 1999 include Smith, Wallace, Schlieper, Pearson, Green, and Moyer.

Of the drivers currently in the top ten in points, all have attempted to qualify, but only Eckert, McDowell, Bloomquist, Cook, and Francis have competed in all three main events.

Past Shootout winners include the late Bill Ingram, Tony Reaid of Acworth, GA, Buddy Morris of Rome, GA, Bloomquist, Frye, Wallace, Moyer, and Hitt. Reaid, Bloomquist and Frye have each won the qualifying race and the Shootout, but not in the same year.

Other past winners of the HAT Shootout qualifying race at Dixie Speedway expected for the Carl Black Buick, Pontiac, GMC 100 include Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN, McDowell, Stan Massey of Mableton, GA, and 1993 HAT Champion Clint Smith of Griffin, GA.

The HAT regulars will also face some tough competition from Peach State traveling pros that include Jack Pennington of Winston, GA, who won the HAT season opener in Brunswick, GA on January 30, Mike Head of Ellenwood, GA, and Mark Miner of Stockbridge, GA.

The local contingent of Dixie Speedway regulars expected include defending track champion Wayne Echols of Cumming, GA, along with former track champions Grainger Howell of Cartersville, GA, Phil Coltraine of Cumming, GA, and Wade Knowles of Tyrone, GA. Other local favorites include Ricky Williams of Fayetteville, GA, Frank Ingram of Acworth, GA, and Rodney Martin of Cartersville, GA.

The two-day format for the Carl Black Buick, Pontiac, GMC 100 will see the HAT cars qualifying and running heat races on Saturday night February 27. The Dixie Speedway Bombers and Super Bombers will also be in action on the 3/8-mile clay oval. On Saturday, February 27, the pit gate opens at 1 p.m., the front gates open at 4 p.m., with racing scheduled for 7 p.m.

On Sunday, February 28, the HAT cars will compete in Consolation Races and the Carl Black Buick, Pontiac, GMC 100. The Dixie Speedway Sportsmen and Cruiser Divisions will also be in action. For Sunday, February 28, the gates open at 11 a.m., and racing is scheduled for 2 p.m.

There will be an open practice session at Dixie Speedway on Friday night, February 26. The gates open at 3 p.m., with practice scheduled from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

All seating for the Carl Black Buick, Pontiac, GMC 100 will be general admission. For ticket information call Dixie Speedway at (770) 926-5315. Dixie Speedway is located six miles east of I-75 at exit 120 on State Road 92.