FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Volunteer Speedway opens 2010 racing season Saturday, March 6 with running of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series $10,000-to-win 'Spring Thaw'

BULLS GAP, Tenn. — After a long, cold and snowy winter around the East Tennessee region there is great anticipation to the arrival of the warmth of spring.

Volunteer Speedway will kick off its 37th season of exciting dirt racing on Saturday, March 6 with the running of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series $10,000-to-win "Spring Thaw." Making it an all-late model racing program, besides the Lucas Oil Super Late Models also racing will be the Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned Pro (Crate) Late Models.

Headlining the list of Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series drivers expected to be in action is current points leader and defending series champion Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn.; Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind.; Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla. (2005, '06, '07 and '08 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion, driving for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor Bobby Labonte); Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn.; Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, Wis.; Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill.; Dale McDowell of Chickamuaga, Ga.; Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C.; Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind.; Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky.; Eric Jacobsen of Seacliffe Beach, Calif.; John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.; Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C.; Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y.; Chris Wall of Holden, La.; Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky.; Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, Ky., Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., plus many more.

A tentative list of racers' from around the East Tennessee region looking to take on the out-of-state invaders at the Spring Thaw include five-time (1997, '98, 2000, '05 and '09) Volunteer Speedway track champion Vic Hill of Morristown, Greeneville's Jeff Maupin (2008 Super Late Model track champion), Bristol's Kerry Jones, Randy Weaver of Crossville, Knoxville's Billy Ogle Jr., Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Scott Sexton of Pigeon Forge, Knoxville's Rick Rogers, Michael Smith of Rogersville, Shanon Buckingham of Morristown, Knoxville's Mark Douglas, Mark Vineyard of Powell, along with several others.

A night of open practice for all competitors is scheduled Friday, March 5.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series time trials, heat races, last chance B-mains and the $10,000-to-win, 60-lap Spring Thaw main event highlight the Saturday, March 6 racing program, along with a 25-lap Pro (Crate) Late Model feature.

Adult grandstand admission on Saturday, March 6 is $25, youth (ages 8-15) $15, with 7-and-under admitted free in the grandstands. Pit passes and backside tier-parking $35, regardless of age.

The pit gate will open at 1 p.m., with the grandstands opening at 3:30 p.m. Hotlaps are tentatively scheduled to begin around 5 p.m., followed by qualifying and then racing action.

***NOTE: With a large crowd expected and all available seating space needed for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event, no lawn chairs will be permitted in the grandstand. Only stadium seat-type cushions will be allowed. Also, no coolers or outside food allowed to be brought into the front straightaway (main) grandstand! Coolers are permitted in the pit area and the reserved backstretch tier-parking - however no glass containers allowed.

Directions to Volunteer Speedway: South on Interstate 81 from Tennessee/Virginia state lines, take Exit 23 (Bulls Gap/Greeneville), then turn right onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Look for track entrance approximately 200 yards on left.

North on Interstate 81 from I-81/I-40 split (East of Knoxville, TN), take Exit 23, then turn left onto Hwy. 11-E at bottom of the exit ramp. Continue underneath the interstate over-pass and track entrance approximately 300 yards ahead on left.

For information about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, visit the Web site by clicking the series logo above.

Volunteer Speedway: (423) 235-5020
Track Office - Weekdays Only 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.: (423) 378-5942
Phyllis Loven: (423) 676-9081
David Bryant - Facilities Manager/Race Director: Race Shop (423) 235-5420 ... Cell (865) 978-1752
Robert Walden - Media/Public Relations Director: (423) 928-9644 robwald@prodigy.net
Amanda Buckingham - Marketing & Sales Director: (423) 817-0925 volunteerspeedway@gmail.com