Cordele, GA (March 4, 2009) - Officials from Champion Racing Association (CRA), Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS) and Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA announced today that the 3/8 mile facility will host the season openers for both southern-based series on Saturday night, April 4th in the inaugural “Watermelon Twin 125s”.
The successful pairing of CRA and GAS comes on the heels of the highly successful and highly visible “SpeedFest 2009” in January, at Lanier National Speedway. NASCAR Cup Star Kyle Busch won the Super Late Model portion of SpeedFest, and Greg Simpson took top honors in the Pro Late Models. Entry forms were just released, but calls are coming from all over the southeast, including many Florida drivers.
“The combination of these two series has proven to be very successful,” noted Watermelon Capital Speedway owner Marvin Ragan, “and we?re excited to have a show of this caliber early in the season.” The two Touring Series will be supported by local divisions to be determined next week.
For the CRA South teams, the Cordele, GA event will not only be the first points event, but it will be the first ever event in the inaugural season for the recently announced series. “Watermelon Capital Speedway is a great site to kick off our new southern based series,” commented CRA co-owner Glenn Luckett. “It?s in a central location for the southern teams from the Carolinas to the Gulf coast and is on a date that does not in conflict with any other series. It should make for a special weekend for everyone.”
CRA officials previously announced a point?s fund/travel money plan for the new southern series. Since there are no current point standings, they have announced the first 25 entries for the event will be eligible for that bonus that will be paid to the top 15 finishers among those early entries. Following the first event, the point?s fund/travel money will revert back to being paid per event, based on point standings and attendance.
The “Watermelon Twins” event also has special meaning for the GAS series, as it will be the first point?s event under the leadership of new series owner Donnie Clack, also owner of Lanier National Speedway, and his new General Manager, Terry Roberts. “We?re so excited about the opener in Cordele, that we?ll be closed at Lanier on April 4th so all our fans can see this great show without conflict of schedules,” Roberts commented.
Both series will run 125 lap features, with practice and qualifying and features all in one day. Pit gates will open at 10 am, with practice starting at 1pm, qualifying at 5pm and racing at 7:30.
Speed51.com will be the “Official Website” for the “Watermelon Twins”, with complete stories, up-dates, and their usual “behind the scenes” coverage, unprecedented in short track racing.
This race weekend will also be the debut of the all new GAS Radio Network which will broadcast the race action live from Cordele on the World Wide Web at, www.lanierspeedway.com. The broadcast will cover both the GAS and CRA races at this event.
Complete schedule details, entry forms and additional information for the Watermelon Twin 125?s will follow next week. Be sure to visit www.craracing.net, www.lanierspeedway.com and www.watermeloncapitalspeedway.com for more information in the very near future.
See Flier Here:http://www.craracing.net/events/races2009/4409/WatermelonTwinsFlier.pdf