:aetsch013:FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/08/08 from the O?Reilly United Sprint Car Series
O?Reilly USCS “ASPHALT THUNDER” SPRINT CARS HEADLINE SEASON-OPENER at WATERMELON CAPITAL SPEEDWAY SATURDAY NIGHT (MARCH 15TH)
Cordele, GA - Wild and exciting winged Outlaw sprint car racing returns to Watermelon Capital Speedway for the 1st annual ?Spring Speed Spectacular? on Saturday night, March 15th. The O?Reilly Auto Parts sponsored United Sprint Car Series “Asphalt Thunder” Tour will roar into the fast four-tenths mile paved oval for its 2008 season-opening event. This will be the first event of the twelfth season for the O?Reilly USCS National touring drivers who also race on dirt ovals. The O?Reilly USCS is the only winged Outlaw sprint car series in the World that races on both dirt and paved surfaces.
The event is expected to bring top winged Outlaw sprint car drivers from at least six states to the Speedway. Their exotic fire breathing, alcohol burning, 700 horsepower open wheel cars weight just 1,300 pounds and will literally fly around the track surface at speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour. It is not uncommon to see O?Reilly USCS sprint cars popping “wheelies” or doing wheel stands because of the brute force of their engines and their huge 18-inch wide rear tires. Saturday night’s Outlaw sprint car action will feature a full program that will include time trials, qualifying heat races and a 40-Lap A-main event.
The evening’s first sprint car race will be the Lucas Oil Power Dash that showcases the top cars from the previous O?Reilly USCS main event in an edge-of-your-seat six-car shootout. In addition to the O?Reilly USCS winged sprints , the Speedway?s drivers in five weekly racing divisions will part of the season-opener. Those classes include the popular Pure Stock, Mini Stock and Claimer divisions plus the Legends Cars and Bandoleros. Each of those divisions will contest a full racing program including qualifying races and features.
Heavy-hitter sprint car entries from across the nation including the six-time O?Reilly USCS National Champion Terry Gray from Bartlett, Tennessee and 2005 O?Reilly USCS Asphalt Thunder Champion Wayne Reutimann, Jr. from Zephyrhills, Florida. Reutimann will field a three car team. One of the Team Reutimann drivers is legendary open wheel racer and three time O?Reilly USCS Asphalt Thunder feature winner Wayne Reutimann, Sr.
Another talented young gun is 22-year-old Danny Martin,Jr. from Sarasota, Florida is entered. Martin was the 2004, 2005 and 2006 runner-up for the O?Reilly USCS National Championship. He also destroyed the competition when he won at Watermelon Capital Speedway in July 2006 with a scorching victory nearly lapping the field. He will be joined by several other talented
USCS Young Guns (drivers under 25) including 2007 Asphalt Thunder Tour rookie of the Year, Nick DeFeo from Marietta, Georgia. Another expected young star is nineteen-year-old 2007 O?Reilly USCS Southern Thunder Rookie of the Year, Lee Moore from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Other notable entries include: Driver and team owner Dan Statter, from Deltona Florida who finished in the runner-up spot in the 2007 Asphalt Thunder point standings will bring a two-car team to the event. English road racing star turned sprint car racer, Adam Jackson who resides in Dillon, South is entered. Jacskon competed in five O?Reilly USCS events in 2007 and nearly pulled off a victory on two occasions. He and expected to be a contender for the victory here as well. O?Reilly USCS veteran Dave Thorman from Greenville, SC is also entered.
Additional out of state entries expected are: Wendy Mathis from Ocala, Florida and former Tampa Bay Area Racing Association driver, Keith Butler from Riverview, Florida.Other Sunshine State entries include two other team-mates and former TBARA Champions, Stan and Shane Butler plus Ben Fritz from Ocala, Florida, Charlie Ladner from Brandon, Florida and Nick Manikis from Tampa, Florida. Other expected entries include several North Carolina drivers including 2006 Florence Motor Speedway winner, Johnny Bridges from Cherryville, North Carolina and veteran sprint car driver and 2002 O?Reilly USCS series title runner-up Doug Day from Winder, GA. Other expected entries include twenty-four year-old Tom Winegardner, Jr. from Pierson, Florida who finished third in the 2006 National standings and captured the 2007 regional Championship for the American Sprint Car Series.
The Watermelon Capital Speedway official website is www.watermeloncapitalspeedway.com The track is located one half mile west of Interstate 75 at Exit 104 North of Cordele. The track info number is 229-271-9301. For O?Reilly USCS info call 404-886-5913 or visit the official O?Reilly USCS web site at www.uscsracing.com
USCS Media Contact: PETE WALTON, O?Reilly USCS (404) 886-5913 petewalton@bellsouth.net