Jamaica, VA – Tickets to the Thursday, April 15 Thursday Night Thunder featuring Tony Stewart and the All-Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Car series are now available online. Adult tickets are $30, students (13-17) are $15, and children 12 and under are free. Click here to purchase your tickets – https://bit.ly/VAMotorSpeedway...
Jamaica, VA – After a year where the COVID-19 pandemic canceled racing activities for Virginia Motor Speedway, officials are excited to release the dates for the speedway’s 2021 marquee events. Fans are sure to want to mark their calendars for what will be another stellar year for special events at the ½ mile speed plant in Jamaica, VA. The season’s first marquee event will be held Thursday, April 15th, with the return of 410 sprint cars for a $15,000 to win, $1500 to start event. Thursday Night Thunder will once again feature the All Star Circuit of Champions sprint car series in action. The UMP Modified division will also be the support class for this must-see event. On Saturday, May 15th, the always exciting Ultimate Super Late Model Series will return for the $20,000 to win Virginia is for Racing Lovers King of the Commonwealth and a $3000 to win FASTRAK National event for Pro Late Models. August 7th, the Ultimate Super Late Model Series stars and cars will return for Ernie Shelton’s 45th Annual USA 100 and pay $20,000 to win. There will also be a $3000 to win FASTRAK National event for Pro Late Models. The FASTRAK Touring Series competitors will get one more chance to get dialed in for the $25,000 to win FASTRAK World Championship on Saturday, August 21st, with the $3000 to win Prelude to the World Championship. The event will mark the third $3000 to win event of the season for the Pro Late Model division. With the success of the 2019 FASTRAK World Championship, track owner Bill Sawyer announced that the event would once again make history and pay a whopping $25,000 to win Friday and Saturday, September 17-18, 2021. With 113 of the country’s best Pro Late Models in attendance for the 2019 edition, everyone is excited to see what 2021 has to offer. The UMP Modified division will be the support division once again. “We are thrilled to be returning to Virginia Motor Speedway for four great race events in 2021. We certainly appreciate everything the Sawyer family and the entire VMS staff do to put on these events as they are no small undertaking. We look forward to the King of the Commonwealth, USA 100, Prelude to the World Championship and the 2021 FASTRAK World Championship at this remarkable facility,” commented FASTRAK International Executive Vice-President DJ Irvine. The fun doesn’t stop there as the speedway will once again host two of the region’s best mud bogs on May 1st and October 2nd. Speed51.com will be the broadcast partner for the speedway 2021 season and will be broadcasting both weekly and marque events on Speed51.tv. Speed51 will also air the FASTRAK World Championship on the MAVtv Motorsports Network on a taped delay basis and a time to be determined later in the year. Look for the complete 2021 schedule to be released in the next few weeks. Fans can visit www.vamotorspeedway.com for more info on the speedway’s 52nd season of racing. Don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vamotorspeedway and “Follow” us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/vamotorspeedway. Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway is a 1/2-mile, dirt oval. The track located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland, and the Hampton Roads area....
Jamaica, VA – With the speedway’s special events having already been released several weeks ago, Virginia Motor Speedway officials have now released the rest of the 2020 schedule. It will mark the 51st season of action at the ½ mile speed plant in Jamaica, VA. The schedule includes eleven (11) nights of weekly racing action, the return of 410 sprint cars with the April 16th Thursday Night Thunder featuring the All Star Circuit of Champions and Tony Stewart, two Ultimate Super Late Model sanctioned events – the May 30th $20,000 to win King of the Commonwealth and the August 1st $20,000 to win 44th Annual USA 100; the $3000 to win Prelude to the World Championship for FASTRAK Pro Late Models, the return of the history-making $51,000 to win FASTRAK World Championship presented by James River Equipment weekend and two mud bogs at the facilities state-of-the-art 200 mud bog pit. The 2020 season will open on Saturday, April 4th with Dirt Series Championship weekly racing action featuring a full program that will include the Victory Lap Pro Late Model, Truckin Thunder Sportsman, Budweiser Modified, and Collision One Limited Stock, divisions. The Dirt Series Champion weekly racing season will conclude on Saturday, September 5th, with the crowning of the speedway’s champions in each division. Don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vamotorspeedway and “Follow” us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/vamotorspeedway. Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway is a 1/2-mile, dirt oval. The track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area....
Jamaica, VA – Virginia Motor Speedway officials have released the dates for the speedway’s marquee events. Fans are sure to want to mark their calendars for what will be another stellar year for special events at the ½ mile speed plant in Jamaica, VA. The season’s first marquee event will be held Thursday, April 16th, with the return of 410 sprint cars for a $10,000 to win, $1000 to start event. Thursday Night Thunder will once again feature the All Star Circuit of Champions sprint car series in action. The UMP Modified division will again be the support class for this must-see event. May 30th sees the return of the Ultimate Super Late Model Series for the $20,000 to win King of the Commonwealth along with a $3000 to win FASTRAK National event for Pro Late Models. After being rained out in 2019 speedway officials are eager to host this marquee event. August 1st, the Ultimate Super Late Model Series stars, and cars will return for the 44th Annual USA 100 and pay $20,000 to win. There will also be a $3000 to win FASTRAK National event for Pro Late Models. The FASTRAK Racing Series Touring Series competitors will get one more chance to get dialed in for the $50,000 to win FASTRAK World Championship on Saturday, August 22nd, with the $3000 to win Prelude to the World Championship. The event will mark the third $3000 to win event of the season for the Pro Late Model division. With the success of the 2019 FASTRAK World Championship track owner Bill Sawyer announced that the event would once again make history and pay a whopping $50,000 to win and $2050 to start Friday and Saturday, September 18-19, 2020. With 113 of the country’s best Pro Late Models in attendance for the 2019 edition, everyone is excited to see what 2020 has to offer. The UMP Modified division will be the support division once again. “We are thrilled to be returning to Virginia Motor Speedway for four great race events in 2020. We certainly appreciate everything the Sawyer family and the entire VMS do to put on these events as they are no small undertaking. We look forward to the King of the Commonwealth, USA 100, Prelude to the World Championship and the 2020 FASTRAK World Championship at this remarkable facility,” commented FASTRAK International Executive Vice-President DJ Irvine. The fun doesn’t stop there as the speedway will once again host two of the region’s best mud bogs on May 2th and October 3rd. Look for the complete 2020 schedule to be released in the next few weeks. Fans can visit www.vamotorspeedway.com for more info on the speedway’s 51st season of racing....
JAMAICA, VA (By Tyler Altmeyer and Dave Seay) – Earning a first-ever Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory is certainly special, but to accomplish that feat in front of a packed-house makes the trip to victory lane all the sweeter. Not to mention, the triumph was worth $10,000. Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions kicked off their 2019 championship points season, officially, with a Thursday night visit to Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Virginia. Cory Eliason, driver of the ever-familiar Rudeen Racing/Hagar Realty Service/Rayce Rudeen Foundation/No. 26 sprint car, proved to be the class of the field during the Thursday Night Thunder program at VMS, leading laps seven through 30 to clinch the $10,000 payday. Despite leading the majority of the 30-lap program, Eliason was under immense pressure, ultimately forced to hold back one of the best in the country, Gettysburg’s Danny Dietrich, to clinch his first-ever trip to All Star victory lane. “My guys gave me a great race car. We kinda struggled during qualifying, but we came out swinging for the heat race, dash and feature, and came out with a win,” Cory Eliason explained in Virginia Motor Speedway victory lane. “We did this for our car owner’s son, Rayce, who passed away. His birthday is tomorrow. This is a great honor to him.” In other action David Stremme got by Michael Altobelli on the final lap to claim the $3000 Dirt Cup Challenge UMP Modified feature. The ‘Buckeye Bullet’ Dave Blaney and Danny Dietrich shared the front row for the start of the main event, but it was Gary Kauffman Racing’s Danny Dietrich who earned the initial jump, taking command and leading the first six circuits unchallenged. Although Eliason slipped into second from third after the drop of the green, it was not until lap seven that the Visalia, California-native was able to apply pressure on Dietrich with a bold move around the top in turns three and four. Lapped traffic was the key, allowing Eliason to capitalize and blast around Dietrich on the cushion. Dietrich’s preferred line around the bottom was blocked with slower cars. Despite being forced to endure a red flag stop and a pair of cautions between laps eight and 13, Eliason’s campaign at the front of the field was relatively uncontested, that until slower traffic returned to the picture just beyond the midpoint of the 30-lap program. By lap 24, things started to heat up immensely. Eliason’s pace was starting to slow as traffic intensified allowing Dietrich and Premier Motorsports’ Brock Zearfoss to enter the frame. By that point, Dietrich and Zearfoss already exchanged positions twice, as Zearfoss powered into second on lap 21, only to lose the spot back to Dietrich on lap 22. On lap 27, Dietrich attempted to earn the lead back with a slider between turns one and two; the try failed allowing Eliason to once again slip away in traffic. A caution on lap 29 was Eliason’s saving grace, ultimately giving the Rudeen Racing ace a clear track and clean air the final two circuits. “It’s tough racing in traffic because one side of you wants to just slide in there and force the lapped cars to lift, but the other side of you is telling you to be patient and wait for them to make a mistake,” Eliason continued. “We’re racing for points this year, so that kinda forces you to pick and choose your battles. Everything worked out and the luck fell our way. Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good.” Despite a fierce battle with Jonestown’s Brock Zearfoss in the closing circuits, Danny Dietrich held on to finish second, followed by Zearfoss, Cale Conley, and a 22nd-starting Aaron Reutzel, the evening’s hard charger. “I did not need that last yellow flag,” Danny Dietrich said, “Man, we were rolling pretty good on the bottom. I think we had a little bit of a steering gear issue tonight, but once I figured out it wasn’t going to fail, I could concentrate on racing. Hopefully we stay dry at Williams Grove Speedway and we’ll get to try again.” In the Dirt Cup Challenge UMP Modified feature Michael Altobelli and Andy Boahn led the 26 car field to green with Boahn taking the lead from the outside. By lap 15 of the 40 lap affair the battle for the lead had become three wide with David Stremme joining Boahn and Altobelli in a battle for the lead. On lap 18 the trio once again went three wide this time with Altobelli taking over the lead with a pass out of turn three. Caution fell for the fourth time on the following circuit with a spin in t4. On the restart Stremme jumped inside Boahn to take over second. The two raced nose to tail until lap 24 when Stremme dove inside Altobelli in turn 1 only to have Altobelli power back around him in turn 2. The two raced side by side on several laps with Altobelli being able to hold off Stremme’s advances, that is until lap 38 when Stremme ducked under Altobelli out of turn 4 to grab the lead. His lead was short lived as Altobelli stayed to his outside in turn 1 and taking the lead back with a stronger move out of turn 2. With the two side by side at the white flag and lapped traffic just ahead Stremme kept his position on the bottom as the two entered turn one allowing Stremme to pin Altobelli behind a lapped car allowing Stremme to take the lead. Caution and checkers would be displayed with Stremme the winner followed by Altobelli, Austin Holcombe, Ryan Ayers and David Taylor. The speedway will now host the Ultimate Super Late Model Series sanctioned King of the Commonwealth on Saturday, April 20th featuring a $20,000 to win feature for super late models and a $3000 to win feature for FASTRAK Pro Late Models. For more info visit www.vamotorspeedway.com. COMPLETE RESULTS FOR THURSDAY NIGHT THUNDER APRIL 11, 2019 – All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Car Series A Feature 1 – 1. 26-Cory Eliason, 30:36.841[3]; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich, 30:38.192[2]; 3. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 30:38.811[5]; 4. 7K-Cale Conley, 30:39.840[10]; 5. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 30:40.056[22]; 6. 14-Tony Stewart, 30:40.190[6]; 7. 13-Paul McMahan, 30:41.282[9]; 8. 07-Gerard McIntyre Jr, 30:41.956[7]; 9. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 30:42.004[14]; 10. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 30:42.208[15]; 11. 99-Skylar Gee, 30:42.731[4]; 12. 72-Ryan Smith, 30:42.820[13]; 13. W20-Greg Wilson, 30:43.738[11]; 14. 35-Tyler Esh, 30:43.821[12]; 15. 11-Dale Blaney, 30:45.001[17]; 16. 49-Mallie Shuster, 30:45.153[20]; 17. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 28:45.493[8]; 18. 91Q-David Quackenbush, 30:46.287[21]; 19. 40-George Hobaugh Jr., 27:18.752[18]; 20. 91-Anthony Fiore, 25:21.458[16]; 21. 5-Dylan Cisney, 25:02.908[19]; 22. 98H-Dave Blaney, 07:10.144[1]; 23. 40X-Rick Elliott, 05:58.048[23]; 24. 35X-Dalton Dietrich, [24] Dash 1 – 1. 98H-Dave Blaney, 03:18.460[2]; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich, 03:19.363[1]; 3. 26-Cory Eliason, 03:20.006[3]; 4. 99-Skylar Gee, 03:21.528[4]; 5. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 03:22.052[6]; 6. 14-Tony Stewart, 03:22.714[7]; 7. 07-Gerard McIntyre Jr, 03:25.807[8]; 8. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 02:52.904[5] Heat 1 – 1. 70-Brock Zearfoss, 04:42.450[3]; 2. 07-Gerard McIntyre Jr, 04:46.658[1]; 3. 13-Paul McMahan, 04:48.304[6]; 4. 99-Skylar Gee, 04:49.832[2]; 5. 24-Lucas Wolfe, 04:50.124[7]; 6. 11-Dale Blaney, 04:51.478[8]; 7. 5-Dylan Cisney, 04:52.393[5]; 8. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 04:33.315[4] Heat 2 – 1. 98H-Dave Blaney, 06:12.227[2]; 2. 26-Cory Eliason, 06:12.511[4]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson, 06:15.436[1]; 4. 35-Tyler Esh, 06:16.721[6]; 5. 72-Ryan Smith, 06:17.886[3]; 6. 40-George Hobaugh Jr., 06:19.419[5]; 7. 91Q-David Quackenbush, 06:21.763[7]; (DNS) 35X-Dalton Dietrich, 06:21.763 Heat 3 – 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 08:26.158[4]; 2. 14-Tony Stewart, 08:29.595[1]; 3. 7K-Cale Conley, 08:30.350[5]; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich, 08:31.462[3]; 5. 70X-Spencer Bayston, 08:31.917[8]; 6. 91-Anthony Fiore, 08:34.762[2]; 7. 49-Mallie Shuster, 08:35.705[6]; (DNS) 40X-Rick Elliott, 05:01.936 Qualifying – 1. 49X-Tim Shaffer, 14.390 (New Track Record)[18]; 2. 87-Aaron Reutzel, [17]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich, [7]; 4. 70-Brock Zearfoss, [24]; 5. 99-Skylar Gee, [12]; 6. 07-Gerard McIntyre Jr, [14]; 7. 5-Dylan Cisney, [4]; 8. 13-Paul McMahan, [15]; 9. 26-Cory Eliason, [8]; 10. 91-Anthony Fiore, [11]; 11. 72-Ryan Smith, [20]; 12. 14-Tony Stewart, [21]; 13. 24-Lucas Wolfe, [23]; 14. 7K-Cale Conley, [5]; 15. 98H-Dave Blaney, [3]; 16. 11-Dale Blaney, [2]; 17. W20-Greg Wilson, [22]; 18. 40-George Hobaugh Jr., [13]; 19. 35-Tyler Esh, [10]; 20. 49-Mallie Shuster, [19]; 21. 91Q-David Quackenbush, [16]; 22. 40X-Rick Elliott, [9]; 23. 35X-Dalton Dietrich, [6]; 24. 70X-Spencer Bayston, [1] Dirt Cup Challenge UMP Modifieds A Feature 1 – 1. 35-David Stremme, 42:33.808[5]; 2. 95-Michael Altobelli, 42:49.124[1]; 3. 8A-Austin Holcombe, 42:52.209[7]; 4. 6-Ryan Ayers, 42:54.014[10]; 5. 14D-David Taylor, 42:57.391[11]; 6. 33-Hunter McClendon, 42:58.881[12]; 7. 11H-Justin Haley, 42:58.887[4]; 8. 84-Ryan Toole, 43:01.880[17]; 9. 14J-Jordan Taylor, 31:54.513[24]; 10. 51-Joey Polevoy, 43:01.976[14]; 11. 90-Ray Kable, 43:09.109[18]; 12. 48-Lance Grady, 43:10.069[19]; 13. 36G-Brandon Galloway, 43:11.245[21]; 14. 21C-Davey Conley, 43:23.339[23]; 15. (DNF) 26X-James Sparks, 41:07.238[26]; 16. (DNF) 61-Eric Hill, 42:36.544[15]; 17. (DNF) 40-Rick Hulson, 31:49.960[6]; 18. (DNF) 99W-Chris Arnold, 31:50.979[3]; 19. (DNF) 82-Gary Dillon, 27:38.155[13]; 20. (DNF) 55-Alyssa Rowe, 22:43.955[22]; 21. (DNF) 27-Mark Schools, 11:43.360[20]; 22. (DNF) 01-Francis Jarrelle III, 11:16.516[9]; 23. (DNF) 45-Will Long, 10:42.210[25]; 24. (DNF) 7-Christian Thomas, 04:59.292[8]; 25. (DNF) 00-Booper Bare, 04:59.316[16]; (DQ) 66-Andy Boahn, 42:50.294[2] B Feature 1 – 1. 84-Ryan Toole, [2]; 2. 90-Ray Kable, [1]; 3. 48-Lance Grady, [6]; 4. 27-Mark Schools, [15]; 5. 36G-Brandon Galloway, [10]; 6. 55-Alyssa Rowe, [7]; 7. 21C-Davey Conley, [8]; 8. 14J-Jordan Taylor, [12]; (DNS) 11-Chase Butler, ; (DNS) 68-Adam Hoegerl, ; (DNS) 99-Charlie Hubbard, ; (DNS) 45-Will Long, ; (DNS) 21J-Curtis Mason, ; (DNS) 15-Rick Potter, ; (DNS) 26X-James Sparks, Heat 1 – 1. 95-Michael Altobelli, 10:58.752[1]; 2. 35-David Stremme, 11:01.591[3]; 3. 01-Francis Jarrelle III, 11:05.936[4]; 4. 82-Gary Dillon, 11:08.806[2]; 5. 90-Ray Kable, 11:12.460[7]; 6. (DNF) 68-Adam Hoegerl, 05:47.109[8]; 7. (DNF) 99-Charlie Hubbard, 05:47.815[5]; 8. (DNF) 15-Rick Potter, 00:41.975[6] Heat 2 – 1. 66-Andy Boahn, 03:57.646[1]; 2. 40-Rick Hulson, 04:01.371[2]; 3. 6-Ryan Ayers, 04:02.762[4]; 4. 51-Joey Polevoy, 04:03.970[3]; 5. 84-Ryan Toole, 04:07.430[6]; 6. 48-Lance Grady, 04:16.458[7]; 7. 36G-Brandon Galloway, 04:16.789[5]; (DNS) 21J-Curtis Mason, 04:16.789 Heat 3 – 1. 99W-Chris Arnold, 07:46.336[2]; 2. 8A-Austin Holcombe, 07:46.479[1]; 3. 14D-David Taylor, 07:51.526[3]; 4. 61-Eric Hill, 07:54.157[5]; 5. 11-Chase Butler, 07:54.360[4]; 6. 55-Alyssa Rowe, 08:02.485[7]; 7. (DNF) 26X-James Sparks, 06:58.036[6]; (DNS) 27-Mark Schools, 00:41.038 Heat 4 – 1. 11H-Justin Haley, 07:19.516[1]; 2. 7-Christian Thomas, 07:23.006[3]; 3. 33-Hunter McClendon, 07:25.681[5]; 4. 00-Booper Bare, 07:26.589[2]; 5. 45-Will Long, 07:30.595[4]; 6. 21C-Davey Conley, 07:39.028[7]; (DNS) 14J-Jordan Taylor, 00:43.200 Qualifying – 1. 95-Michael Altobelli, 00:19.045[31]; 2. 66-Andy Boahn, 00:19.186[27]; 3. 8A-Austin Holcombe, 00:19.232[20]; 4. 11H-Justin Haley, 00:19.311[22]; 5. 82-Gary Dillon, 00:19.378[4]; 6. 40-Rick Hulson, 00:19.402[1]; 7. 99W-Chris Arnold, 00:19.431[14]; 8. 00-Booper Bare, 00:19.454[24]; 9. 35-David Stremme, 00:19.455[9]; 10. 51-Joey Polevoy, 00:19.568[18]; 11. 14D-David Taylor, 00:19.600[17]; 12. 7-Christian Thomas, 00:19.607[10]; 13. 01-Francis Jarrelle III, 00:19.631[11]; 14. 6-Ryan Ayers, 00:19.693[23]; 15. 11-Chase Butler, 00:19.783[7]; 16. 45-Will Long, 00:19.873[6]; 17. 99-Charlie Hubbard, 00:19.879[30]; 18. 36G-Brandon Galloway, 00:19.889[5]; 19. 61-Eric Hill, 00:20.059[21]; 20. 33-Hunter McClendon, 00:20.080[8]; 21. 15-Rick Potter, 00:20.206[2]; 22. 84-Ryan Toole, 00:20.217[26]; 23. 26X-James Sparks, 00:20.379[28]; 24. 14J-Jordan Taylor, 00:20.387[25]; 25. 90-Ray Kable, 00:20.469[29]; 26. 48-Lance Grady, 00:20.685[12]; 27. 55-Alyssa Rowe, 00:20.895[16]; 28. 21C-Davey Conley, 00:21.891[19]; 29. 68-Adam Hoegerl, 00:21.891[15]; 30. 21J-Curtis Mason, 00:21.891[13]; 31. 27-Mark Schools, 00:21.891[3]...
Jamaica, VA – When the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint car series rolls into Virginia Motor Speedway for the April 11 Thursday Night Thunder there will plenty of star power that will be racing with the 900-horsepower winged monsters of dirt. Leading the list of talented drivers will be former NASCAR Cup Champion Tony Stewart, the owner of the 410 sprint car series. Also expected to compete are former NASCAR stars Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney and a host of very talented sprint car drivers from Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Thursday night race at VMS is on the eve of the NASCAR races at Richmond Raceway and will mark the beginning of Virginia Motor Speedway’s 50th season. It will be the return of 410 sprint car racing to the State of Virginia after a 10-year absence. If you have never seen a dirt race this will be one you do not want to miss as the 900-horsepower winged warriors will be battling for the $10,000 top prize. To say that anticipation is high for this event would be an understatement. We had a chance to talk with Tony Stewart and talk about the All Star Circuit of Champions and the race at Virginia Motor Speedway. Question: What brought you to being owner of the All-Star Circuit of Champions? Answer: The All-Stars were running and there was another rival series that was starting up, and a guy called me about booking a show for that. It somehow turned into that I ended up getting both series and just bringing it back to the All-Stars. We were just trying to save the All-Star series and keep the group of drivers that was there together, instead of letting them split up. Q: How did the All-Stars race at Virginia Motor Speedway come about? A: The Sawyer family (VMS owner Billy Sawyer and general manager Clarke Sawyer) got a hold of the guy that does our scheduling for our series. When he asked me about it, they are such a great family and I enjoyed racing so much at Richmond (Raceway) when the Sawyers were owners of it, when I found out they had a dirt track, I didn’t even look at the track to see if it’s somewhere we wanted to go. If the Sawyers are doing it, we’re in 100 percent. It didn’t take much convincing to get us to book a race with them. The Sawyers are awesome people and I’m excited to come do an event with them. Q: Compare driving a NASCAR Cup car to the winged sprints. Why do you love driving these sprint cars so much? A: Everything happens about four times faster in a winged sprint car than it does in a Cup car. Everything you’re doing in a Cup car, you’re trying to be extremely smooth with them nowadays. The sprint cars are 900 horsepower with a 1,200-pound car. The power-to-weight ratio is incredible, and everything happens very, very quick in a winged sprint car, so you’ve got to really be on your toes. That’s what I’ve always enjoyed about them. Q: How does the quality of drivers in the All-Star Circuit of Champions compare to Cup drivers? I know it’s apples to oranges, but how good are these guys we’re going to see at VMS? A: They’re great. The guys you’re going to see that weekend, you’re going to get some guys that are going to come from Pennsylvania to our event. The caliber of drivers is incredible. It’s tough some of these nights just to make the main event, so to get into the top 24 to run the “A Main” at the end of the night is an accomplishment. In the Cup Series, you’ve got the same guys running every week. With a traveling series like we have with the All-Stars, you have different guys who are racing in a particular event that run that track every week, and when you come in as an outsider, you’re a little bit of an underdog, so to speak. If you can come into a new area and beat these guys on their own turf, it’s a really good feeling. Q: You would think after stepping away from NASCAR as a driver that your schedule would be less busy, but with over 99 races on your schedule and co-owning a Cup team it looks as if you are busier than ever. A: Yeah, right now we have 99 races on the schedule so far this year. So, 95 in a sprint cars, three quarter midget races and a modified show and I’m sure we will add another half dozen races on the calendar so it’ll be over 100 races on the calendar for sure. Everyone always says I thought you retired, and I say no I never retired from anything I just changed what I was driving. I got out of a Cup car and went back to dirt racing, which is what I want to do. I never retired from driving a race car. Q: Why run 99+ races a year? A: Why not? If you enjoy it, if littles good then a lot’s better. Honestly, when I retired from the Cup series the first year I got back in a sprint car and we struggled. The reason we booked all these races is if you’re going to compete on the level of the guys from Ohio, Pennsylvania and guys that race sprint cars (like on the World of Outlaws tour) on a daily basis, if you plan on being competitive with those guys and beating those guys you better race a lot. And driving that thing (sprint car) needs to be like an old pair of tennis shoes that slide on and feel good ever time they go on your feet. We just need to race as much as we can and keep getting better. Thursday Night Thunder is scheduled for Thursday, April 11. Spectator gates will open at 5pm with on track action beginning at 6:30pm with hot laps (practice). Tickets for the Thursday night special will see adults $35, seniors/military $30, students (ages 13-17) $15, 12-and-under free. Credit card purchases can be made by phone by calling 804-758-1867 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Pit passes (regardless of age) will be $40 and will also get you a seat in the grandstands. Pit passes can also be purchased in advance. Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway is a 1/2-mile, dirt oval. The track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area....
