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(Savannah, GA) Several
defending champions from last year’s Showdown on the Coast
at Oglethorpe Speedway Park will return to defend their
lofty titles. Budweiser 150 champion Jordy Nipper from
Cochran, GA leads the list of returning winners. South
Carolina’s Hot Rod Lamance will be back for the crate late
model competition while Rincon’s Chris Litchfield looks to
repeat in the Street Stock races. Savannah’s John Loomis,
Guyton’s Bobby Morris and Annette Hadden of Rincon will
return with hopes of taking home the Showdown on the Coast
laurels. Also making the long journey from Rogers, Arkansas
is two-time defending Showdown winner Randy Galloway.
“This is one
of those events that you just cannot miss,” said Galloway.
“The very best drivers from the southeast compete at this
race and if you win it, you have really put an exclamation
point on your racing season.”
Galloway has
made the 1,200 mile trip to Savannah’s historic half mile
three times over the past 24 months. He has won the
previous two Showdown on the Coast features for the Mini
Stock Open while running into problems during last year’s
Winternationals. He and thirty other drivers will race for
$2,000 to win on Saturday, October 22nd at OSP.
Seventeen-year-old Jordy Nipper claimed the biggest win of
his young career during last year’s Showdown on the Coast.
The National Late Model competitor won the Budweiser 150 and
it’s $10,000 top prize. Nipper is already registered for a
return trip to the track that treated him so well last
October.
“It’s our
biggest race of the season,” said Nipper. “The dates for
Savannah have been circled on the calendar since we arrived
back home last year.”
The GM
Performance Crate Engine Late Model race last year ran into
a time constraint when the City of Pooler shut down
activities and ended the race with only nine laps complete.
South Carolina’s Hot Rod LaMance was leading at that time
and claimed the victory, $2500 in cash and a new engine.
LaMance will be back this season with an impressive fifteen
wins already logged for the 2005 season.
Chris
Litchfield will have his hands full in the Super Street
Stock competition. But, the Rincon hot shoe will have two
opportunities to be a two-time winner of the Showdown on the
Coast. The Street Stocks and Super Streets will compete in
two complete shows with the first one taking place on
Thursday, October 20 ($1000 to win) and the second set for
Saturday, October 22 ($2000 to win). Competition is
expected to be good with a solid number of out of town
competitors planning to race all three nights.
John Loomis
(Pure Stocks), Bobby Morris (Mini Stocks) and Annette Hadden
(Lady Pure Stocks) would be considered favorites in their
respective classes to repeat as champions. All three have
shown their strengths on the half mile speedway. But all
would agree, there is some mystique to the Showdown on the
Coast and finding success at the race.
“Everyone
wants to win the Showdown,” said John Loomis. “Your racing
against your buddies, people you have met from other tracks
and the guys coming in to steal the money. It’s a big deal
for all of us.”
The 8th
Annual “Showdown on the Coast” takes place at Oglethorpe
Speedway Park on October 19, 20, 21 and 22. Over 300
drivers are expected to compete for the $70,000 purse.
Additional information is available by calling 912-964-8200
or by visiting
www.ospracing.net.
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