|
(Savannah, GA) The historic half mile speedway just west of
downtown Savannah, Georgia, will once again showcase some of
the nation’s best dirt track racing talent the first weekend
of February 2006. Oglethorpe Speedway Park will host it’s
2nd Annual Coca-Cola Young Guns Shoot-Out on February 2, 3
and 4, 2006. The race featuring drivers ages 23 and younger
provides an opportunity for professional teams to observe
and meet the talented young drivers in one location
eliminating multiple travel destinations.
“We wanted to create an event that is similar to what they
do for high school basketball stars each year,” said track
promoter Ted Austad. “Bring together young dirt racers in
one location for the professional teams to learn more
about.”
Last year, Jacksonville’s Bodine Massengill won the very
first Coca-Cola Young Gun’s Late Model feature. Massengill
was joined by Iowa’s Zack VanDerbeek in victory lane as the
21-year-old driver picked up the honors for the open wheel
modified class.
“We enjoyed the experience of the race last year,” said
VanDerbeek’s father. “We ran the entire season open wheels
at a higher level and we are looking forward to defending
our title in Savannah.”
The Coca-Cola Young Guns Shoot-Out will expand this season
offering young drivers an opportunity to learn more skills
that could help their pursuit of a professional career.
Oglethorpe Speedway Park and event sponsors will include
professional seminars for the drivers competing in the Young
Guns Shoot-Out. Each driver will be able to complete a mock
television interview along with learning more about sponsor
communication, public relations and portfolio creation. The
taped interview will be given to the various professional
team representatives as well as a copy for each driver.
“We learned at last year’s event that many of the talented
drivers had never thought about how to approach a
professional team or what to present them with when they did
get the opportunity,” said Austad. “We developed these
seminars from what we learned from the professional teams
attending last year. It makes this more than just a race. It
is an opportunity to take something home with you whether
you’re in the winner’s circle or have a tough weekend on the
track.”
Each of the feature races for the Coca-Cola Young Guns will
pay a purse. The late model feature will pay $2000 to win
and $75 to start while the modified feature will pay $1000
to win and $75 to start. Entry fee for the Young Guns is
only $65 and includes the mock interview taping, seminars
and car entry for the Saturday night races.
Young Guns competitors can look forward to an open practice
night on Thursday, February 2. The seminars and media day
activities will take place on Friday, February 3 with the
qualifying and main events set for Saturday, February 5.
Competitors do not have to attend the event on Thursday and
Friday to be eligible for competition on Saturday.
“We do not want parents to feel it is necessary to pull
their children from school in order to attend this race
event,” added Austad. “Their education is most important.
The race teams understand that as well.”
Interested drivers and teams may contact Oglethorpe Speedway
Park for rules, information and entry forms. Call (912)
964-8200 or visit their website at www.ospracing.net. |
