BRASSTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA (July 8, 2014) - The Schaeffer's Oil Southern Nationals Series presented by Old Man's Garage is gearing up for the tour's tenth anniversary season which will again showcase drivers from all over the Southeast vying for over $200,000 in prize money marking ten race nights in just 13 days.
Easier said than done for the drivers making all ten races right? Well just ask any of the traveling drivers that make the nearly 1,400 mile trek in sweltering southern summer temperatures. They'll look tiresome at the end of that long journey and their preparedness to do so makes the challenge seem worth it at the end of the thirteen days.
The Southern Nationals Series has become a main stay in the Southeast over the last nine seasons producing ties in the point championship to door-to-door close quarters racing that can only be found in dirt track racing's birth place, the South.
This year's group of drivers expected to contend for the series prize are top of their class in this region.
Starting with Stacy Boles of Clinton, Tenn. who drives the Advanced Transportation sponsored Rocket Chassis, finished sixth in the final points chase in 2013 as he garnered his best finish of fourth at Wythe (Va.) Raceway in the tour's lid lifter.
Minden, Louisiana driver Anthony Burroughs is scheduled to compete this season with the tour. He was the 2010 Southern Regional Racing Series champion and drives the D.P. Motorsports and Peterson Contracting sponsored Barry Wright Race Car.
Kenny Collins of Colbert, Ga. will bring his Collins Sign sponsored Rocket Chassis to the tour for the first time. Collins finished a respective sixth in this year's final points with the tour's sister series the Spring Nationals. Collins also competes in the Southern Nationals Bonus events.
Vic Hill of Mosheim, Tenn. will tackle the grueling schedule for the fourth consecutive season. Hill earned a tenth place points finish in his first season in 2011, and a pair of fourth place finishes in the final run down the last two seasons. Hill, who is a skilled engine builder will bring his Landair Transport sponsored Warrior Race Car to this season's tour.
Eric Jacobsen of Rio Del Mar, Cal. returns to the tour for the second straight season, this time in a new chassis mount. The California hot shoe will bring his Soil Fume, Inc. sponsored Rocket Chassis to the tour. Jacobsen finished fifth in the 2013 points chase while collecting one win. That dramatic win came at Duck River Raceway Park.
Chris Madden is Mister Southern Nationals. Madden's four tour championships speak for themselves. His 23 wins on the tour keeps him high atop the list of series winners. The driver known as "Smokey" has won on all three National tours and is expected to be back in the Hamrick's of Gaffney sponsored Bloomquist Race Car. Last year, Madden collected two wins which came at Wythe, Va. and Smoky Mountain, Tenn.
Dawsonville, Ga's Donald McIntosh will bring his track championship at Dixie (Ga.) Speedway last season to this year's Southern Nationals as he will tackle the tour's grueling schedule for the first time. McIntosh already competed in the Spring Nationals Series this season finishing a close third in the final tallies.
Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn. recently captured the Spring Nationals Series title after finishing second to Steve Casebolt last season. Ogle has toured with the Southern Nationals the last two seasons finishing in the runner-up spot in 2013 and third in 2012. Ogle's team-mate Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn. won the series title in 2009. Ogle will drive his Blount Excavating and Massey Electric sponsored Rocket Chassis on this year's tour.
Another new face to the Southern Nationals Series will be youngster Austin Smith of Cedartown, Ga. Smith also raced with the Spring Nationals this season, a taste of tour-style racing. Smith finished a respectable seventh in the final run down. Smith will try his hand at the tour for the first time in the Cedartown Electric and Ladd's Farm Supply sponsored Rocket Chassis.
Ninety-nine drivers did battle during last season's nine events. One event was rained out, the annual Rebel Yell at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga.
This year's schedule features two new tracks and one returning venue. Mitch McCarter's 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. joins the slate for the first time. Boyd's Speedway in Ringgold, Ga. also is a new track to the tour. Modoc (S.C.) Raceway returns to the schedule for the first time since the inaugural season. Royce Bray picked up the last series' visit during the tour's first-ever event.
The Southern Nationals Series will feature a points fund in excess of $15,000 with $5,053 going to the Series Champion, second place receives $2,553, third place receives $2,053, fourth place receives $1,553, fifth place receives $1,053, sixth place receives $753, seventh place receives $653 and eighth place in series points will receive $553 along with all other prefect attendance drivers. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA is the defending series champion.
In addition to the Southern Nationals and Spring Nationals Series point funds, the series has announced a Combined Bonus for the top five drivers who finish the highest with both tours. The overall top driver from each series will receive $5,053, with second place receiving $2,553, third place receiving $2,053, fourth place receiving $1,553 and fifth place receiving $1,053.
A possible $15,000+ could be won by Billy Ogle Jr. this season if he wins the Spring and Southern Nationals with points fund monies from both tours and the Combined Bonus Money. Also, if a driver was to at least run fifth in both tours, he could receive $3,159 with point funds and the combined bonus.
The Schaeffer's Oil Southern Nationals Series officially kicks off on Monday Night July 21st at Fred & Susan Brown's Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Va. For more information on the Southern Nationals, visit www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com.
