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When the American Speed Association (ASA) Southern Modified Race Tour (SMRT)
presented by Carolina Carports Racing rolls into Franklin County Speedway in
Callaway, VA next Saturday afternoon, they will notice some changes but most
importantly the main thing at FCS will remain the same.
Teams will notice the promoter from the past two seasons, Richard
Gluth, has been replaced by the familiar face of track owner, Whitey Taylor.
Gluth gave FCS his best shot but a slumping economy and downturn in the
construction business caused Gluth to re-evaluate his racing plans and hand
the reins of the track back over to Taylor. Taylor has agreed to let the
history of the Modifieds at Franklin County continue with the running of the
3rd annual “Kenny Minter Memorial 125”.
Now that’s where things haven’t changed! No matter who is at the
gate of the track, the racing will remain exciting, wild and fast! The forty
year old asphalt laid down back in-the-day by Wilton Agee seems to never
wear out and get faster every time the mod-squad returns to the historic
track. The “mods” finally broke the late Richie Evans track record last year
with a sub-13 second lap in qualifying and that track record is in jeopardy
this year as the tour returns to that old asphalt with a bit-softer tire
combination that should produce some quicker lap times in qualifying and
better racing.
The entry list for the “Kenny Minter Memorial 125” is headed by
“hometown hero” and one of Minters best friends, Jay Foley, from nearby
Stuart, VA. Foley will pilot the familiar red and white Foley Racing Engines
#57 and will field a second car for Rob Schultz. Defending ASA / SMRT series
Champion, Brian King from Gibsonville, NC will pilot the Adams Towing
Modified to what he hopes is a repeat of his last visit to FCS when he
bested the field to claim the win in the 2008 version of the “Minter
Memorial”. King’s last win came over L.W. Miller, Frank Fleming, Brian
Loftin and Jason Myers. Myers is on the entry list for this year’s event
along with Josh Nichols, Greg Butcher, Kevin Wilson, Scott Rigney, David
Cranmer and Ronnie Silk in the “Hillbilly Racing” #79. That entry list is
sure to swell with several late entries expected to file before the entry
deadline of May 4th.
Grandstands are set to open at 5:00 PM with qualifying set for the
same time. A pit party is scheduled for 6:00 when the fans will be able to
come trackside and meet the drivers and see the cars. There will also be
some “stars” from past racing at FCS around to swap stories from past racing
at the track. Those drivers will be announced early next week as all their
schedules become available. Last year Paul Radford, Johnny Bryant, Joe Henry
Thurman, Hank Thomas and “Chubby” Arrington met the fans and some of that
group will return.
Events for the regular Franklin County divisions will also be on
the race card along with the always popular East Coast Flathead Ford vintage
racing series.
Grandstand tickets for the “Kenny Minter Memorial 125” are only
$15.00 and $3.00 discount coupons are available at Rocky Mount, VA area
Bojangles & Dairy Queen, Clarence’s Steak House in Ridgeway, VA and in Ray’s
Restaurant Floyd, VA.
ASA, ASA Racing and American Speed Association are trademarks of
Racing Speed Associates, LLC. Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to
or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.
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