RAIN DAMPENS WINTERNATIONALS AT OSP

By Katherine Adams

February 3, 2006

Savannah, GA)  For the second straight night, mother nature was the winner at Oglethorpe Speedway Park’s 5^th Annual Winternationals and Young Guns Shoot-Out.  A record two hundred and sixteen competitors jammed the infield pit area on Friday night after a complete washout on Thursday evening.  A persistent rain that covered the speedway during heat race action disappointed the crowd of 1,672 with officials forced to postpone the remainder of the Friday night program to Sunday afternoon.  Saturday’s schedule will remain the same with a full night of racing in the Crate Late Models, Championship Modified Tour, Mini Stock, IMCA Mods, 440 and the running of the Coca-Cola Young Guns feature events.

            “We have drivers and fans that drove hundreds, even thousands of miles to be here in Savannah to compete this weekend,” said track promoter Ted Austad.  “We are doing everything we can to make sure they get their opportunity.”

            Drivers aged 23 and younger are at Oglethorpe Speedway Park this weekend competing in the Coca-Cola Young Guns Shoot-Out presented by Stock Car Racing and Circle Track Magazine along with Sport Clips.  Ninety-seven Young Guns competitors were on the property Friday night preparing for their Saturday night show in front of NASCAR team scouts and driver development coordinators.

            “We came a long way for the opportunity to be seen by these scouts,” said Ocono Falls, Wisconsin driver Julie McDermid.  “I can’t wait for Saturday night.”

            Saturday night’s schedule includes hot laps beginning at 3:30pm.  Qualifying for the Young Guns at 6:00pm and racing at 7:30pm.  Sunday’s make-up program will begin at 1:00pm with hot laps and 2:00pm racing.