Bloggin' is Racin'

Grand Prairie Speedway closes

Will Grand Prairie Speedway race again?

By Don Cook
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Grand Prairie Speedway (Grand Prairie)
May 23 (Sunday)

Grand Prairie Speedway has had it's ups and downs over the years. Promoters, weather, crowds and car counts. Last Friday, the races were rained out, so they decided to race on Sunday afternoon. Seventy cars showed up along with a small crowd. Sadly, it wasn't enough to keep the track going. After the races were over, the owners and the promoter decided to close the track down. It remains to be seen if there will be any more racing at GPS.

Jared Webb won the Modified feature.

Ten cars started the Modified feature. Jared Webb, #15, continued his winning ways by taking the feature win. This gives Jared over 200 feature wins in his career.

J.C. Howell won the Limited Modified feature. 

In the Performance Transmission raceTX.com Limited Modified feature, J.C. Howell, #103, was the feature winner.

Jake UpChurch had to settle for second place in the Street Stock feature. 

In one of the more exciting races of the evening, seventeen cars started in the Street Stock feature. Bill McGee, #13, battled his way to the front to take the checkered flag. Jake UpChurch came in second.

Mike Marusak was the Bomber feature winner. 

In the Bomber feature, Mike Marusak, #45, defeated Albert McCall Jr., #7m, the current points leader, for the Bomber win.

Bobby Parker was the Mini Stock feature winner. 

In the Mini Stock feature, Bobby Parker, #135, defeated Lyle Miller, #151, for the Mini Stock victory.

For OFFICIAL results and more information, go to: www.gpspeedway.com

To purchase track photos, contact Rudy at: www.rudygarciaphotos.smugmug.com

To view some photos of the race cars from Sunday, click on the slide-show below:

To view a video of some highlights, click on the video below:

Triston Dycus defeats Clyde Dunn Jr. for $1,000 Cowtown Speedway Modified feature victory

Triston Dycus was the Modified feature winner.

By Don Cook
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Cowtown Speedway (Kennedale)
May 22 (Saturday)

Seventeen of O'Reilly/NCRA's Modifieds from the south division, rode into Cowtown Speedway Saturday to take on the Cowtown Modifieds. Over 40 Modifieds competed for the $200 to start feature. After five heat races, twenty-three Modifieds started the thirty-lap feature. Bobby Ruffin, #121, starting on the outside third row, quickly took the lead. Ruffin led the feature for several laps until he was passed by a hard charging Clyde Dunn, Jr., #88xxx. "Little Freaky" was running strong until Triston Dycus, #14, worked his way past Dunn to take the feature win. Terry Prichett, #20, Jared Webb, #15, and Bobby Ruffin, #121, rounded out the top five positions.

Sean Jones won the Limited Modified feature.

In the Performance Transmission raceTX.com Limited Modified feature, Sean Jones was the feature winner. Trevor Lane, #17, was second and Kevin Manning, #6m, was third.

Jeb Sessums won the 600 Mini Sprints feature.

In the 600 Mini Sprints feature, Jeb Sessums, #01j, was the feature winner. Andy Hogan, #3d, was second and Jeremy Hefler, #29t, was third.

Reagan Reed, #7, won the Restrictor Mini Sprints feature. A hard charging Ashley Reagan, #87, was second and Dillion Fox, #3g, was third.

Gary Smitherman won the Bomber feature.

In the Bomber feature, Gary Smitherman, #42, was the feature winner. Randy O'Havier, #16, was second and Chad Pearce, #82, was third.

For OFFICIAL results and more information, go to: www.cowtownspeedway.com

To purchase track photos, contact Rudy at: www.rudygarciaphotos.smugmug.com

To view some photos of the race cars from Saturday, click on the slide-show below:

To view some highlights of the Modifieds, click on the video below:

"Smoke Show" fantasy camp at Texas Motor Speedway expands to two days

The Tony Stewart “Smoke Show,” a popular motorsports fantasy camp at Texas Motor Speedway hosted by the two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, will expand from one to two days in 2010 with a goal of raising $400,000 with Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter.

The expansion plans for this year’s event that is scheduled for Aug. 17-18 were announced Friday by Stewart and TMS President Eddie Gossage during the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The “Smoke Show” has been the highest-grossing, single-day fundraising event for the Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter since the concept was spawned from the “Smoke Show” media event with Stewart at TMS in 2007. Since becoming a charity event in 2008, the “Smoke Show” has raised $474,000 in just two years and has been instrumental in SCC-Texas raising $1 million each of the past two years for children in North Texas.

Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas will donate half of the proceeds from the additional day to the Tony Stewart Foundation.

Stewart doesn’t make a guest appearance at the "Smoke Show," but partakes in the event from open to close. Campers have the opportunity to drive actual NASCAR-engineered stock cars on TMS’ 1.5-mile oval and immerse themselves into the entire race-day experience of a NASCAR driver.

The guests arrive to a professional-style locker room with their personalized firesuits hanging in their locker featuring their names above on placards. They will participate in pre- and post-race festivities sandwiched around their driving experience as they partake in pre-race introductions, parade laps and National Anthem to the traditional TMS Victory Lane celebration with the winner’s trophy, six shooters and cowboy hat.

The driving portion consists of two 10-lap sessions on track as well as a thrilling three-lap, two-seater ride with Stewart. Throughout the day, Stewart also shares instruction, tips and a few laughs with the campers. A full breakfast and lunch also is included during the day.

A dinner and live auction will be held the evening of Aug. 17 for both the outgoing and incoming campers. The dinner includes an audience Q&A session with Stewart, auction featuring various memorabilia from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star and an opportunity to get personal items signed by him at the conclusion of the event.

The cost is $6,000 for either day and is tax deductible. Campers also have the opportunity to additionally purchase a limited edition “Smoke Show” painted helmet, racing shoes and guest passes.

To reserve a spot or for additional information, please contact Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter at 817-215-8564 or visit www.scctexas.org.

-- TMS release