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Chastain wins Lanier Late Model Race as Bennett Claims Title

Braselton, GA (September 29, 2000) - For the second consecutive year Shane Chastain of Gainesville, GA made a late season charge in the Coca-Cola Pro Late Model Division point standings at Lanier National Speedway. And just like in 1999, he will have the "second best" table for this year's LNS awards banquet after posting a runnerup finish in the season's point standings following his victory Friday night in the 50 lap feature.

Tony Bennett - 2000 Champ

Chastain claimed the Re/Max pole with a blazing time of 13.805 seconds and held off outside polesitter Charles Shoemaker on lap one. Chastain then settled into the top spot which he would hold for all 50 laps. Shoemaker stayed close throughout much of the event in second pulling to within a car length on several occasions. But Chastain motored away late as Clay Dale, who made his return to Lanier driving Tom Hardy's No. 16 Ford, slipped by Shoemaker in the closing laps to claim the runnerup spot. Shoemaker finished third just ahead of Dwayne Buggay. Tony Bennett finished fifth which was just enough to claim the Pro Late Model track championship.

Bennett said afterwards, "I've been racing eleven years and it feels good to finally get a championship."

Chastain was elated over the race win but still disappointed that he didn't take claim the track title. "You know we came close to winning the championship but finishing second isn't too bad. I can't say enough about Cornermaker chassis and Jimmy Garmon who sets up our car and also the 42. At least two Cornermaker cars finished first and second in the points here."

Lanier National Speedway will host the Casey Elliott Memorial Saturday October 7th. The Southern All Star Series make their final visit to LNS that evening. For more information on this event call the speedway at 770-967-8600 or visit our offical website at www.lanierspeedway.com.

Coca-Cola Pro Late Model

1. Shane Chastain
2. Clay Dale
3. Charles Shoemaker
4. Dwayne Buggay
5. Tony Bennett

Long Returns to Winning Form at Lanier

Braselton, GA (September 9, 2000) - The Coca-Cola Pro Late Model event at Lanier National Speedway Saturday night had more twists and turns than a cruise through the mountains of northeast Georgia. A rookie ripped off one of the fastest laps ever in Pro Late Model Re/Max qualifying, a Chevrolet looked destined to win, a Ford was quickest in the closing laps only to see a Pontiac go to victory lane as Craftsman sponsored the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series event on this evening.

Rookie Charles Shoemaker of McDonough ripped off an incredible lap of 13.791 seconds to nail down the pole position. But veteran Shane Chastain of Gainesville took the early lead on lap one from his outside front-row starting position. 20

Tom Hardy of Jefferson methodically worked his Ford to the front getting to fourth place on lap 6 and moving into second on lap 30. Meanwhile nine-time 2000 Pro Late Model race winner Tony Bennett of Gainesville struggled much of the night clinging to fifth with less than ten laps to go.

On lap 44 of 50 the entire complexion of the race changed as Chastain tried to lap Richard Graves in turn four while looking to hold off a fast closing Hardy. Chastin and Graves collided and ended up collecting second place Hardy. Shoemaker, running third at the time, clipped the spinning Graves but kept moving which would allow him to inherit the race lead.

As Chastain and Hardy headed down pit road, Shoemaker followed the pace truck with what appeared to be very minimal damage to his Chevrolet. Then four laps later while still riding under caution in the lead, Shoemaker's No. 8 Chevrolet started showing heavy smoke from the right front as he had developed a tire rub from sheet metal. 20

The smoke intensified and he had no choice other than to pit for repairs. That allowed Stacy Long of Gainesville to push his Pontiac into the lead under the yellow flag. Long held off Bennett for the final six laps to earn the win. The driver that dominated the first third of the 2000 season in Pro Late Models at Lanier finally broke his summer slump.

Long explained his strategy in the closing laps saying, "I just protected the bottom. If Tony was going to pass me it was going to be on the outside. I'm just glad we're back in victory lane. Congratulations to Tony on his great season and what he's done in the NASCAR Winston points this year."

Racing returns to Lanier National Speedway Saturday September 16th with heat races scheduled to start at 5:30 PM to be followed by feature events at 7 PM.

Note - The ETS Payphones 150 NASCAR Goody's Dash Series event postponed by rain at Lanier on September 2nd has been rescheduled for Saturday October 28th.

Coca-Cola Pro Late Model
1. Stacy Long
2. Tony Bennett
3. Shane Chastain
4. Dwayne Buggay
5. Joey Perry

Chastain Puts the Bow-Tie Back in Victory Lane at Lanier

Braselton, GA (August 12, 2000) - The 2000 Pro Late Model Season at Lanier National Speedway has been a Pontiac show led by Tony Bennett and Stacy Long. Saturday night the Chevrolet brigade finally had something to cheer about as Shane Chastain wheeled his Monte Carlo into victory lane after edging Bennett in the 50 lap event.

Chastain took home the Re/Max pole award with a lap time of 14.039 seconds. Charles Shoemaker ran the identical time but was forced to start on the outside of the front row since he went out after Chastain in qualifying.

Bennett started third and worked around Shoemaker early. Bennett then applied constant pressure to the No. 3 Chevrolet but could never could set Chastain up to make a pass for the lead. Five cautions gave Bennett ample opportunities to close in but Chastain led from start to finish on this Saturday night.

Rookie of the year contender Shoemaker held on to finish third ahead of Tom Hardy and Dwayne Buggay.

"I appreciate Tony (Bennett) racing me clean tonight. I'll remember that down the road," commented Chastain in victory lane.

Eighteen trucks showed up in a warm-up for next week's Parts Pro Truck event. George Williams, Jr took home the Re/Max Pole award with a lap time of 15.067 seconds but it was outside polesitter David Elliott that took charge early taking the lead on lap one and holding it for the duration during the 30 lap affair slowed by seven cautions.

Kevin Stephens appeared to have the Budweiser Sportsman race well in hand until he was about to take the white flag as the leader. That's when he received contact from the rear from Jackie Daniel. Both drivers were forced to the rear of the field.

That opened the door for Chris Wingo to win his first race at Lanier in five years. He was followed to the finish line by Travis Hearn, Stephens, Daniel, and Bill Moran.

Donald Wingo lost the points lead falling out of the Sportsman race with ten laps remaining.

Coca-Cola Pro Late Model
1. Shane Chastain No. 3 Hardy Chevrolet/Chastain Supply Chevrolet=20
2. Tony Bennett No. 42 Lakeshore Drywall/Gainesville Tire Pontiac
3. Charles Shoemaker No. 8 Racing Concepts Chevrolet
4. Tom Hardy No. 16 Chapman Fence/McGill Construction Ford=20
5. Dwayne Buggay No. 15 Marietta Ford/Ford Credit Ford

Bennett and Love among Feature Winners at Lanier

Braselton, GA (August 5, 2000) - Tony Bennett's dream season continued Saturday night at Lanier National Speedway as he took the lead with eight laps to go in the fifty lap Coca-Cola Pro Late Model feature enroute to his seventh win of the season.

Bennett qualified seventh behind RE/MAX pole sitter Shane Chastain who turned a lap in 13.917 seconds just faster than a surprising Linny Foster in the No. 97 Chevrolet during time trials. After the green flag waved for the feature Bennett wasted little time breaking into the top five as he surfaced to fourth on the fifth lap.

He worked around Jamie Stephens' No. 17 Chevrolet on lap twenty and seemed primed to run down leader Chastain. But the pole sitter's Chevrolet consistently held a three car length lead for the next fifteen laps until struggling to lap the No. 57 Chevrolet of Tom Salley.

That was the break Bennett needed to narrow the margin and seven laps later the No. 42 Pontiac blasted into the race lead. A late caution on lap 44 gave the field a chance to line up on Bennett's bumper. But it proved fruitless as Bennett pulled away on the restart and led by five car-lengths at the checkered flag.

"I had just about given up on catching Shane until he had trouble with that lapped car," commented Bennett in victory lane.

When asked about how he is beating his competition in the corners at Lanier with a Pontiac that is turning well in the turns he said "well I'm just picking up where Jimmy Garmon left off in the Southern All Star Race here last Saturday. He never missed a beat." And neither did Bennett in this Pro Late Model event slowed by three cautions.

The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series returns to Lanier National Speedway Saturday August 12th. Call the speedway at 770-967-8600 or visit our website at www.lanierspeedway.com for more information.

 
Coca-Cola Pro Late Model
1. Tony Bennett No. 42 Gainesville Tire & Auto/Lakeshore Drywall Pontiac
2. Shane Chastain No. 3 Hardy Chevrolet/Chastain Supply Chevrolet
3. Jamie Stephens No. 17 Williams Bros Lumber Chevrolet
4. Stacy Long No. 00 Buffalo's Cafe/bahamacruise.com/BOC Gases Pontiac
5. Tom Hardy No. 16 Cornett Thunder/McGill Construction/Oakley Ford

Braselton, GA (July 29, 2000) - The Southern All Star 200 presented by Williams Bros Lumber at Lanier National Speedway began with a pileup in turn one on the first lap that eliminated a quarter of the 28 car field. That set the tone for an evening that saw twelve cautions, one red flag, and a former track champion return to victory lane.

Jimmy Garmon drove for Hogan Motorsports out of Cleveland, GA in 1998 and 1999 and was a threat to win everytime the Chevrolet arrived at a race track - specifically at Lanier where he won his most recent track championship last season in the Super Late Model division. Garmon and Hogan parted ways during the offseason as the driver from Lawrenceville, GA set a path to drive his own car again and try to work his way back into a touring series.

Saturday night Garmon zipped by former pupil Jason Hogan on lap 62 and was never seriously threatened for the lead despite running the entire race on one set of tires while the competition took on new rubber near the halfway mark. Hogan and Ricky Turner - each with newer tires than Garmon - could not take advantage of two cautions in the last 27 laps to work around the No. 97 Chevrolet. Garmon received a huge ovation as he pulled into victory lane.

Hogan made a daring pass around Turner coming off corner four on lap 200 to gain second place with Turner settling for third. Turner's run may have vaulted him into the Southern All Star points lead as Ronnie Sanders limped home with a 13th place finish after being involved in a crash on lap 85. Check www.southern-allstars.com for the latest point standings.

Other winners included George Williams, Jr in the Akins of Winder Pro Truck division, Curt Britt in Sunoco MiniStock action, Jonathan Davenport in Legends Pro, Terry Mathis in Legends Masters, Chad Pearson in Legends SemiPro, and Andrew Prosser in Legends Chargers.

NASCAR Weekly Racing Series competition returns to Lanier on Saturday August 5th. Visit our website at www.lanierspeedway.com or call 770-967-8600 for more information.

 
Southern All Star 200 presented by Williams Bros Lumber
1. Jimmy Garmon
2. Jason Hogan
3. Ricky Turner
4. Johnathan Buckner
5. Charlie Bradberry 

No Mistaken Identity as Tony Bennett Continues to Roll at Lanier

Braselton, GA (July 22, 2000) - The stock car driver Tony Bennett of Gainesville, Ga has no doubt been mistaken as the famous singer more than once. The Bennett that races racked up his seventh win of the season at Lanier National Speedway Saturday night in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series as he continues to gain some name recognition of his own.

Shane Chastain, driver of the No. 3 Chastain Supply/Hardy Chevrolet sponsored Chevrolet ripped off a lap clocked at 13.950 seconds on the 3/8th mile layout to capture the RE/MAX pole award for the Coca-Cola Pro Late Models. Tom Hardy of Jefferson, Ga started second in his No. 16 McGill Construction/Chapman Fence Co/Cornett Thunder/Pearson Race Cars/Oakley Sunglasses Ford Taurus.

In exciting door to door action at the drop of the green flag on the 50 lap event, Hardy led lap one then surrended the lead to Chastain on lap two. Chastain led until Hardy reassumed the lead at the 17 lap junction. On lap 28 Bennett, in his No. 42 Lakeshore Drywall/Gainesville Tire & Auto Pontiac, powered past Hardy and into the lead.

Bennett steadily pulled away and finished eight car lengths ahead of Hardy at the finish. Chastain was third with Stacy Long fourth in the No. 00 bahamacruise.com/Buffalo's Cafe/President's Casino/BOC Gases Pontiac, and Jamie Stephens fifth in the Williams Bros Lumber/Stephens Masonry Chevrolet. The race was slowed by two cautions for non-contact spins.

The Southern All Stars (www.southern-allstars.com) makes its second of three 2000 visits to Lanier Saturday July 29th. The Budweiser Sportsman, Sunoco MiniStock, and Lanier Legends will also be in action. The SAS will run 200 laps.

Heat races and qualifying are scheduled to start at 6 PM with feature events slated to begin at 7:30 PM. Call the speedway at 770-967-8600 or see our website at www.lanierspeedway.com for more information.

Coca-Cola Pro Late Model
1. Tony Bennett
2. Tom Hardy
3. Shane Chastain
4. Stacy Long
5. Jamie Stephens

Bennett Blitzes Lanier Late Model Field

Braselton, GA (July 15, 2000) - Winning a late model race at the historic NASCAR sanctioned Lanier National Speedway is tough. Winning a late model race at Lanier by a third of a lap borders on the impossible. But that's what Tony Bennett of Gainesville, GA accomplished Saturday night as he easily won the caution free 50 lap Coca-Cola Pro Late Model race.

Bennett got the evening off to his liking as he claimed the RE/MAX pole award as his No. 42 Lakeshore Drywall/Gainesville Tire & Auto Pontiac was clocked at 14.033 seconds in time trials. Rookie Charles Shoemaker earned the second starting spot in his No. 8 C.B.S. Motorsports Chevrolet.

At the start Bennett edged ahead of Shoemaker heading into turn one and that was basically all she wrote. In other words Bennett said "see ya" to the rest of the field.

Shane Chastain quickly moved up from his third starting position to claim second in his No. 3 Chastain Supply/Hardy Chevrolet sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo and would hold that spot for the first half of the race. With Bennett pulling away Chastain relinquished second to Jamie Stephens in the No. 17 Williams Bros Lumber Chevrolet just past the midpoint of the race.

Tom Hardy, who started seventh in his No. 16 Cornett Thunder/Oakley Sunglasses/Pearson Race Cars/McGill Construction/Chapman Fence Ford Taurus, stayed in Stephens' tire path until lap 41 when he slid underneath the No. 17 for the runnerup spot. By then Bennett was long gone in search of the checkered flag.

Bennett set such a blistering pace that he lapped Stacy Long's No. 00 Buffalo's Cafe/bahamacruise.com/President's Casino Pontiac with less than ten laps to go. Long would be credited for finishing seventh one lap in arrears.

Hardy collected second place prize money in front of Stephens, Michael Lance in the No. 04 Lance Used Auto Parts Chevrolet, and Chastain. It was Bennett's sixth win of the season.

NASCAR Weekly Racing Series excitement returns to Lanier National Speedway on Saturday July 22nd. Please note that due to the weather, heat races will now start at 6 PM with feature events scheduled to start at 7:30 PM. This is thirty-minutes later than our traditional format.

The Southern All Stars returns to Lanier National Speedway Saturday July 29th for a 200 lap event.

Coca-Cola Pro Late Model

1. Tony Bennett
2. Tom Hardy
3. Jamie Stephens
4. Michael Lance
5. Shane Chastain

Adams Assaults U.S.C.S. Field at Lanier

Braselton, GA (July 8, 2000) Legal documentation will show otherwise but Kenny Adams seems to "own" Lanier National Speedway when he pulls through the gate. On April 29 he won everything in sight at Lanier National Speedway in just his second career start on asphalt. Saturday night at Lanier round two of the Kenny Adams United Sprint Car Series show hit town.

Adams of Malabar, FL had established the all-time track record in April with a run of 11.329 seconds. Many felt he would be hard pressed to record a run under twelve seconds on this night in sweltering heat. But Adams was impressive in time-trials as he managed to post fast time with a lap of 11.828 seconds or 114.140 miles per hour.

Teammate Red Stauffer did not have an opportunity to qualify as he lost an engine in the last practice session. With Stauffer having to start in the rear of the field that meant the fans would get their money's worth watching the veteran work his way to the front.

Inverting the top four meant that Pete Walton of Fayetteville, GA started on the pole alongside Doug Day in the 40 lap feature. Walton charged at the drop of the green flag holding the lead for the first nine laps until Adams slipped by on the backstretch.

Stauffer meanwhile began his run to the front cracking the top five by lap 10 as Walton and Chris Rogers began a spirited battle. Stauffer took second from Walton in the closing laps but ran out time in his endeavor to run-down teammate Adams.

The Walton-Rogers battle would not be settled until lap 40. Walton was running third entering turn one on the last lap weaving through lapped traffic with Rogers on his tail. Exiting turn two Rogers, a student at Georgia Tech, put a veteran-like move on Walton ducking to the bottom of the track to pick up third place in his Williams Bros Lumber sponsored No. 7. Walton finished fourth edging Jim Raptis in an event slowed by two cautions.

Adams had praise for the facility in victory lane but noted "the track was a lot different today than it was back in April." Despite little rain and a typical hot summer than creates slippery conditions on the .375 mile layout, Adams has displayed the talent, horsepower, and handling needed to dominate at Lanier.

In Coca-Cola Pro Late Model action Stacy Long of Gainesville, GA in the Buffalo's Cafe/President's Casino/bahamacruise.com/BOC Gases No. 00 Pontiac won the RE/MAX pole award with a lap time of 14.056 seconds which was the identical time turned in by Shane Chastain in the Chastain Supply/Hardy Chevrolet sponsored No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Long gained the top spot as he qualified before Chastain.

Chastain took the early lead holding the point until lap 17 when Tony Bennett grabbed the front spot in the No. 42 Lakeshore Drywall/Gainesville Tire & Auto Pontiac. Chastain and Jamie Stephens in the No. 17 Williams Bros Lumber Chevrolet collided on the frontstrech at the midway point battling for second. Each driver was able to continue.

Bennett would not be challenged for the remainder of the 50 lapper as he finished twelve car-lengths in front of Long. It was Bennett's fifth win of the season.

Dwayne Buggay collected another top-five finish with a strong third place run in the No. 15 Ford Credit/Marietta Ford sponsored Ford Taurus. Stephens rallied for fourth as Tom Hardy struggled in his No. 16 Cornett Thunder/Pearson Race Cars/McGill Construction/Chapman Fence Ford Taurus to finish fifth.

United Sprint Car Series 40 Lap Feature
1. Kenny Adams
2. Red Stauffer
3. Chris Rogers
4. Pete Walton
5. Jim Raptis
 
Coca-Cola Pro Late Model
1. Tony Bennett
2. Stacy Long
3. Dwayne Buggay
4. Jamie Stephens
5. Tom Hardy

Hardy Awarded Lanier Victory in Post-Race Tech

Braselton, GA (July 4, 2000) - Tom Hardy had a tire go flat with one lap to go while leading in his last outing June 24th at Lanier National Speedway in the Coca-Cola Pro Late Model Division and went from first to seventh on the last lap. Tuesday night in front of the season's largest crowd, Hardy returned to Lanier and it appeared he would finish second until apparent winner Stacy Long was disqualified in post-race tech during the fourth of July fireworks display.

Long won another RE/MAX pole award putting his No. 00 Buffalo's Cafe/bahamacruise.com/BOC Gases Pontiac on the pole with a lap time of 14.070 seconds. Tony Bennett started second in the Gainesville Tire & Auto/Lakeshore Drywall Pontiac. Hardy started sixth Tuesday night.

Long was dominant in the 50 lap event that was slowed by just one caution on lap 47. The yellow flew as Shane Chastain and Debris Brown made contact on the backstretch. Entering turn three Brown then collided with Charles Shoemaker ending the evening for all three drivers.

Long held the lead as Hardy methodically worked his way to second. Long had a tremendous restart with three to go and led Hardy by two car-lengths at the checkered flag. Long's celebration would be short-lived.

Dave Liniger, Jr, general manager of Lanier National Speedway, announced the shocking news to the press saying "it appears that Stacy bought a carburetor from the manufacturer that contained an illegal part. It does not appear that Stacy was aware of the illegal part. But we have to go by the rule book."

Officially Long was disqualified for a carburetor infraction which will have an impact on his standings in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Sunbelt Region. Long had learned before Tuesday night's race that he stood second in the Sunbelt Region points through the month of June.

Hardy was low-key after learning that he had been awarded the win. "Stacy's a good guy and I hate this happened to him. He and I have raced together for five years. I don't like winning races like this. Stacy Long won the race and we just got first place prize money," said Hardy.

Bennett finished second ahead of Michael Lance in the No. 04 Lance Used Auto Parts Chevrolet, Dwayne Buggay in the No. 15 Ford Credit/Marietta Ford sponsored Ford Taurus, and Jamie Stephens in the No. 17 Williams Bros Lumber Chevrolet.

 
Coca-Cola Pro Late Models
1. Tom Hardy 
2. Tony Bennett
3. Michael Lance
4. Dwayne Buggay
5. Jamie Stephens

Chastain Takes Late Model Win in Bizarre Finish

Braselton, GA (June 24, 2000) - Nearly every division in action experienced the unusual Saturday night at Lanier National Speedway in a racing program that took five hours to run the features due to three red flag periods. In the Pro Late Model event Shane Chastain of Gainesville celebrated his first win of the year. It was a victory he would get in a bizarre manner on the white flag lap.

Three drivers had dominated the Coca-Cola Pro Late Model division at Lanier entering Saturday led by the Pontiacs of Stacy Long and Tony Bennett and the Ford of Tom Hardy. The bowtie boys in the Chevy camp were still looking for their first win of the season and many hopes were riding with Chastain in the No. 3 Chastain Supply/Hardy Chevrolet sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo.

On this warm evening of racing sponsored by Slack Auto Parts and 3M, Stacy Long took the RE/MAX pole award in time trials in his No. 00 Bahamacruise.com/Buffalo's Cafe/President's Casino/BOC Gases Pontiac with a lap time of 14.094 around the .375 mile speedway. Chastain posted the second best time and would start outside the front row.

Long led the first six laps but it was obvious early that he would not walk away from the field as he had done so often this season. On lap six, Chastain worked around Long bring Tom Hardy, driver of the No. 16 Cornett Thunder/Pearson Race Cars/McGill Construction/Chapman Fence Co Ford Taurus, with him. Chastain and Hardy distanced themselves from Long by about three car-lengths as Hardy continually tried to work under the No. 3 Chevrolet to no avail until turn two on lap 46 of 50. That's when the two drivers made contact which allowed Hardy of Jefferson, GA to slip by on the inside and take the race lead.

Hardy then began to pull away and appeared destined to collect his third win of the season. He took the white flag but then as he headed down the backstretch three cars collided in turn one prompting a caution flag. Royce Bray, Shane Sieg, and Tony Bennett each spun and left debris scattered on the track. Hardy raced back to the start-finish line thinking he had won but the NASCAR officials ruled that the race was under caution and would revert back to the most recent completed lap.

There is recent precedent for this decision as George Williams Jr had a similar situation last season in the truck series as the caution was displayed just before he crossed the line on what would have been lap 50. Ironically both Williams Jr last season and Hardy Saturday night would suffer the same fate.

As Hardy raced back to the line he apparently ran over the debris causing the left rear tire to go flat. He tried to ride around for five laps under caution but he was forced to pit for a new tire knowing he would be a sitting duck once the one lap shootout was on.

That put Chastain back in front. On the restart he was able to hold off Long, Michael Lance in the No. 04 Lance Used Auto Parts Chevrolet, Dwayne Buggay in the No. 15 Ford Credit/Marietta Ford sponsored Ford Taurus, and Joey Perry in the No. 99 Locos Deli and Pub Pontiac. Hardy finished seventh.

Chastain told pit road reporter Tim Dobbs in victory lane that "Tom had the better car at the end there but we'll take it any way we can get it."

The next event at Lanier will be Tuesday July 4th as feature events will start at 6 PM followed by the largest fireworks display in the track's history.

 
Coca-Cola Pro Late Model

1. Shane Chastain
2. Stacy Long
3. Michael Lance
4. Dwayne Buggay
5. Joey Perry

Long Wrecks then Wins at Lanier

Braselton, GA (June 17, 2000) - Early in the 1992 Daytona 500 race leaders Bill Elliott and Sterling Marlin came off turn two and got together like a pair of cymbals with the rest of the field bearing down on them. Jamie Stephens and Stacy Long found themselves in the same predicament Saturday night at Lanier National Speedway on lap one.

Stephens snagged the RE/MAX Pole Award for the 50 lap Coca-Cola Pro Late Model Feature in his No. 17 Williams Bros Lumber Chevrolet with a lap time of 14.085 seconds around the slick .375 mile speedway. Long toured the NASCAR sanctioned facility in 14.123 seconds in his No. 00 www.bahamacruise.com/BOC Gases/President's Casino/Buffalo's Cafe Pontiac to claim the outside pole.

The first of eight cautions flew on the first attempt at the start of the Pro Late Model Feature as Stephens and Long battled side by side coming off turn two with both cars trying to occupy the same spot on the race track. Stephens and Long each received "cosmetic" damage but both risked staying on the race track to retain the top two spots. Despite noticeably visual damage to both cars each would continue and be very competitive.

The same could not be said for Charles Shoemaker, Dwayne Buggay, and Joe Wallington who each saw their evening of racing end on the first lap as the track was momentarily blocked. Shoemaker and Wallington each suffered major damage to their Chevrolets. Shoemaker, who started eighth, could only hold on for the ride as his No. 8 C.B.S. Motorsports entry actually became airborne twice before coming to rest upright on the backstretch.

As the green flag flew again it became obvious that the first lap incident did little to hamper the handling of the cars driven by Long and Stephens. Long put his car up front quickly and dominated despite a rash of cautions that continually tightened the field.

Tom Hardy of Jefferson in the No. 16 McGill Construction/Chapman Fence/Cornett Thunder/Oakley Sunglasses/Pearson Race Cars Ford started fourth and worked his way quickly into second but was no match on this night for Long's Pontiac which rolled into victory lane at Lanier for the fourth time this season. Hardy claimed second ahead of Stephens, Devan Voyles in the No. 4 Chevrolet, and Mark Mitchell in the No. 6 Phillips Electronics Chevrolet.

Long said in his postrace interview "at first the car was pretty loose but it came to me and then was pretty flawless." When asked about the damage suffered on the left side of his Pontiac on lap one battling for the lead he commented that "it didn't looke that bad. I didn't see it (the severity of the damage) so I just kept pedalling."

The Bowtie Brigade had something to cheer about in the Akins of Winder Pro Truck event as Coon Ayers of Mt Airy broke the Ford stronghold in this division holding off George Williams, Jr for the victory. Ayers, driving the No. 17 Wonder Wood Chevrolet, started on the pole but repeatedly had to hold off runs by Williams, Jr coming off the corners.

"I'd like to thank George for racing me clean. He could have taken me out several times but he didn't" commented Ayers from victory lane. Williams, Jr finished second in his No. 56 Rex Johnson Construction/Fresh Frozen Foods Ford ahead of Tony Newman, Greg Garrison, and Roger Adkins. Joey Love in the No. 25 Jani-King Ford slapped the wall coming off turn four on lap seven and watched the end of the thirty lapper from the garage area.

Magbee Contractor's Supply sponsored the night of racing and the 300 company representatives in attendance came to see Budweiser Sportsman driver Travis Hearn compete in the No. 1 Chevrolet sponsored by Magbee. Hearn started third and was battling for second when contact was made between himself and Donald Wingo in the No. 82 Oakwood Welding Chevrolet on lap three. The result was a spin by Hearn but no damage to his Chevrolet. He was placed in the rear of the field.

Kevin Stephens in the No. 52 MidSouth Motorsports Chevrolet started on the pole and was flawless as he held off every challenge mounted by Wingo. Stephens celebrated the win by thanking his father-in-law Debris Brown for setting up the car. Brown is a former track champion at Lanier. Wingo held on for second in front of Richey Etheridge, Hearn, and Mike Bruce.

 
Coca-Cola Pro Late Model
1. Stacy Long
2. Tom Hardy
3. Jamie Stephens
4. Devan Voyles
5. Mark Mitchell

Hogan Breaks Southern All Star Streak at Lanier

Braselton, GA (May 27, 2000) - The Southern All Star Racing Series this week proudly promoted the fact that they had produced six different winners in six races in 2000. With previous race winner Jason Hogan entered for stop seven this weekend at his home track - Lanier National Speedway - that was bad news for "the streak."

Hogan of Cleveland, GA (www.jasonhogan.com), a part-time Southern All Star competitor who had won earlier this year at stop number two in Jefferson, GA, started his No. 29 North Georgia Foods/Burger King/Universal Chevy/Hogan Lumber Chevrolet on the inside of row two in the Southern All Star 200 at Lanier Saturday night. Ricky Turner of Dawsonville, GA posted fast time in qualifying with a time of 13.512 seconds around the 3/8 mile facility.

Turner, driver of the No. 28 Williams Bros Lumber/Keith Built Homes Ford, rolled a four in the traditional Southern All Star "dice throw" which meant he would start on the outside of row two. Todd Breedlove of Buford, GA in the No. 112 Breedlove Building Products Chevrolet and Doug Walker of Loganville, GA in the No. 79 Pine Construction Pontiac shared the front row for the 200 lap event.

Action heated up quickly at the start on lap 16 with leader Breedlove finding both the outside wall and Walker in turn three damaging both cars. Hogan and Turner slid through and would run one-two and dominate the early and mid-portions of the race. Breedlove was able to continue after repairs.

On lap 94 Johnny Henderson of Conyers, GA in the No. 26 J.B. Steel Chevrolet lost an engine. Jimmy Garmon of Lawrenceville, GA, who had started deep in the field in his No. 97 Collision Repairs Inc/BOC Gases/D&L Heating & Air Chevrolet, got caught up in oil from the 26 car. The end result was a cracked oil pan for Garmon who was running third at the time of the incident.

A stunned Garmon (www.jimmygarmonracin.com) said "it's a disappointment. We just have to move on. I hope to run the ASA race coming up (June 10) in Louisville." Garmon is a three time track champion at Lanier and is running selected races at various tracks this season.

During the middle of the event top five drivers Johnathan Buckner in the No. 38 Crystal Clear Pool/West Paces Ferry Amoco/Athens Hobby Shop Chevrolet and Ronnie Sanders in the No. 18 Cintas/Kittle Construction Chevrolet elected to play out pit strategy by pitting for four fresh tires before Hogan and Turner stopped under caution on lap 133. Even with track position in the closing laps, neither Buckner or Sanders could hold off Hogan and Turner.

On lap 134 Tim Fryar of Chattanooga, TN in the No. 61 Fryar Trucking Chevrolet took his turn as the leader. On lap 136 Hogan spun while attempting to pass Breedlove in the back of the field. Neither car was damaged in the incident. When racing resumed, Fryar continued to lead until lap 145 when he was clipped from the rear on the frontstretch by David Hole of Cumming, GA in the No. 11 Blankenship Cabinets Chevrolet. After some discussion about the incident, the Southern All Star officials placed both Fryar and Hole to the rear of the field.

That put Russell Bearden of Dalton, GA in the No. 15 Clark Truck Sales Chevrolet up front on lap 146 - a position he would hold until lap 194 as Hogan and Turner sliced through the field and back to the front.

On laps 187 through 190, Turner did everything but run straight through Bearden to take the lead with Hogan in hot pursuit in third. On lap 191 on the backstretch Bearden slipped and Turner had to check up just enough to allow Hogan to take second. On lap 194 Hogan, with Turner in tow, was able to get around Bearden.

Hogan was able to fend off Turner for the last six laps for a winning margin of two car lengths. Fryar passed Bearden for third on the last lap with Sanders hanging on for fifth. There were nine cars on the lead lap in a race that included six leaders among five drivers. The pace was slowed twelve times for seventy-one laps.

Notes - Buckner (www.johnathanbuckner.com) was able to finish on the lead lap with pit crew assistance from ASA driver Joey Clanton and Lanier Pro Late Model rookie Charles Shoemaker. Buckner is the crew chief for Shoemaker during Pro Late Model events at Lanier.

Sanders ran as high as second with 24 laps to go but settled for fifth after having shock problems which hampered the handling of his Chevrolet. His finish keeps him second in Southern All Star Points behind leader Turner as the series heads to Hickory, NC on June 10.

Shane Sieg retired on lap 89 with brake failure. Sieg, a regular on the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series and former regular at Lanier, drives the No. 39 S & W Towing Ford Taurus.

A bank of lights failed to work directly overlooking turn four Saturday night. Track and Southern All Star officials decided there was enough light for the 200 lapper to run as scheduled. There was virtually no complaints from drivers about the dim view in turn four.

 
Southern All Star 200 (www.southern-allstars.com)
1. Jason Hogan
2. Ricky Turner
3. Tim Fryar
4. Russell Bearden
5. Ronnie Sanders

Bennett Scores Emotional Late Model Win at Lanier

Braselton, GA (May 20, 2000) - May 20, 1992 is a day Tony Bennett would like to forget. What he accomplished on the evening of May 20, 2000 at Lanier National Speedway will help him do just that.

Bennett's wife Stacy was active in a ministock division at Lanier in 1992 known as the Georgia Girls Series. In her race that night eight years ago she suffered a near-fatal injury in her Volkswagen. She required a hospital stay of a month and a half to recover from her injuries. Today her memory of the incident is limited and she has a vision impairment as a result of the accident.

In the Coca-Cola Pro Late Model feature Saturday night Stacy Long grabbed the REMAX Pole Award with a lap time of 13.938 seconds in his No. 00 Buffalo's Cafe/www.bahamacruise.com/BOC Gases President's Casino Pontiac. Shane Chastain in the No. 3 Hardy Chevrolet/Chastain Supply Monte Carlo started second and grabbed the lead at the start of the 50 lap Pro Late Model event. Bennett, who started fourth in his No. 42 Lakeshore Drywall/Gainesville Tire & Auto Pontiac, slowly worked his way to the front moving into second on lap 34. Chastain dominated until a restart on lap 42 when his No. 3 Chevrolet spun in turn one allowing Bennett to inherit the lead.

Chastain later explained that he reached for his brake with eight laps to go on a restart but the pedal did not respond. The end result was the race leader spinning and being collected by the No. 17 Williams Bros Chevrolet of Jamie Stephens. Both cars suffered heavy damage.

With Bennett in the lead on the last restart, he had fast company in his rear view mirror in the form of Tom Hardy in the No. 16 Cornett Thunder/Oakley/McGill Construction/Chapman Fence Ford Taurus, Long, Charles Shoemaker in the No. 8 C.B.S. Motorsports Chevrolet, and Clay Dale in the No. 1 Williams Bros Lumber/Robbins Lumber Chevrolet. But as the green flag waved Bennett proceeded to check out on the field finishing eight car lengths ahead of Hardy who was followed by Shoemaker, Dale, and Long.

It was Bennett's third victory of the season but easily his most emotional. "I want to dedicate this win to my wife Stacy who almost lost her life here eight years ago to the day. I've always been leery of racing on this night." Ironically, Bennett took the lead on lap 42 in his No. 42 Pontiac. Eight years ago his wife Stacy laid in a hospital bed for 42 days. Saturday night with wife Stacy at his side in victory lane, much of the pain suffered eight years ago by the Bennetts seemed to vanish.

 
Coca-Cola Pro Late Models
1. Tony Bennett
2. Tom Hardy
3. Charles Shoemaker (www.charlesshoemaker.com)
4. Clay Dale (http://pages.prodigy.net/wilderv/)
5. Stacy Long (www.bahamacruise.com)

Bennett wins from deep in the field at Lanier

Braselton, GA (May 13, 2000) - The whispers around the race track are that you cannot win a 50 lap Pro Late Model on a tight .375 mile bullring like Lanier National Speedway without starting in the top five. Tony Bennett proved that thinking to be a myth after his performance Saturday night.

Bennett, driving the No. 42 Gainesville Tire & Auto/Lakeshore Drywall Pontiac, qualified a disappointing ninth in the sixteen car field. As the feature started Bennett quickly sliced through the field breaking into the top five on lap 13. Stacy Long had wheeled his No. 00 Buffalo's Cafe/BOC Gases/www.bahamacruise.com Pontiac to the pole position with a lap time of 14.015 seconds and dominated the first two-thirds of the event. It appeared Long would win his fourth race of the season until Bennett worked underneath Long's No. 00 Pontiac on the backstretch on lap 32 and took the lead which he would never relinquish.

Tom Hardy, who started eighth, rallied from the rear of the field after a minor skirmish with Jamie Stephens early in the feature to finish third in the No. 16 Cornett Thunder/McGill Construction/Oakley Sunglasses/Chapman Fence Ford Taurus. He was followed by Dwayne Buggay in the Ford Credit/Marietta Ford #15 Ford Taurus and Clay Dale in the #1 Williams Bros Lumber/Robbins Lumber Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

"I would have never believed I would have come from ninth (starting position) to win tonight. The car was awesome," Bennett told the crowd from victory lane as he was interviewed by Lanier National Speedway announcer Kevin Beck. "My car had a little push. Stacy gave me some room when I took the lead. That's the way I like to race."

It was Bennett's second win of the season. Ironically the winning Pontiac was once owned and raced by Long.

In Akins (www.akinsford.com) Pro Truck action George Williams, Jr parlayed a pole-position start into another 30 lap feature victory in the 2000 season. He battled a determined Joey Love early until Love spun to avoid Fran Eckart's No 5E truck which had wrecked and come to rest in the groove in turn two on lap 19. Williams, driver of the No. 56 Fresh Frozen Foods Ford then had to contend with the No. 17 Wonder Wood Chevrolet of Coon Ayers for the remaining laps. Williams held off Ayers who had a season-best finish of second. Greg Garrison in the A.C. Sheppard Hauling No. 9 Chevrolet finished third ahead of Ronnie Milford in the No. 5 Hartwell Tool Rental Chevrolet and Love in the No. 25 Jani King Ford.

 
Coca-Cola Pro Late Model
1. Tony Bennett
2. Stacy Long (www.buffaloscafe.com)
3. Tom Hardy
4. Dwayne Buggay (www.mariettaford.com)
5. Clay Dale (www.williamsbroslumber.com)

Hardy Back in the Winner's Circle at Lanier

Braselton, GA (May 6, 2000) - Tom Hardy of Jefferson, GA started fourth but quickly worked his way to the front and won his second Coca-Cola Pro Late Model feature of the season at Lanier National Speedway Saturday night. Hardy, the 1999 Coca-Cola Pro Late Model Champion at Lanier, worked his No.16 Oakley Sunglasses/Cornett Thunder/Pearson Racing/McGill Construction Ford Taurus around pole-sitter Shane Chastain on lap 28 for the lead which he would never relinquish in the 50 lap event.

Chastain, driving the Hardy Chevrolet/Chastain Supply Monte Carlo started on the pole with a lap time of 13.945 seconds around the .375 mile speedway. He led the first 27 laps before giving way to the No. 16 Ford. Stacy Long, driver of the President's Casino/Buffalo's Cafe/BOC Gases/www.bahamacruise.com Pontiac started on the outside front row but quickly fell to sixth before rebounding to finish second behind Hardy. Chastain held on for third followed by Jamie Stephens in the Williams Bros Lumber Chevrolet and Tony Bennett in the Gainesville Tire and Auto/Lakeshore Drywall Pontiac.

When asked about the tough competition at Lanier, Hardy responded by saying that "the bunch of guys I race with each week are the absolute best." He also had strong praise for his crew that puts his No. 16 Ford on the starting grid each Saturday.

1998 Coca-Cola Pro Late Model champion Clay Dale was running second with ten laps to go but developed an oil leak and watched the finish from the garage area. Dale and Bennett tangled halfway through the race forcing Bennett to the rear of the field after he spun. Bennett charged through the field and took fifth from Charles Shoemaker (www.charleshoemaker.com) on the last lap.

Coca-Cola Pro Late Models
1. Tom Hardy
2. Stacy Long (www.bahamacruise.com)
3. Shane Chastain
4. Jamie Stephens
5. Tony Bennett

Adams takes U.S.C.S event at Lanier National Speedway

Braselton, GA (April 29, 2000) - It was only his second race on asphalt, but Mallabar, FL resident Kenny Adams drove like a blacktop veteran Saturday night picking up the victory in the United Sprint Car Series "Williams Bros Night of Thunder at Lanier National Speedway."

Coca Cola Pro Late Models
1. Stacy Long (www.bahamacruise.com)
2. Charles Shoemaker (www.charlesshoemaker.com)
3. Tony Bennett
4. Tom Hardy
5. Dwayne Buggay

 
Results from Lanier National Speedway Saturday April 15, 2000
 
Coca-Cola Pro Late Model
1. Stacy Long (www.bahamacruise.com)
2. Clay Dale
3. Tony Bennett
4. Tom Hardy 
5. Shane Chastain

 
Coca-Cola Pro Late Model
1. Tony Bennett
2. Jamie Stephens
3. Clay Dale
4. Tom Hardy
5. Stacy Long