USCS: Lanier preview

Look For USCS Record Speeds at Lanier

FAYETTEVILLE, GA - The four-year-old all-time track record at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, GA could fall Saturday night as the United Sprint Car Series opens its 2004 "Asphalt Thunder" Tour with a new tire. The USCS winged outlaw sprint cars will be the headline event for the LNS Checks-2-Cash Spring Explosion.

The defending and two-time USCS Asphalt Thunder Champion Kenny Adams of Malabar, FL set the LNS all-time track record in 2000, turning the 3/8-mile paved oval in 11.320 seconds for an average speed of 119.258 miles per hour.

On Saturday night, the "Malabar Missile" and the rest of the USCS pavement pounders will be on a new Hoosier Racing Tire for the first time in USCS asphalt competition.

USCS has signed on with the Lakeville, IN racing tire manufacturer through the 2006 season as the Official Racing Tire of USCS on both dirt and asphalt. USCS is the only winged outlaw sprint series that runs both surfaces. Many USCS competitors feel the new Hoosier tire will break many USCS track records this season.

Competitors will be looking to break the magic 120 mile per hour barrier on Saturday night at LNS. To average 120 miles per hour, a competitor must turn an eye-popping lap during qualifications at or under 11.250 seconds.

"With the calls I've been getting this week, I think we will have one of the biggest and best car counts we've ever had at Lanier National Speedway," USCS Founder and President Pete Walton said. "Going with the Hoosier Tire has helped us get a lot of new cars out of many other regions of the country, and since we bought the North Carolina-based American Outlaw Action Series in January, a lot of those drivers are anxious to give asphalt racing a try."

Walton also said the new interest will carry on when USCS goes back to the dirt tracks on April 2 at Riverside Speedway in Travelers Rest, SC, and on April 3 at I-20 Speedway in Batesburg, SC.

Along with Adams, several of the USCS hot shoes will be expected this Saturday night at Lanier National Speedway, including the defending and three-time USCS National Champion Terry Gray of Bartlett, TN. A trio of Atlanta area drivers will be pulling into LNS looking to keep the big money in the Peach State.

Jim Raptis of Marietta, GA is the 2003 USCS Asphalt Thunder Championship Runner-Up, and Doug Day of Winder, GA had that honor in 2002. Also look for the racing airline pilot Ted Williams of Atlanta.

Other expected entries include veterans Aubrey Black of Lookout Mountain, GA, and Will Ragsdale of Easley, SC. Leading the "Young Guns" will be 18-year-old Troy DeCaire of Tampa, FL, who will be running for USCS Asphalt Thunder Rookie of the Year honors in 2004.

Pound-for-pound, the USCS winged outlaw sprint cars are the most powerful short track racing cars in the world. On Saturday night, the USCS winged warriors will compete in time trials going for a new track record, the Airflow Research Dash, heat races, a consolation race, and a 40-lap feature race.

Along with the 1,300 pound, 700 horsepower, alcohol-burning fuel injected USCS sprinters, the LNS Pro Late Models will be in action with a 150-lap main event, and the evening will literally end with a bang, as there will also be a Demolition Derby.

On Saturday night, the pit gate will open at 2 p.m., with practice from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the drivers meeting will be at 5:15 p.m., and qualifying set for 5:30 p.m. Racing is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

For race day and ticket information call Lanier National Speedway at (770) 967-8600, or visit the track's web site at www.laniernationalspeedway.com. Lanier National Speedway is located on State Road 53 four miles north of I-85 at exit 129, or five miles south of I-985 at exit 16. For more information about the USCS, visit their web site at www.uscsracing.com.

-uscs-