Wythe Raceway to host opener for 'Southern Nationals Series' on Monday, July 12 by RW
RURAL RETREAT, Va. — The Ray Cook-promoted Southern Nationals Series features 10 events in the span of 13 days, with races held in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. The sixth season for the Southeast tour begins Monday, July 12 at Wythe Raceway with a $3,500-to-win show at the monster half-mile speedplant.
Jeff Cooke of Spartanburg, S.C., won the 2005 Southern Nationals Series title. Anthony White of Clinton, Tenn., was champion in 2006; with Gaffney, S.C.-chauffeur Chris Madden winning the championships in 2007 and '08, while Tommy Kerr or Maryville, Tenn., claimed the championship in 2009.
Many top dirt late model competitors have indicated they plan to run Southern Nationals Series events in 2010. Drivers tentatively expected to be in action Monday, July 12 at Wythe Raceway include defending series champion Kerr, along with defending race winner Vic Hill of Morristown, Tenn. Also, possibly look for Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga.; Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C.; Brandon Kinzer of Allen, Ky.; Anthony Burroughs of Athens, Ala.; Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, Fla.; Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn.; Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind.; Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va.; Kennie Compton Jr. of Bland, Va.; Jeff Smith of Dallas, N.C.; Jared Landers of Lexington, N.C.; Daniel Baggerly of Rural Retreat, Va.; Kerry Jones of Bristol, Tenn.; Travis Greer of Marion, Va.; Rodney Kiker of Greeneville, Tenn., plus several others.
Highlighting the Monday, July 12 racing program will be the Southern Nationals Series Super Late Models, with the Super Street, Pro Mini and U-Car divisions also in action.
Adult grandstand admission $20, youth (ages 6-11) only $2, with kids 5-and-under admitted free. Pit passes $30.
The pit gate will open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands at 5 p.m. Hotlaps are scheduled to begin around 7:30 p.m., to be followed by qualifying and then racing action.
Wythe Raceway is located off I-81 at Exit 60 in Rural Retreat, Va. For more information, call the track phone (recording only) at (276) 686-4261, visit the track Web site at
www.WytheRaceway.com or contact track owner Fred Brown at (276) 620-2015. To learn more about the Southern Nationals Series visit
www.SouthernNationalsSeries.com 
