The competition will be close as the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division takes on the historic Music City Motorplex in Nashville, for the Music City 100 presented by the Nashville Convention & Visitor’s Bureau on Wed., Aug. 9. The special Wednesday night event is a combination race for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series and Southeast Series, drawing race teams from 12 different states, as far away as Connecticut and Colorado.
Just 24 starting spots are available in the 100-lap race and qualifying will be at a premium as 30 teams have already pre-entered the event. Bud Pole qualifying is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday and the main event begins at approx. 8:30 p.m.
Music City Motorplex, a .596-mile oval located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, is a longtime host of NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division racing, dating back to the former NASCAR All-Pro Series, known today as the Southeast Series. Wednesday’s race will mark the final appearance for the Southeast Series in Nashville, as NASCAR has announced the Elite Division will be discontinued at the end of the 2006 season.
The combination format of Wednesday’s event creates a race-within-a-race, as both series are counting down towards their final championships. The drivers will be awarded official finishing positions relative to the other drivers in their “home” series. For example, the highest-finishing Midwest Series driver will be credited with a first-place finish in the Midwest Series, regardless of overall position in the event.
In the Southeast Series, the pressure is on as Jason Hogan, of Cleveland, Ga., and J.R. Norris, of Mulga, Ala., are deadlocked in the championship standings. Both drivers have 350 points and both drivers have the same record: one win and one second-place finish in the first two races. The Midwest Series has another tie at the top, as Minnesota’s Dan Frederickson is tied with nine-time series champion Steve Carlson in the championship standings; both with 330 points heading into Nashville.
For now, the focus is on qualifying for the race and preparing for a quick turnaround. The Southeast Series will wrap up its 2006 season next Saturday, Aug. 12, at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C. The Midwest Series will return to action Aug. 19 at Colorado National Speedway in Erie, Colo. The top 10 drivers from both series are also invited to the $500,000 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, Oct. 20-21 at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series and Southeast Series
Entry List as of Aug. 4, 2006
Music City 100 presented by the Nashville Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Aug. 9, 2006
Music City Motorplex, Nashville
1. 1 Hoyt Brindle, Chatsworth, Ga., Southeast Series 2. 01 Josh Bauer, West Bend, Wis., Midwest Series
3. 5 Scotty Backman, Parker, Colo., Midwest Series
4. 5 J.R. Norris, Mulga, Ala., Southeast Series
5. 06 Mike Gallegos, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Midwest Series
6. 9 Mark Kraus, Stratford, Wis., Midwest Series
7. 10 George Prentice, Bradenton, Fla., Midwest Series
8. 11 Josh Vadnais, White Bear Lake, Minn., Midwest Series
9. 12 Bruce Yackey, Greeley, Colo., Midwest Series
10. 20 Dexter Bean, Westby, Wis., Midwest Series
11. 21 Tim Schendel, Sparta, Wis., Midwest Series
12. 24 Darren Bucklen, Greeley, Colo., Midwest Series
13. 26 David Finney, Sycamore, Ill., Midwest Series
14. 27 Don Young, Hopkinsville, Ky., Southeast Series
15. 29 Allen Karnes, Sharpsburg, Ga., Southeast Series
16. 38 Josh Hamner, Harpersville, Ala., Southeast Series
17. 40 Dusty Williams, Savannah, Ga., Southeast Series
18. 42 Ted Mickelson, Greer, S.C., Southeast Series
19. 52 Ryan Lawler, Colleyville, Texas, Southeast Series
20. 55 Ronnie Hawley, Winona, Minn., Midwest Series
21. 66 Steve Carlson, West Salem, Wis., Midwest Series
22. 70 Walter Sutcliffe, East Haven, Conn., Southeast Series
23. 71 Greg Fowler, Erie, Colo., Midwest Series
24. 83 Jim Sikes, Fountain, Colo., Midwest Series
25. 85 Danny Darnell, Beach Park, Ill., Midwest Series
26. 86 Gary Helton, Seymour, Tenn., Southeast Series
27. 88 Brent Kirchner, LaCrosse, Wis., Midwest Series
28. 90 Michael Britt, Cumming, Ga., Southeast Series
29. 92 Jason Hogan, Cleveland, Ga., Southeast Series
30. 99 Michael Foy, Grayson, Ga., Southeast Series
