After 47 years at the helm of the second oldest track in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, the Blackwell name is no longer listed as owner of Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
When NASCAR Elite Division, Kodak Southeast Series teams check into the “granddaddy” of short tracks for the $48,928 Flexcheck Cash Advance 150 on August 9, a new era begins with the name Kevin Whitaker, popular automobile dealer in Easley, S. C., listed as owner. “Despite the change of ownership the daily activities at the track remain the same,” said Keith Cochran, Director of Public Relations for the track. “Tom (Blackwell) is still running day to day activities at the track and everything will be just the same when teams arrive next month,” continued Cochran.
This facility has hosted more events for this series since 1991 than any other track (25) producing exciting moments for the greatest short track race fans anywhere. And this year promises to be just as exciting with the Flexcheck Cash Advance 150 the next to last race of 2003.
In 25 previous events at the track, winners of Bud Pole Awards and race winners are some of the best in short track racing. Sixteen different drivers have won Bud pole starts with Billy Bigley Jr. leading all drivers with four while 16 different drivers have stopped in victory lane with three drivers, Wayne Anderson, Mike Cope and Randy Porter coming home as double winners.
That same competitive spirit will be seen with this event for various reasons. Being the next to last race of the season the driver leading the points after this race could very well be the 2003 Kodak Southeast Series Champion. After seven races, Charlie Bradberry would appear to have the inside edge with an 80 point edge on Terry Mason Jr. entering the Myrtle Beach race on July 26.
Another factor in the competitive spirit of the Kodak Southeast Series for 2003 is the performance of the four Victory Circle Chassis Rookie-of-the-Year contenders who are separated by only five points after seven events. For the first time in the history of the series,all rookie contenders are ranked in the top ten in the championship points. Terry Mason Jr. is second in points and also second in rookie points behind John Wilkinson III, his brother-in-law, going into race number eight. Cecil Chunn is sixth in championship points and third in rookie points while six time series champion Jody Ridley protégé, Justin Wakerfield is fourth in rookie points and ninth in the championship points after seven races.
Not only is the 2003 Kodak Southeast Series championship on the line with the Greenville-Pickens race but the $5,000 Victory Circle Chassis Rookie Award is also on the line. Greenville-Pickens has always shown wonderful support for the Greenville Shriners Children’s Hospital. Two years ago, part of the racing weekend at Greenville was a golf tournament with all proceeds going to the Children’s Hospital. This will be the third year the tournament has been held and the first year to attract a major sponsor, Golden Bear Golf, owned by Jack Nicklaus.
Greer, S. C. driver Steven Howard got his 2003 racing season off on the right foot in April at Greenville-Pickens, winning the Kodak Southeast Series event at his home track. Howard is ranked 13th in series points after seven races and is only 37 points out of the top ten.
Another local driver who has yet to win his first Kodak Southeast Series race is Randy Gentry. Gentry finished second in series points behind Wayne Anderson in 2001. “We have been so close so many times,” said Gentry, “but just have never had the sponsorship to carry us over the top. For this race we will have Golden Bear Golf/Bass Pro Shops on our car thanks to Mark Goad, Vice President of Sales for Golden Bear Golf. He will also be behind the Golden Bear Golf Tournament on Friday.”
Parity is certainly the name of the game with the Kodak Southeast Series in 2003 as seven different drivers have started from the pole position in the first seven races with defending series champion Jeff Fultz going to victory lane three times. First time series winners this year have been Bradberry and Shane Sieg. Eighteen drivers have made every series in 2003 with Bradberry being the most consistent driver with four top five and five top ten finishes in those races and a 99.10% laps completed percentage through seven races.
“Greenville-Pickens has been a very difficult track for us through the years, said Fultz. “I just do not know why we have so much trouble at this track. This is the only track on this year’s schedule along with Huntsville Speedway that we have not had the C & C Boiler/Cleaver Brooks Chevrolet in victory lane. Greenville is tough with the long straight-aways and the tight corners and handling is definitely the key. We have just not had the problems anywhere else like we have here, but if we are going to be on top at the end of the year we have got to turn things around.”
Action at Greenville-Pickens gets underway Saturday, August 9, when pit gates open at 9:00 am. Practice will be from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm with qualifying starting at 6:00 pm for the Flexcheck Cash Advance 150. The 150-lap race should take the green flag at 8:00 pm.
