PARTS Pro Truck Racing Series
| The PARTS Pro Truck Series is fast emerging as the dominant
short track truck series in the country, with over 150 trucks registered
to date. The 1999 season will prove to be the most exciting season ever,
and the national television schedule, along with bigger and better race
tracks will provide the most competitive racing in the short track truck
series. The phenomenal growth of PARTS Pro Truck Series racing will
reach two additional tracks during the 1999 season and include another
weekly series at Concord Motorsports Park in addition to the existing weekly
racing series at Lanier Raceway. |
Visit the Parts Pro Truck site at www.partsprotrucks.com.
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HISTORY:
February of 1997, PARTS (Professional Association
of Race Trucks) and the people of Lanier National Raceway of Gainesville,
Ga. decided to institute a truck racing series to be founded on the principle
of keeping a level of professional racing affordable.
The PARTS Pro Truck Series began 1997 with
six national races at four race tracks in four different states.
What started as a meager geginnning soon became a series that demanded
national attention and succeeded in growing over 50 times in an 11-month
period.
PARTS enlisted Wolverine Radiator as the series
sponsor for the inaugural season. In attendance at every race was Murray
Bishop, of Wolverine, who complimented PARTS in every aspect of the series.
The first PARTS national race was held
at Lanier in June, and fielded 20 trucks before a capacity crowd. The PARTS
Pro Truck Series then traveled to Montgomery, Ala. in July with a field
of 22 trucks in front of the largest crowd of the year, which gained PARTS
an invitation to return on a regular basis.
The third race of the year was held
at Anderson Motor Speedway in Anderson, S.C. The truck field grew to 23
trucks, and attracted the largest crowd in years at the track, according
to the owners.
The fourth stop of the year saw a 25
truck field enter the St. Augustine Speedway, in St. Augustine, Fla. The
race drew more fans than the Goody's Dash race which was run there a couple
of weeks prior.
The final national race of the season brought
a full field back to Lanier National Raceway. In addition to the national
races, PARTS also sanctioned and ran 14 regional races at Lanier.
At the PARTS banquet in Atlanta, Ricky Wilson
was crowned the 1997 Points Champion, and Tina Brown captured the coveted
Hoosier Rookie of the Year award. In the meantime, PARTS began positioning
for a successful 1998 campaign.
The 1998 season was a turning point in the development
and growth of the series. All 10 of the 10 races on the 1998 schedule will
be televised nationwide on Speedvision and the Fox Sports Network
PARTS also announced they will be the sanctioning
body for a racing series in Florida. The series will present races at various
tracks throughout Florida and the new agreement allows drivers from that
series to compete in the PARTS Pro Truck Series national events.
With a record field of 71 trucks showing up
for the 1998 PARTS Pro Truck Series opener at Lanier Speedway, the stage
was set for a second year of growth. The second race of the season marked
the first visit by the PARTS Pro Truck Series to Concord Motorsports Park.
The track was invaded by 66 trucks trying to make the 30-truck field.
Using the same wisdom that spurred the tremendous
first season growth, Larry Evans, president of PARTS devised a new format
to provide even more enjoyment for both the competitors and the fans.
Because of the large turnout of trucks,
Evans initiated a second division for the PARTS Pro Truck Series. This
format will enable all competitors to compete for points in the National
and Division II groups. The top qualifiers will automatically be entered
into the National Feature. The top drivers in the Division II Feature will
advance to the National Final to complete the field. At the end of the
season, point winners in both divisions will be recognized for their efforts
during the year.
For the 1999 Season, there are more races on tap.
Although the schedule and the network affiliation has not been completely
finialized, there will be at least 12 national races throughout the Southeast
along with major sports network television coverage. The series offers
an affordable way for up-and-coming drivers to get the experience of national
exposure along with the opportunity to be part of a traveling series
that races at the top short tracks in the nation.
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