After being postponed due to bad weather last week, the “Racin” For Life 200″ United Speed Contest Sanction (USCS) Enduro Race for strictly stock cars will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus.
The 200-lap endurance race will benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life charity.
Promoters Johnny Stokes, of Columbus, and Pete Walton of the Atlanta-based USCS are bringing racing back an affordable level of racing that will feature plenty of fun and entertainment for those in the race and in the grandstands. Based on 45 entries, the event will pay $3,000 to win.
Walton brought the idea of resurrecting Columbus” history as a site of past successful “Enduro” races to Stokes as a way to do bring winter racing and offseason activities back to the area.
“Our basic intent with the “Racin” For Life 200″ Endurance Race is to give people who have never entered a race a chance to be able to strap a helmet and seat belts on and chase their dream,” Walton said. “It”s also such a real bonus that we can involve the surrounding community as well, with a chance to help the American Cancer Society”s Relay For Life in their dedication and efforts to fight a terrible disease.”
Almost anyone with the desire and a little bit of mechanical ability can prepare a strictly stock type car to race in this event. Those who don”t have any mechanic”s skills probably can enlist the help of friends who do. To reward them, they can even take them for the 200 laps or two-hour tour of the 3/8 mile dirt oval as their passenger(s).
The race will feature an estimated field of 50 plus competitors racing for 200 laps (or 75 miles) around the 3/8 mile oval. There will be 100 laps of racing clockwise and 100 laps of racing counter-clockwise.
The winner also will receive a “Racin” For Life 200″ championship trophy. The balance of top five finishers will receive cash awards of $1,000 for second, $750 for third, $600 for fourth, and $500 for fifth.
Rules for the event are posted on the Columbus Speedway and USCS racing series websites at www.columbusspeedway.net or www.uscsracing.com.
For more information, contact Walton at 770-460-7223 or Stokes at 662-574-2572.
Pre-event technical inspections will start at noon Friday. Cars that still need to pass inspection also will be checked beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday.
For businesses and/or individuals that want to become more involved in this event, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life has “Laps For Life” sponsorship opportunities available for as little as $25. As of Monday, less than 40 laps remained available for sponsorship. Contact local “Relay For Life” volunteer, Mott Ellis at 662-574-1104 or e-mail her at [email protected]
Gates will open for spectators at noon. The driver introductions for the race will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Admission to the event is $12 for adults, with children 11 and under free.
Magnolia Motor Speedway is six miles west of Columbus Speedway on U.S. Highway 82 to U.S. Highway 45 South exit. Travel about one-quarter mile and the track entrance is on the left.
For track information, call 662-574-2572, or visit the Columbus Alliance website at www.magnoliadirt.com.
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