Atlanta Motor Speedway July 18 Events

Racing your car in reverse gear against one other driver for an eighth of a mile can be tougher than you think! This Friday night willing competitors are invited to give it a shot as Friday Night Drags presented by AC Delco offers the opportunity to race in the Backwards Drag Races. If you can drive in reverse gear, in a straight line and at a high rate of speed, you may be the first person to ever win the AMS Backward’s Drag Race! It is sure to create some wild excitement for the fans in attendance!

Plus, all nine weekly divisions will be racing.

Billy Clevenger, Alan Kidd and Tony Morse head into this week’s racing tied for first in the Pro Division point standings. Morse edged out a win this past Friday over Clevenger placing both in a first place tie with an absent Alan Kidd who had found the winner’s circle on July 4th. Arnie Cobb continues to look for his final round win, but remains only two points from the three leaders.

Newlywed Danny Lowry strengthened his lead in the Street Outlaw this past Friday night with another victory in his 1998 Ford Mustang. Lowry was married earlier on Friday before heading to the speedway for Friday Night Drags competition.

The Beetles are battling in the Pro Four as last Friday Tommy Gillepin picked up the main event victory. Gillepin moved ahead of fellow Beetle competitor Mike Chambers in the point standings while Tony Taylor is only two points away with his 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer. Brandon Stone, Matt Baade and Jason Miller are locked in a three way tie for fourth place.

Bill Hatfield, Dwayne Bethune, Mike Munoz and Rodney Tolbert lead the point’s races in their respective divisions heading into this week’s event. Five hundred and seventy-nine different competitors have raced during the 2008 Friday Night Drags presented by AC Delco series. The top drivers from each of the point’s divisions will be invited back for a special year end race along with season championship awards.

The weekly Show-N-Shine is also on the schedule for this Friday night (July 18). Car show enthusiasts can compete in several different divisions for nightly awards (top three spots in each class). All weekly winners will also be invited to participate in a special car show during pre-race festivities at this October’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the speedway. Plus, everyone in the car show has the opportunity to enjoy the speedway cruise prior to the nightly awards ceremony. All cars, trucks, SUVs and motorcycles are eligible to compete in the Show-N-Shine competition.

This Friday night (July 18) the pit gates and tech will open at 6pm. Practice runs begin at 6:15pm. Grandstand gates open at 6:30pm. Show-N-Shine Speedway Cruise at 8:20pm. Show-N-Shine Awards at 8:50pm. Opening ceremonies at 9:00pm. Drag Race elimination rounds begin ay 9:00pm.

Spectator ticket prices are $7; children five and under are admitted for free. Grandstand parking is free.

Drag Race or Show-N-Shine participant entry is $20. To enter both is $30.

Atlanta Motor Speedway – Make plans to attend some fun events!

Street Warriorz
May 30

Drag racing, car show, stereo showdown, swimsuit contest, vendors, music and more! Tickets are $15 or $20 to drag race, show or compete. www.streetwarriorz.com.

Thursday Thunder Series
Thursday Nights June 5 through August 7

Short track racing action with a full night of Legends Cars, Bandolero Cars and Thunder Roadsters. NASCAR stars of tomorrow today! Family activities, specialty races and lots of fun promotions! Tickets are only $5 for adults while kids 6-12 are only a buck! Check out the schedule at http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/speedway/legends/

Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine ‘Season Opener’
June 6

The first night for the 2008 Friday Night Drags and Show-N-Shine will be full of drag racing, car showing, chrome shining, trash talking fun! Get ready for a season of points races with the final opportunity to test your competition in a non-points showdown on the strip! Awards to the top entries in each Show-N-Shine class and the winners of each Drags division. Tickets are $20 to drag race or show-n-shine and $7 for spectators! Open parking in the infield pit area! More info at http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/speedway/friday_night_drags/

Goodguys Rod & Custom Show
June 13, 14 and 15

The nation’s number one producer of classic car shows visits Atlanta Motor Speedway for a spectacular display of vintage steel over Father’s Day weekend. Nearly 2,000 custom, classic, street machines and trucks from prior to 1972. Specialty areas for homebuilt hot rods, pro picks, fins for fifties and young guys. Plus, vendors, exhibitors, swap meet, cars for sale corral, model car show, pedal car show, NASCAR rides and the always popular track cruise! Tickets are $17, children 7-12 are $6 with six and under free. Parking is free. Gates are open 8am to 5pm each day. Check out all the information at www.good-guys.com

Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine ‘Points Opener’
Friday Nights June 20 through August 22 (10 consecutive weeks)

The first night of points for the drag racing divisions. Points will be accumulated through the August 22 championship event. The top drivers will be invited to come back during our NASCAR event (Saturday afternoon – better conditions for drag racing) and compete is our Challenge race! Top entries in the Show-N-Shine will also be invited to come back for a special show prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup race this October (more details coming soon). Tickets are $20 to drag race or enter the Show-N-Shine. Spectator tickets are $7. Parking will be allowed in the drag race competitors area for tailgating.

Dukes Fest ’08 and Hazzard County Fair
June 28 and 29

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Dukes of Hazzard television program with a festival of fun for the whole family. This is your only opportunity to meet and greet all the surviving cast members in one location this year. Bo and Luke Duke. Daisy Duke. Enos. Cooter. The guys who did the stunts. Plus, hundreds of General Lee cars, Hazzard County police cars, Atlanta police cars, Daisy jeeps and more! Carnival midway, petting zoo, childrens bouncers, vendors, food, musical entertainment, lawn mower races, redneck games and the Hollywood Stunt Show rounds out a weekend full of fun…YeeeeHawwwww! Tickets are available in advance for $15 with children twelve and under admitted for free. Day of show tickets will be $5 more. Tickets and weekend passes are available at www.dukesfest.com.

Thursday Thunder ‘Fireworks’ Night – July 3

One of the largest displays of FIREWORKS in the Atlanta area! Plus a full night of racing action and family fun! Tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for children age 6-12.

Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine ‘Fireworks’ Night – July 4

Another of the area’s largest displays of FIREWORKS along with special drag racing action, a full points night, Show-N-Shine, 4th of July specials and lots, lots more! Tickets are $7 for spectators. Drag race and Show-N-Shine entry is $20 per vehicle/driver combination.

Major League of Monster Trucks
July 6

Sixteen of the nation’s hottest monster trucks will be pitted against one another in side by side racing on one of the largest tracks in the history of monster truck events. A current field of 29 trucks will be narrowed down to the top 16 from afternoon qualifying. Those trucks will compete at speeds nearing 70 miles per hour before the ultimate destruction of freestyle. Bigger than the dome shows. Bigger than the arena shows. You gotta see it to believe it! Tickets start at $15 for adults and $5 for kids. Pit party passes are free with advance sale purchases through the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office. Call 770-946-4211. www.mlmt.com.