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Georgia's newest drag strip will host the NHRA Division 2 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series June 4-6, 2004. Here is Marvin T. Smith's report from the grand opening ceremony. -- David Dilbeck.
The grand opening ceremony for South Georgia Motorsports Park was held Tuesday, November 11. The track is located about a mile and a half north of Cecil, Georgia off Interstate 75 exit 32. This is about 15 miles north of Valdosta, Georgia. The track is being developed by Larry Dean, and it will be an NHRA sanctioned quarter mile drag strip with a paved half mile banked oval track as another part of the complex.
The opening featured track officials, local government officials, Bill Holt (NHRA Division 2 Director), and the Governor Sonny Perdue. The crowd turnout was huge for a ground breaking ceremony. The support from local government officials was very nice to see.
The track is currently under construction, with the concrete grandstands nearly completed, the tower in the finishing stage, the track wiring done, some lighting up, and much of the grading for the track is completed. Add pavement and go racing! They hope to have the track finished by next March. Bill Holt announced that the track would host a Lucas Oil series Division 2 event in early June, 2004. They will also run a Jr. Dragster series, the Operation Street Legal series, and a bracket series.
A number of great cars were on display for the opening, including Michael Gunderson's Under the Gun A/FD, Denny Fenstermaker's restored 1960s top fuel car, Chip Horton's world champion Dodge Dart, a really nice Corvette Pro-Mod style car, a Hemi Cuda, a Corvette stocker, and other drag cars. There were also vintage dirt track cars, tractor pullers, monster trucks, and local street rods.
We hope to bring you action from the opening race next year.
Marvin T. Smith
The Governor speaks.
Large turnout for this kind of event.
Hemi 'Cuda.
Gunderson's Top Alcohol Dragster.
Another shot of Governor Perdue and the other VIPs.
Layout for the drag strip and oval track.
The official groundbreaking. Note the concrete stands in the background. They face both ways with an oval track on one side and the drag strip on the other.
Here is Denny Fenstermaker's car doing a wheelie with a little help from his friends. Denny got low e.t. for loading his car after the event!
Michael Gunderson brought his Under the Gun A/FD out.
Corvette Stocker.
IHRA World Champ Chip Horton's Dart.
View of track showing some grading but not pavement.
Tower.
Concrete stands overlooking oval track.
Great paint on this 'Vette!
New! Open House at South Georgia Motorsports Park