There are wonderful days, and then there are days when the weather is so perfect as to seem to be preordained. That’s what it was like this past weekend at VMR: sunny, a few clouds dotting an otherwise clear blue sky, with temperatures in the mid seventies and just a little breeze to keep things pleasant. We even had a special guest on hand, champion wrestler Gary “The Boogie Woogie Man” Valiant, and the pits were once again loaded with some fine-looking racing machines. Even a major traffic backup on I-65 didn’t dampen the spirits or the car count…though a few machines were seen arriving late! The action kicked off with…

BABY GRANDS
“Damn I’m Good” read the t-shirt Justin Shanes was seen wearing to the drivers meeting. Outrageous? Not really, not if you can back it up…and in the Baby Grand qualifying race Shanes did just that, starting dead last but quickly working his way to the front to claim the win, holding off Joe McCloud and early leader Tim Vinsant.

Baby Grand Qualifying Race Results
1. Justin Shanes (25) 10 laps
2. Joe McCloud (15) 10 laps
3. Tim Vinsant (14) 10 laps
4. Mark Cole (50) 10 laps
5. Jessie Binkley (25) 10 laps

That feature though…well, yes, once again, it was Justin Shanes bringing home the hardware. But Tim Vinsant had to be happy after giving Shanes all he wanted in second, with Joe McCloud closely trailing in third. An improving Jessie Binkley fourth. Mark Cole retired early but still got credited with fifth. The Baby Grands get closer and closer every week…

Baby Grands Feature Race Finish
1. Justin Shanes (24) 25 laps
2. Tim Vinsant (14) 25 laps
3. Joe McCloud (15) 25 laps
4. Jessie Binkley (25) 25 laps
5. Mark Cole (50) 18 laps

PEST DOCTOR RIDGE RUNNERS
In the first-ever qualifying race for the all-new Pest Doctor Ridge Runners, Daniel Harper took the checkered flag with Steve Akey second and Jamie Shaw third.

Pest Doctor Ridge Runner Qualifying Race Finish
1. Daniel Harper (95) 10 laps
2. Steve Akey (99) 10 laps
3. Jamie Shaw (03) 10 laps
4. Derrick Bissinger (469) 10 laps
5. Josh Garvin (25) 10 laps
Other finishers: 6. Kevin Figueroa (14) 7. Josh Harrell (411)

The Pest Doctor Ridge Runners feature race debut was thoroughly ruled by Daniel Harper and his flying 95. Steve Akey tried to keep him honest, but every time there was a caution on the return of the green the Beard promptly put room between himself and the rest of the field. Kevin Figueroa survived a wild slideways moment in turn two early on to claim third, with Derrick Bissinger putting a toe in the Ridge Runners water and coming away with fourth. Justin Dickens had a patient run in fifth. Huge thanks to Roger Kidd for the welcome support of this growing division.

Pest Doctor Ridge Runner Feature Race Finish
1. Daniel Harper (95) 50 laps
2. Steve Akey (99) 50 laps
3. Kevin Figueroa (14) 50 laps
4. Derrick Bissinger (469) 49 laps
5. Justin Dickens (73) 48 laps
Other finishers: 6. Josh Garvin (25) 7. Mark Cummings (A1) 8. Jamie Shaw (03) 

ROAD WARRIORS
For the second straight weekend there were loads and loads of Road Warriors…but the winner was the same as the previous event two weeks ago as Godzilla stomped ‘em again, Derrick Bissinger taking the win in the qualifying race over a resurgent Marc Deist and Chris Zentz.

Road Warriors Qualifying Race Finish
1. Derrick Bissinger (469) 10 laps
2. Marc Deist (423) 10 laps
3. Chris Zentz (77) 10 laps
4. David Lassiter (6) 10 laps
5. Megan Allen (14) 10 laps
Other finishers: 6. Mark Cummings (A1) 7. Tony Chambers (43) 8. Kasey Williams (K3) 9. Ricky Calkins (413) 10. Jerry Langston (3) 11. Ray Gonzales (83) 12. David Ray Bates (88) 13. Austin Jacobs (95) 14. Lynne Newcomb (55) 15. Landin Dickens (73) 16. Gerald Jackson (19)

Lots and lots of action came off in the Road Warriors feature, and so did a lot of STUFF. First it was the bumper cover off Kasey Williams’ K3, then the entire driver’s side door from Derrick Bissinger’s 469 (causing his retirement) and finally the right rear wheel off Marc Deist’s 423. When the debris was finally all collected, the race had to be shortened from its scheduled 20 laps due to time constraints, and ultimately a joyous Chris Zentz–who grew up playing with toys cars at this track!–ended up winning a three lap dash to the finish over Williams, with David Lassiter a close third. Megan Allen and Michael Meadows rounded out the top five in an abbreviated but still hugely entertaining race.

Road Warriors Feature Race Finish
1. Chris Zentz (77) 10 laps
2. Kasey Williams (3) 10 laps
3. David Lassiter (6) 10 laps
4. Megan Allen (14) 10 laps
5. Michael Meadows (12) 10 laps
Other finishers: 6. Landin Dickens (73) 7. Jerry Langston (3) 8. Ricky Calkins (413) 9. David Ray Bates (88) 10. Austin Jacobs (95) 11. Ray Gonzales (83) 12. Lynne Newcomb (55) 13. Marc Deist (423) 14. Mark Cummings (A1) 15. Derrick Bissinger (469) 16. Tony Chambers (43) 17. Gerald Jackson (19)

SUPER STOCKS
In the first Super Stock event of 2019 we saw seven cars go at it for 50 entertaining laps, and at the end it was Carl Porter Jr holding on for the win. But it wasn’t without some significant drama, and while it’s not unusual that no one wants to be second, tonight it was especially true. Ricky Bobby says, “If you ain’t first, you’re last…” and if you were anywhere else, oh my. First it was Matt Fuqua, who suffered some kind of engine malady and eventually retired. Next it was Jonathan Dishman, who had similar issues and left the track a mess. Then Brian Frazier, the night’s fast qualifier, had a right front tire go down while he was trying to close up on Porter. He managed to get the tire changed and recovered for third, but by then Mike Mitchell had gotten the Sterling #48 into the runner up spot, which he kept. Jason Moody ended up fourth, and Cory Jones, who had issues of his own and failed to finish, still was classified in fifth.

Super Stocks Feature Race Finish
1. Carl Porter Jr (465) 50 laps
2. Mike Mitchell (48) 50 laps
3. Bryan Frazier (12) 50 laps
4. Jason Moody (5) 50 laps
5. Cory Jones (00)
Other finishers: 6. Jonathan Dishman (67) 7. Matt Fuqua (93)

PULL-A-PART PRO LATE MODELS
In the first feature race of 2019 for the Pull-A-Part Late Models, Clarksville’s own Mark Day picked up where he left off in 2018 and snagged the win over defending champion Hunter Wright. Garrett Dies came back from a late race incident on the front stretch to take third, while Dylan Jones ran second most of the race but lost out during restarts and ended a disappointed fourth. Jake Scogin continued to improve with a fifth. Day also posted the fast time of the night. The biggest shame of the night though was Thomas Meadows, who was running well till he got caught out spin on the front stretch and sustained enough damage to his Team Tabitha 49 to be forced to retire.

Pull-A-Part Pro Late Models Feature Race Finish
1. Mark Day (8) 50 laps
2. Hunter Wright (29) 50 laps
3. Garrett Dies (27) 50 laps
4. Dylan Jones (05) 50 laps
5. Jake Scogin (15) 50 laps
Other finishers: 6. Simon Yates (33) 7. Thomas Meadows (49) 8. Walt Garrison (5.3) 9. Jonathan Wilhite (71)

PURE STOCKS
Everybody, it seems, has a Pure Stock this Spring, and once again we had a great crop appear at Veterans Motorplex, 17 cars taking the green in the qualifying race. When the dust cleared it was Carl Porter Sr the winner, with James Shaw second and Ronnie Upchurch third.

Pure Stock Qualifying Race Finish
1. Carl Porter Sr (65) 10 laps
2. James Shaw (13) 10 laps
3. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 10 laps
4. Cameron Choate (82) 10 laps
5. Donold Webb Jr (27) 10 laps
Other finishers: 6. Cody Jackson (11) 7. Terry Jackson (21) 8. Willie Coats (71) 9. Everett Turner III (88) 10. Landin Dickens (331) 11. Josh Hood (08X) 12. Michael Williams (91) 13. Bryson Russell (5) 14. Jackson McLerran (7) 15. Bubba Turner (69) 16. Shane Wales (77) 17. Frankie Turner (14)

The Porter family well and truly swept the board tonight, with Carl Porter Sr seeing his second checkered flag of the night and grabbing the third for the family in taking the feature in the Pure Stocks. He wasn’t seriously challenged, slicing through traffic like a hot knife through butter and putting a full straightaway and several lapped cars between himself and second place Donold Webb Jr. The two 08s fought it out for third, with first night feature winner Josh Hood just edging out Ronnie Upchurch for the spot with Cameron Choate getting another solid finish in fifth.

Pure Stock Feature Race Finish
1. Carl Porter Sr (68) 30 laps
2. Donold Webb Jr (27) 30 laps
3. Josh Hood (08X) 30 laps
4. Ronnie Upchurch (08) 30 laps
5. Cameron Choate (82) 30 laps
Other finishers: 6. Everett Turner III (88) 7. Landin Dickens (331) 8. Willie Coats (71) 9. Terry Jackson (21) 10. Michael Williams (91) 11. Cody Jackson (11) 12. Jackson McLerran (7) 13. Bryson Russell (5) 14. James Shaw (13) 15. Shane Wales (77) 16. Bubba Turner (69)

NEXT RACE…ROUND THREE, APRIL 20
SEE: 50 exciting laps for the Pull-A-Part Late Models and the return of the Tuners…the Pest Doctor Ridge Runners are back…the wild Pure Stocks and those zany Road Warriors will be there, along with the wheel to wheel action of the Legends…all of this, AND…a MYSTERY!

WHAT IS IT? 

Well…it’s big…
…it’s a MACHINE…
…and it’s got MONEY…
WHAT IS IT?
Watch this space!

It was as if it had been special ordered by everyone concerned…the weather for Opening Day at the newly renamed and refurbished Veterans Motorplex at the Rim was about as nice as one could expect for late March: sunshine and low to mid 60s temperatures at the start…getting a bit chilly as the night went on, but the on-track action certainly heated things up. It all began with Bryn Wright’s fine rendition of the National Anthem and the presentation of Colors by American Legion Post 45, and then the racing began in earnest, starting with…

LEGENDS
In the Legends qualifying race, Oliver Cordell picked up where he left off last season by leading flag to flag with defending champion Hunter Wright coming up through the field for second, and last year’s first feature winner Bryson Shaffer third.

Legends Qualifying Race Finish
1. Oliver Cordell (17) 10 laps
2. Hunter Wright (29) 10 laps
3. Bryson Shaffer (12) 10 laps
4. Adam Roberson (28) 10 laps
5. Justin Maxwell (20) 10 laps

It was a different story come feature time…and there is no other way to put this: Hunter Wright had this one well in hand. Once he took the lead from Justin Maxwell, he was not seriously challenged. Maxwell held on for second, with Adam Roberson third, Bryson Shaffer in fourth, and Oliver Cordell fifth.

Legends Feature Race Finish
1. Hunter Wright (29) 25 laps
2. Justin Maxwell (20) 25 laps
3. Adam Roberson (28) 25 laps
4. Bryson Shaffer (12) 25 laps
5. Oliver Cordell (17) 25 laps

BABY GRANDS
The Baby Grands qualifier saw Justin Shanes leading flag to flag, shadowed closely by Chris Willis. Mark Cole had a strong run to take third.

Baby Grands Qualifying Race Finish
1. Justin Shanes (24) 10 laps
2. Chris Willis (08) 10 laps
3. Mark Cole (50) 10 laps
4. Joe McCloud (15) 10 laps
5. Jessie Binkley (25) 10 laps

Justin Shanes got the first sweep of 2019, taking the feature win over Chris Willis and Joe McCloud. The three leaders hot lapped through traffic with a few laps to go and things got VERY tight. Shanes slid through the lapped pair of Tim Vinsant and Randy Roper leaving Willis and McCloud to fight it out behind. Mark Cole had another solid run for fourth, and Jessie Binkley took fifth.

Baby Grands Feature Race Finish
1. Justin Shanes (24) 25 laps
2. Chris Willis (08) 25 laps
3. Joe McCloud (15) 25 laps
4. Mark Cole (50) 25 laps
5. Jessie Binkley (25) 25 laps

ROAD WARRIORS
Same as it ever was…three wide racing was the rule in the Road Warriors qualifier, but in the end it was Tony Chambers taking the win over Landin Dickens, with Derrick Bissinger making his return a successful one in third.

Road Warriors Qualifying Race Finish
1. Tony Chambers (43) 10 laps
2. Landin Dickens (73) 10 laps
3. Derrick Bissinger (469) 10 laps
4. Jaclyn Barnett (17) 10 laps
5. Gerald Jackson (19) 10 laps

In the feature…well, let’s just say that Tokyo was in serious jeopardy tonight as the Godzilla #469, wheeled by Derrick Bissinger, took a wild first win of the Road Warriors season over Landin Dickens, Jaclyn Barnett, Tony Chambers, and David Lassiter. It was an exceptional race, paused briefly by Jesse Pedigo’s leaking machine coming to a stop on the front stretch, but it was 2-3 wide racing throughout, with breathless action for a 15 car field. AWESOME!!!

Road Warriors Feature Race Finish
1. Derrick Bissinger (469) 20 laps
2. Landin Dickens (73) 20 laps
3. Jaclyn Barnett (17) 20 laps
4. Tony Chambers (43) 20 laps
5. Mark Cummings (A1) 20 laps

PURE STOCKS
A very healthy field of Pure Stocks took the green for the Pure Stock qualifier, with Josh Hood leading from flag to flag. Donold Webb Jr pursued him throughout in his sharp new #27, and Willie Coats had a good run for third in another very nicely painted machine.

Pure Stock Qualifying Race Finish
1. Josh Hood (08) 10 laps
2. Donold Webb Jr (27) 10 laps
3. Willie Coats (71) 10 laps
4. Carl Porter Sr (68) 10 laps
5. Bubba Turner (14) 10 laps

It had been a pretty clean night of racing up to the Pure Stock feature…then things kinda went south. Mind you, it was still Josh Hood up front–he led from flag to flag–but several spins and wrecks made things very interesting. Carl Porter Sr and Donold Webb Jr had great runs spoiled by flat tires, ditto Ronnie Upchurch who looked for sure to have second or third, and Ricky Bobby Groves had a good run ruined as well, but Bubba Turner made things tight at the end, while Willie Coats recovered from a wreck to place third. Terry Jackson claimed fourth and Jackson McLerran had a solid run in fifth.

Pure Stock Feature Race Finish
1. Josh Hood (08) 30 laps
2. Bubba Turner (14) 30 laps
3. Willie Coats (71) 30 laps
4. Terry Jackson (21) 30 laps
5. Jackson McLerran (7) 30 laps

SPORTSMAN
Tre Ashworth made his return to the Veterans Motorplex bullring a successful one, taking the win in the Sportsman qualifier, with Ricky Sanford moving up to second at the finish and defending champion Tim Gay running third.

Sportsman Qualifying Race Finish
1. Tre Ashworth (8) 10 laps
2. Ricky Sanford (145) 10 laps
3. Tim Gay (1) 10 laps
4. Jonathan Wilhite (71) 10 laps
5. Justin Dubay (81) 10 laps

Come feature time, Ricky Sanford grabbed the lead on lap two and never looked back. Tim Gay had to work hard to hold off Jonathan Wilhite and Tre Ashworth, who were nipping at his heels throughout. Justin Dubay had himself a good run to take home fifth.

Sportsman Feature Race Finish
1. Ricky Sanford (145) 40 laps
2. Tim Gay (1) 40 laps
3. Jonathan Wilhite (71) 40 laps
4. Tre Ashworth (8) 40 laps
5. Juston Dubay (81) 40 laps

TUNERS
It was a wild qualifying race for the Tuners, with Donald Ayers JUST clinging to the top spot, while Justin Martin took the outside route to run second. Daniel Harper was third.

Tuners Qualifying Race Finish
1. Donald Ayers (99) 10 laps
2. Justin Martin (711) 10 laps
3. Daniel Harper (95) 10 laps
4. Chris Brown (25A) 10 laps
5. David Gilliland (21) 10 laps

Come feature time, things did NOT work out like anybody figured. Sure, Chris Brown did lead from flag to flag, but it did look like Justin Martin had something for him…till his throttle cable came off, weirdly at the exact same time that third place Donald Ayres rolled into the pits. That set up a five lap shootout, which Brown handily won, with David Gilliland a happy second and Daniel “The Beard” Harper in third. Martin repaired his issues to take fourth and Steve Akey was fifth.

Tuners Qualifying Race Finish
1. Chris Brown (25A) 30 laps
2. David Gilliland (21) 30 laps
3. Daniel Harper (95) 30 laps
4. Justin Martin (711) 30 laps
5. Steve Akey (9) 30 laps

THIS WEEKEND AT VETERANS MOTORPLEX…TRIPLE 50s! Three HUGE feature races featuring the 2019 debut of the Super Stocks and the ALL-NEW Pest Doctor Ridge Runners, plus THE RUMBLE ON THE RIDGE…50 laps for the wild Pure Stocks! Throw in the Baby Grands and the incredible Road Warriors and you have a terrific night of exciting Family Friendly action that can’t be beat! Gates open at 4:30, first race at 6, at VETERANS MOTORPLEX, where ACTION is the ATTRACTION!

Veteran’s Motorplex at The Rim :

*** WEATHER PERMITTING ***
Weekly Thursday Practice Session starts this Thursday March 14th … 3pm till dark ..$20 per person or $50 Test & Tune Pack ( Driver plus 3 crew members ) Team package : All crew MUST enter with car and driver at the same time.
Also : March 16th : we will be having a Special Saturday Practice Session Noon till dark : $20 per person or $50 Test & Tune Pack ( driver and 3 crew members ).

Due to today’s weather conditions the test and tune session scheduled for 3/9/19 at Veterans Motorplex at The Rim has been canceled.

GREENBRIER, TENN. (February 21, 2018) – Racing every Saturday night returns to The Rim March 23 with the Winter Thaw 75 Sportsman event. Along with the main event, there will be a Big 50 Lap Tuner, 30 Lap Pure Stock, 20 Lap Road Warriors, 25 Lap Baby Grand. Qualifying races will be ran in all divisions. The Rim provides an excellent evening of entertainment for the entire family and on most nights the racing is over by 9:00 pm to 9:30 pm so everyone can make it home at a decent hour.

Gates Open will open at 3:00 pm Saturday, March 23 with the 2018 Awards Presentations at 5:00 pm. The Awards Presentation is a great chance to meet and see the drivers up close and get autographs. A Racing Action begins immediately after the Awards Presentations.

 

Long time Robertson County citizen and business man Jerry Criswell and his family announced an ownership change for Highland Rim Speedway. Roger Cunningham, Criswell’s former business partner, sold his portion of the speedway to Criswell. The Criswell family are now the sole owners of the historic facility. Cunningham’s decision was based on wanting to spend more time with his family and the increasing demand for his time at his business, Centurion Stone.

With the new ownership now in place, the historic facility will be renamed for the 2019 Racing Season. Criswell grew up around The Rim and changing the track’s name was a very hard decision. The new name will be Veterans Motorplex at The Rim.

 

Criswell stated that he wanted to keep some of the original name in honor of everyone that had made this such a great facility in the past. “For 40 plus years this place has been known as The Rim to me personally and that is why this new name is special to me”. The new name provides a fresh start to a new era of racing at the speedway while still preserving some of the historic past. A lot of families have grown up at this place knowing it as “The Rim” and now with the new name they’ll feel right at home every Saturday night.

 

According to Criswell, “We have a lot of Veterans that support our facility on a weekly basis and this is just another way we have chosen to recognize them by renaming this facility after them. Criswell a veteran himself states our service men and women pay a huge debt every day for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans and many times they are forgotten as Veterans. Those same freedoms they provided allows us the opportunity to enjoy the sport of Stock Car Racing and during theracing season we plan to recognize our Veterans in attendance on a regular basis.”

Over the last few years Cunningham, Criswell and their families have worked diligently with the local Veterans, non-profits, and community to provide a clean family style facility for all race fans to come out and enjoy some great racing action every Saturday night.

 

The Criswell family has a lot of long range plans and additional activities that will be introduced along with the speedway facilities. They will be announcing those plans as they materialize.

The New Veterans Motorplex at The Rim is located at 6801 Kelly Willis Road in Greenbrier TN.

Hunter Wright Racing

Young Hartsville racer Garrett Dies says he has a “winning mind-set.”

But even when he doesn’t win, he tries to look on the bright side.

“I didn’t win a feature race last season, but I think it was still a successful year,” says Garrett, a 17-year-old Trousdale County High junior who wrapped up his first full season in Highland Rim Speedway’s tough Lake Model division.

“I won three heat races and had two top-three finishes and two top-fives, and I learned a lot,” he says. “From that standpoint it was a good year. We’ve got a lot of positives to build on going into this season.”

Garrett’s dad Roy, a retired racer, agrees.

“I was very pleased – and surprised – by how well he did,” says Roy, who competed at Highland Rim, Fairgrounds Speedway and Beech Bend, Ky., from 1987-2001. “Garrett did a great job in a new division. I thought it would take him longer to adjust, but he’s a fast learner.”

Reflecting on his own career: “I get a bigger kick out of watching Garrett race than I did when I was racing myself,” Roy says.

Garrett says his mom Ann shares the father/son enthusiasm, although “she gets kinda nervous when she watches me race.”

Garrett says one of the highlights of the season was being paid a compliment by Mark Day after a close finish. Day, a veteran driver from Clarksville, has arguably been Middle Tennessee’s top racer for the past two decades.

“Mark came over and congratulated he on how hard I raced him,” Garrett says. “Coming from a great driver like him, that was pretty special.”

The past season was also special because it marked a comeback for Garrett after he sat out most of the previous season with an injury. He broke a leg early in 2017 in an ATV accident.

“I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed racing until I had to sit out,” he says. “I couldn’t wait to get back on the track. I didn’t go to any races while I was out. I realized I wasn’t cut out to be a spectator.”

Garrett is so consumed by racing that he forgoes competing in other sports. Between going to school, working on his race car and holding down a job at a local grocery, he has little time for anything else.

“It keeps me pretty busy,” he says, “but I like it.”

“He’s a hard worker,” Roy says, “which is why I try to support him in every way I can. If he’s willing to work this hard, I want to help him. Right now we’re re-building the car and making some changes that I think will help us run better.”

Among the top competition Garrett will face at the Rim this season is young Lebanon racer Hunter Wright who last year captured championships in two divisions.

“Hunter is a great racer,” Garrett says. “He and drivers like Mark Day are tough to beat. That’s what makes it challenging.”

Garrett began racing Quarter-Midgets at age eight and advanced through the ranks to the Late Model division. He remains as enthusiastic as ever.

“I’ve always enjoyed racing, and I get more into it every year,” he says. “This could be a big season for us, and I’m anxious to get started.”

+++

Racing roundup:

Highland Rim Speedway: Track owner Jerry Criswell, who bought out partner Roger Cunningham of Mt. Juliet, is optimistic about the track’s future as he prepares for this spring’s season opener.

He says young racers like Garrett and Hunter Wright account for much of that optimism.

“They represent the sport’s future,” Criswell says. “They are great kids as well as great race drivers, and I’m proud to have them representing our track.”

Everyone that has a registered number from last season has until February 3rd to register for this year before their number is open for anyone to purchase. Registration is $30 and must be paid in full before the 3rd of February. To register you can come by Aluminum Racing Products and fill out a form and pay or you can go on the highlandrim  website and under drivers info- forms and print the form out there, fill it out completely and mail it in to Highland Rim Speedway. 6801 Kelly Willis Rd. Greenbrier, TN 37073, make checks payable to Highland Rim Speedway.

If you would like to come by Aluminum Racing Products you can do so Monday thru Friday 9a.m. – 5p.m. 2308 Industrial Dr. Greenbrier, TN 37073, 615-643-4739.

You can also fax the form to 615-643-2339 attn. Donna, scan and email to donna@arbodies.com, and pay over the phone with credit or debit card, 615-643-4739 and ask for Donna Hooper.

Registration Form: http://www.highlandrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Driver-Registration-Form-2016-Complete.pdf